Difference between revisions of "The Merchant Elite and Vernacular Writing"
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=== The Four Occupations === | === The Four Occupations === | ||
| + | There were four distinct social classes, known as the Four Occupations. | ||
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| + | The idea of the Four Occupations came from either Legalist or Confucian principles, dating back as far as the Zhou Dynasty. | ||
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These four different occupations were organized in a hierarchy of importance, starting with the Shi, followed by the Nong, the Gong, and finally the Shang. | These four different occupations were organized in a hierarchy of importance, starting with the Shi, followed by the Nong, the Gong, and finally the Shang. | ||
| − | The Shi were the cultural elite | + | The Shi were the cultural elite. Originally a warrior class, over time the group shifted into the scholarly elite seen in the Ming and other dynasties. During the Ming, they were the gentry elite. |
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| + | The Nong were the peasant farmers. They were considered second to the gentry because they grew the food necessary to maintain the empire. | ||
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| + | The Gong were craftsmen and workers. They were considered second to the peasants; they did not create products quite as essential as food, but still made goods necessary for the people in the country. Some of the more successful members of this class formed guilds to sell goods. | ||
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| + | The Shang were merchants. They were considered lower than the other classes because they profited off the work of others without producing their own work. While they were necessary to the country, the other classes were seen as more valuable. | ||
Revision as of 08:30, 13 April 2013
Historical Background
The Four Occupations
There were four distinct social classes, known as the Four Occupations.
The idea of the Four Occupations came from either Legalist or Confucian principles, dating back as far as the Zhou Dynasty.
These four different occupations were organized in a hierarchy of importance, starting with the Shi, followed by the Nong, the Gong, and finally the Shang. The Shi were the cultural elite. Originally a warrior class, over time the group shifted into the scholarly elite seen in the Ming and other dynasties. During the Ming, they were the gentry elite.
The Nong were the peasant farmers. They were considered second to the gentry because they grew the food necessary to maintain the empire.
The Gong were craftsmen and workers. They were considered second to the peasants; they did not create products quite as essential as food, but still made goods necessary for the people in the country. Some of the more successful members of this class formed guilds to sell goods.
The Shang were merchants. They were considered lower than the other classes because they profited off the work of others without producing their own work. While they were necessary to the country, the other classes were seen as more valuable.