WHE

Hutchinson/Huh

China: Module 4:

The Few and the Many (Religion and Social Classes)

Look Over:

-Class notes and handouts (especially for the religions!)

-SAW 15:2 B, 15:3

-Corresponding textbook chapters and sections

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Main Social Classes:

Gentry (includes government officials and scholars)

Peasants (includes scientists, merchants, and soldiers)

Gentry:

-Wealthy land owners (rural)

-Lived in urban compounds

-Educated in Confucian classics

-No labor (long fingernails to prove it)

-Government officials and scholars

-Collected taxes

-Local affairs

-Kept the peace

-Advised the emperor

-Time and wealth  the arts (paintings, poems)

-Ceremonies to honor ancestors

Government officials:

-Knowledge of philosophy and literature

-Writing with style

-Upper class

-Control of central government (used to be through family ties but then replaced by civil service exam systems)

Scholars:

-Passed 4 civil service exams

-Many of them

-Upper class

-Wealthy

Peasants:

-Majority of the people – 80%

-Some were rich, some owned land

-Some were farmers

-Some were laborers without land

-Some made and sold tools, furniture, cloth…

-Live in villages with farmland

-Emperors officials usually didn’t interfere with them

-They feared punishments from the government

-Some leisure time – festivals, special events such as marriage ceremonies

Scientists:

-Many contributions

-Not much money/power

-There were many of them

-Paper and printing

Merchants:

-Bottom of society

-Considered to be rich

-Lent money to the government

-Generous to the poor

-Trade

Soldiers:

-Lower class

-Important for China’s survival

-Secured borders and expanded them

-Warfare  deception

-Bravery not a big deal

Joint family structure: the ideal; included many generations and the oldest male had the most authority

Filial piety and traditional values:

-Family’s interest before one’s own

-Complete obedience to parents

-Reverence to ancestors (memorial services; offer food and clothing to ancestors)

-Arranged marriages

Traditional role of women in China:

-Subservience

-Inferior to men

-Girls valued for work and the children they bear

-Bride obeys husband’s mother

-Respect for having sons

-Foot binding – small feet = beauty; limited their freedom as well

Civil Service Exams: had to pass them in order to be in the upper classes

Confucius and Confucianism

-Major book: Analects of Confucius

-Five Guiding Principles:

1. Love for all humanity (“Do not do for others what you your self do not desire”)

2. Importance of education - Gentlemen are made, not born: all you need is knowledge/education

3. Filial Piety – Honor and respect for ancestors, parents, and elders: key to Confucianism – the five relationships

4. Authority bears responsibility for setting good examples (ex: mandate of heaven)

5. Moderation in everything – avoid extremes

-Five Relationships: only 4 of the 5 are hierarchical

1. friend-friend

2. father-son

3. husband-wife

4. older brother-younger brother

5. ruler-ruled

Li: Outward expression of goodness

Ren: Inner goodness – humanness

-absolutely must do Li; one must work on Ren – only you know about your insides

Daoism

-“The Way of Nature” – “The Way”

-Philosophy of nature that stressed humanity’s need to adapt to its natural surroundings

-Founder:

-Lao-Zi (aka The Master)

-Major book:

-Dao De Jing

-The Way and Its Power

-Teachings:

-Universe is united by Dao

-Dao = impersonal force which determined the destiny of all things. It’s not changeable.

-Wu Wei- purposeful inactivity; passive – no unnatural action

-Let events take their natural course

-Live simply

-Oppose powerful governments and laws

-Influences:

-Made advances in science and technology (magnetic compass, chemistry, biology, astronomy)

-Some believe they invented gun powder (keep away ghosts)

Yin: Female, passive, earthly, evil spirits

Yang: Male, active, celestial, good spirits

Legalism: harsh laws and strong rulers; believe that humans act out of self-interest (rewards and punishments)

- Han Feizi: founder of Legalism

Buddhism

-Founded in India - reached China in 1st century AD

-Focused not on life on earth, but on life after death

-Teachings included:

  • Salvation for the good and punishment for the bad
  • Nirvana = Heaven
  • Used Daoist and Confucius ideals
  • Good behavior
  • Give up worldly possessions

-Four Noble Truths:

  • Suffering is universal
  • Suffering is caused by desire
  • Suffering can be ended by crushing desire
  • Desire can be ended by following the Eightfold Path…

-Eightfold Path of the Middle Way:

  • Practical guide to right conduct
  • Stressed understanding of the cause of suffering, compassion for all creatures, kindness, and truthfulness

Du Fu

Li Bao

Ban Zhao