A genius

Japanese: 秀才 - しゅうさい

〘 noun 〙① One of the subjects in the national examination for civil servants under the ritsuryo system. ※Ryo Gikai (718) assessment: "Ordinary and gifted. Tested for those with _{strategy and} tactics." ② A person who passed the national examination in _① . ※Ryo Gikai (718) selection: "Ordinary and gifted. Tested for those with extensive knowledge and talent." ③ Another name for "students with _a mastery of _literature ." A talented person. ※Shoku Nihongi - October Ding Chou, 9th year of Jowa (842): "Weakly _{qualified to} take the exam _for students of _literature , and _those with _excellent academics who were selected for the exam were gifted." ④ A subject of the examination for civil servants held in China long ago. It was abolished after the mid-Tang dynasty. Later, it came to be used to generally refer to those who took the imperial examination. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it also referred to students (current students) at prefectural, state, and county schools. ※Ryōsokuin Honzantani-shō (around 1500) vol. 4 "Hide and filial piety are distinguished by their intelligence. Filial piety is for those who are filial and upright to be appointed to the ranks." [Tō Rokuten - Volume 4] ⑤ Outstanding talent. Also, the person who possesses it. A person who excels in learning, talent, etc. ※Artisan Poetry Contest No. 32 (around 1494) Vol. 31 "They lament their own ignorance and foolishness, and envy the intelligence of others, and increase their pockets for their own business." [Kanshi - Xiao Masaki]

Su-sai [genius]

〘 noun 〙 ("su" is the direct pronunciation of "shiu") A person who passed the examination for writing students at the University under the Ritsuryo system. Shusai. ※Utsubo (around 970-999) Okitsu Shiranami "The more I made people read my writing, the more I was approached by four people who were so ignorant."

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 令制の、官吏登用のための国家試験の科目の一つ。※令義解（718）考課「凡秀才。試_二方略策二条_一」② ①の国家試験の合格者。※令義解（718）選叙「凡秀才。取_二博学高才者_一」③ 文章得業生(もんじょうとくごうしょう)の異称。茂才。※続日本後紀‐承和九年（842）一〇月丁丑「弱冠奉_レ試補_二文章生_一、学業優長挙_二秀才_一」④ 昔、中国で行なわれた官吏登用試験科目。中唐以後廃絶。のち、科挙に応ずる者を一般に称した。また、明・清時代には府・州・県学の生員（在学生）をいった。※両足院本山谷抄（1500頃）四「秀孝は秀は秀才ぞ。孝は孝廉直な者を科に挙ぞ」〔唐六典‐巻四〕⑤ すぐれた才能。また、その持ち主。学識・才芸などのすぐれた人。※三十二番職人歌合（1494頃）三十一番「いたづらにふる身のはての愚昧なるをなげき他人の秀才なるをうらやみて自己の商売に懐をのぶ」〔管子‐小匡〕