Chinese Society & Culture

Chapter 16-2

Economy & Daily Life

• Between 1500 & 1800 China remained a predominant farming country of small farmers

• Even with the country being predominantly agriculturally based the economy was changing

Economic Changes• The first change was in the area of population

• China grew from a population of less than 80 million in 1390 to more than 300 million by the end of the 1700’s

• The reason for the great increase was a period of peace & stability under the Qing Dynasty as well an increased food supply

• This great increase in population would lead to land shortages which in turn would lead to unrest & revolt

Economic Changes• Another change was seen in the growth of

manufacturing & trade

• This was also due the period of peace & a stable government

• Although trade & manufacturing increased, China, as compared to European countries, did not develop a type of commercial capitalism or private business based on profit

• The reasons were cultural

• Merchants & manufactures in China were not as independent as its counterparts of Europe as they were under the control of the Chinese government

• In addition the Chinese looked down on trade & manufacturing as inferior to farming

• The state reflected this attitude as they levied high taxes on manufacturing while levying lower taxes on farming

Society & the Role of Women• Chinese society was organized around the family

• The family, as many as four generations, was expected to provide, educate, support, & care for their members

• In return the members existed for the benefit of the family as a whole

• In addition to the family were those who were related in some form called the clan

• These members were held together by a council clan of elders

• These members conducted social as well as religious activities

• The clan made it possible for wealthy families to help the poorer families

Society & the Role of Women• Only the males had a formal education & could

pursue a career in government or education

• Women played a key role in the family but were subordinate to the man

• Women could not divorce or inherit property

• Men could divorce if the woman did not produce sons & were even allowed to take a second wife.

• The men were expected to provide for the family

• A feature of Chinese society was the restriction of mobility for Chinese women which was accomplished by the tradition of foot binding

Foot-Binding in Tang China

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

Foot-Binding in Tang China

• For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

Chinese Art & Literature• Under the Ming rule the standard of living

increased allowing a new form of literature to be created, the modern Chinese novel

• This literature was very popular especially with the wealthy

• The Golden Lotus is considered by many to be the first realistic social novel

• The novel depicts a corrupt landlord who manipulates those around him for sex, power, & money

• The Dream of the Red Chamber, written in 1791, is considered China’s most distinguished popular novel

• This novel is a story of a couple in love who are caught in a financial & moral disintegration of a powerful Chinese clan

Ming & Qing Art• The most glowing example

of Chinese art is in its cities

• Beijing is the best example of this

• It is a series of complex palaces & temples surrounded by six and a half miles of walls

• Much of the city was off limits to the commoners thus the name of the Forbidden City

• In addition to the great architecture porcelain also flourished in popularity