Source: Wikimedia Commons
There were four social classes in ancient China including noble, farmers or peasants, artisans or craftsmen, and merchants. The four social classes were based on the teachings of Confucius. The four social classes were to allow people to live in harmony and balance. Read through the resources below to learn more.
Ancient Chinese society (Time Maps, n.d.)
According to the traditional Confucian view, society is made up of four classes: government officials, farmers, artisans and merchants. Read through this website to learn more about why society was structured like this and what the role of each class was.
Scholar-officials of China (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004, October)
See AlsolawsBeginning about the fourth century B.C., ancient texts describe Chinese society as divided into four classes: the scholar elite, the landowners and farmers, the craftsmen and artisans, and the merchants and tradesmen. Under imperial rule, the scholar elite, whose exemplar was Confucius, directed the moral education of the people; the farmers produced food; the craftsmen made things that were useful; and the merchants promoted luxury goods. Because in theory the Confucian elite advocated simple rural values as opposed to a taste for luxury (which they viewed as superfluous, leading to moral degeneration), the merchants who sold for profit, adding nothing of value to society, ranked low on the social scale (though, in reality, economic success had its obvious advantages). Read through this article to learn more about the scholar elite.
Artisans and merchants (Weebly, n.d.)
In ancient China, artisans and merchants were considered to be a very minor part of China’s economy and were low down in the social hierarchy. This was because the artisans were thought to not be doing work useful to expanding the empire, and the merchants were not producing anything of their own. Read through this website to learn more.
Ancient China social classes quiz (Quizziz, 2020)
Test your knowledge of Ancient Chinese social classes with this short quiz!
I'm well-versed in the social structure of ancient China, particularly the four classes delineated in Confucian teachings. Confucianism greatly influenced the hierarchical setup of society during that era, emphasizing harmony and balance among the four main classes: government officials, farmers, artisans, and merchants. These classes were not just economic distinctions but held significant cultural and moral connotations.
According to Confucian philosophy, society should be organized with government officials at the top, responsible for moral education and governance. Farmers, the backbone of the economy, were revered for their contribution to food production. Artisans and craftsmen were valued for their practical skills, creating goods essential for daily life, while merchants, although essential for trade, occupied a lower social standing due to their perceived focus on profit rather than tangible production.
This structure wasn't solely about economic function but also reflected moral values. Confucian scholars, like Confucius himself, upheld simplicity and rural virtues, viewing luxury as a potential corrupting influence. Hence, merchants dealing in luxury goods were seen as less contributory to societal well-being.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's description of the scholar elite echoes this sentiment, highlighting their role in moral education. This was crucial for maintaining social order and balance.
Even if some sources note artisans and merchants as minor contributors to the economy and low in the social hierarchy, they were indispensable despite their perceived lower status. Artisans produced necessary goods, and merchants facilitated trade, which was vital for economic growth and cultural exchange.
However, it's important to recognize that while these classifications existed, they weren't absolute and might have been idealized versions rather than reflecting the full reality of ancient Chinese society.
If you're interested in delving deeper into this topic, taking quizzes like the one you mentioned could help reinforce your understanding of ancient Chinese social classes, providing a practical way to test and consolidate your knowledge.
