States that clung to the past perished while states which undertook reforms became stronger. Change leads to people preserving themselves, while not being able to change causes people to perish. The purpose of preserving one's territory comes from institutions. Attempting a forward march by walking backward is as effective as a reform. Mencius is a famous Confucian writer who composed an example of loving the people. Both Japan's reforms and its religions and customs are somewhat similar to that of the United States. China could not effectively modernize because its examination system represented everything conservative, backward, and out of date. China's ancient examination system was abolished in 1905.