Difference between revisions of "The Merchant Elite and Vernacular Writing"
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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. | 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. | + | 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 ''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 ''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 ''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. | + | 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. |
| + | |||
| + | The Four Occupations were seen more as an ideal rather than a realistic hierarchy. While the peasants and craftsmen were considered more valuable than the merchant class, merchants could not only gain wealth from within the country, but through outside trade, as well. | ||
| + | With Europeans finding silver in the Americas, merchants were able to facilitate trade between foreign entities. Because of the desire for silver in China, merchants gained unprecedented wealth. (*) | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the Ming Dynasty, the social distinctions between classes became blurred. It culminated with the formation of a group referred to as the ''Shishang.''The name is clearly a combination of the gentry class and merchant class, ''shi'' and ''shang''. The group was "a combination of the old examination-based elite with a new wealthy merchant class" (Cambridge 99). | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 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.
The Four Occupations were seen more as an ideal rather than a realistic hierarchy. While the peasants and craftsmen were considered more valuable than the merchant class, merchants could not only gain wealth from within the country, but through outside trade, as well. With Europeans finding silver in the Americas, merchants were able to facilitate trade between foreign entities. Because of the desire for silver in China, merchants gained unprecedented wealth. (*)
In the Ming Dynasty, the social distinctions between classes became blurred. It culminated with the formation of a group referred to as the Shishang.The name is clearly a combination of the gentry class and merchant class, shi and shang. The group was "a combination of the old examination-based elite with a new wealthy merchant class" (Cambridge 99).