For centuries, opportunity for economic and social advancement in China could be provided by high performance on majestic examinations. The literary emphasis of the exams affected the common perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the view that calligraphy and literati painting were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. China's traditional values were derivative from various versions of Confucianism and conservatism. A number of more authoritarian strains of thought have also been influential, such as Legalism. There was often clash between the philosophies, such as the individualistic Song Dynasty neo-Confucians, who believed Legalism departed from the original spirit of Confucianism. Examinations and a culture of merit remain greatly valued in China today. In recent years, a number of New Confucians have advocated that democratic ethics and human rights are quite compatible with traditional Confucian "Asian values".
