How were government officials chosen during the nara period?

During the Nara period (710-794) in Japan, government officials were primarily chosen through a system influenced by the Chinese bureaucratic model. Positions were often filled based on aristocratic lineage, with the powerful noble families dominating the political landscape. Additionally, the implementation of the Ritsuryō system established formal ranks and roles, and civil service exams were introduced to assess candidates' knowledge of Confucian texts and governance. However, despite these exams, the selection of officials largely favored those from privileged backgrounds.