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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