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Ancient China Social Groups

Emperors

Emperor

- Known as the son of heaven

- Was the most important person in the land

- The Chinese believed the emperor had the right to rule. This is because of his Mandate of heaven

- Enjoyed life of great luxury and lived in a grand palace complex

- Had many wives, ate lavish meals and enjoyed many entertainments

- Wore elaborate silk robes

- Seated on the Dragon Throne and known as the "Lord of 10000 Years"

- Emperor extremely powerful

- His word was literally law and was announced through proclamations called edicts

- Commanded vast armies

- Performed ceremonies to ensure plentiful harvests

- Visitors in his presence had to bow down and touch their foreheads to the ground three times to show respect

- If an emperor was overthrown it was said that he lost his Mandate of Heaven

- This is how new dynasties were formed

- Natural disasters were believed to be a sign to that a ruler's Mandate of Heaven might be under threat

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Scholars, nobles and officials

Scholars, nobles and priests

- The next most influential people, besides the emperor's relatives, were scholars, officials and nobles

- Scholars and officials were educated men who had studied the important teachings of China's great philosophers

- Nobles were people of established wealthy families who owned a large amount of land

- Most officials and scholars came from noble families

- People from these privileged classes were called shensi, which means 'noble official'

- They were elite of Chinese society and were much respected

- Nobles lived either in towns and employed supervisors to check over their lands in the countryside

- They could also live in splendid mansions on their estates

- Like the emperor, nobles and officials wore furs and luxurious silk robes

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- There was a colour system for their clothes to indicate what rank officials held

- It was fashionable for scholars and nobles to grow their fingernails quite long to show they did not manual work

- Daoist and Buddhist monks and priests performed important religious ceremonies and were also well respected in Chinese society.

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Peasants

Peasants

- Beneath the ruling classes were the peasants or common farmers

- Peasants made up 80% of the population

- Poor

- Provided food for everyone in Chinese society

- Lived hard lives and worked long hours

- Most common crop was rice which was grown in the south

- Wheat was grown in the north

- Able bodied men worked on construction or other projects for the emperor

- Common people built roads, monuments and canals for free labor

- Sometimes peasants were even drafted into armies in times of the war

- Peasants paid heavy taxes

- Peasants lived in simple houses made from mud brick

- They often worked barefoot and wore simple trousers, shirts and other items made from natural fibers such as a straw hat

Workers and tradesmen

Workers and tradesmen

• Workers and tradesmen worked in towns

• Earned a stable income and more than farmers

• Were well respected in China

• Were hard working, contributed useful skills and crafts to society

• Made furniture, clothing, built houses, implements such as weapons, cooking utensils, tools and valuables

They had to make a variety of things at different times of the year for example metal workers became very important during the Han period

Soldiers

- Soldiers were the least respected along with Merchants and Slaves

- Second last on the social hierarchy

- They weren’t respected because they killed for a living

- Slaves were captured by soldiers from war and employed by some emperors

Soldiers

Women

Women

- Women had very hard lives

- Seen as far inferior to men

- Were often mistreated

- Boys were seen more useful than girls and could help with farm work

- Had to be virtual slave to her mother in law and husband

- If a women gave birth to a son her status would improve

- Girls where so looked upon that when they were born they would be left to die

- Known as first and second sister as they didn't have names

- Most men would have more than one wife if they would afford it

- Second wives were called concubines

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