Section IV: Ancient Chinese Life and Section IV: Ancient Chinese Life and

CultureCulture (Pages 90-93)(Pages 90-93)

Section IV: Ancient Chinese Life and Section IV: Ancient Chinese Life and

CultureCulture (Pages 90-93)(Pages 90-93)

This section is about: The importance of the

family in Chinese society – and the preference to have sons over daughters.

The agrarian-based economy of ancient China.

The difficult lives of peasants in China and the advances in technology and culture.

Lets look at the Lets look at the main ideas on page main ideas on page 90.90.

Also. How about Also. How about the left hand side – the left hand side – “Then and Now”: “Then and Now”: Women in China.Women in China.

What do Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan and Yang Guifei have in common? They are ancient Chinese women highly regarded for their beauty. Legend has it, in fact, they are ancient China's four most beautiful women, and among the nation's most significant historical figures

Chinese families:Chinese families:

Children must obey Children must obey their parents.their parents.

Wives must obey Wives must obey their husbands.their husbands.

Young people must Young people must obey and respect obey and respect older people.older people.

That’s what their That’s what their religion and beliefs religion and beliefs insisted upon.insisted upon.

ChildrenChildren

Were the reason for the Were the reason for the family.family.

Raising children was very Raising children was very important.important.

Children ended up becoming Children ended up becoming farmers and soldiers.farmers and soldiers.

Boys are more important than Boys are more important than girlsgirls

They were stronger and could They were stronger and could work longer in the fields.work longer in the fields.

They could perform family They could perform family ceremonies that honored ceremonies that honored ancestors.ancestors.

In hard times, baby girls might In hard times, baby girls might even be left to…even be left to…

Girls are also a financial Girls are also a financial burden.burden.

If they were to get married, If they were to get married, their family often had to pay a their family often had to pay a dowrydowry to the grooms family to the grooms family

WomenWomen

Were inferior to men – Were inferior to men – so we don’t know much so we don’t know much about them (no-one about them (no-one even wrote about them).even wrote about them).

Even when women did Even when women did something, they were something, they were thought of as lower than thought of as lower than men.men.

Women were supposed Women were supposed to keep in their placeto keep in their place

Let’s read on page 91 (in Let’s read on page 91 (in the quotation marks)the quotation marks)

Ten Signs of Beauty in Ancient ChinaTen Signs of Beauty in Ancient China  Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China's Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China's history, but the following 10 characteristics have continuously been history, but the following 10 characteristics have continuously been considered signs of beauty: considered signs of beauty:

1. Lustrous black hair;1. Lustrous black hair;2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to create the appearance of greater height;2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to create the appearance of greater height;3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women 3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women shaved their eyebrows, and then drew eyebrows with pigment;shaved their eyebrows, and then drew eyebrows with pigment;4. Large, bright and expressive eyes;4. Large, bright and expressive eyes;5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign 5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign of good health;of good health;6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-shaped hands, with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms;shaped hands, with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms;7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a 7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a willowy figure;willowy figure;8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait;8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait;9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition; and9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition; and10. A fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-10. A fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) gave off a natural fragrance.1799) gave off a natural fragrance.

Ten Signs of Beauty in Ancient ChinaTen Signs of Beauty in Ancient China  Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China's Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China's history, but the following 10 characteristics have continuously been history, but the following 10 characteristics have continuously been considered signs of beauty: considered signs of beauty:

1. Lustrous black hair;1. Lustrous black hair;2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to create the appearance of greater height;2. Hair loosely coiled on the head to create the appearance of greater height;3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women 3. Finely shaped black eyebrows. During the Tang Dynasty, many women shaved their eyebrows, and then drew eyebrows with pigment;shaved their eyebrows, and then drew eyebrows with pigment;4. Large, bright and expressive eyes;4. Large, bright and expressive eyes;5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign 5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign of good health;of good health;6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-shaped hands, with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms;shaped hands, with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms;7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a 7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a willowy figure;willowy figure;8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait;8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait;9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition; and9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition; and10. A fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-10. A fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) gave off a natural fragrance.1799) gave off a natural fragrance.

Farming and TradeFarming and Trade

In the Zhou period, In the Zhou period, farmland was farmland was divided up into a divided up into a well-field systemwell-field system..

Large areas of land Large areas of land were divided up were divided up into 9 parts – 8 for into 9 parts – 8 for individuals and the individuals and the 99thth for the noble for the noble landowner (farmed landowner (farmed by all).by all).

Chinese peasants were very Chinese peasants were very poorpoor

Two meals a dayTwo meals a day Floods and droughtsFloods and droughts Still had to pay Still had to pay

taxes (sold crops to taxes (sold crops to make money – or make money – or borrowed)borrowed)

Some were forced Some were forced to sell everything to sell everything they had – including they had – including their ____________.their ____________.

They had an They had an agrarianagrarian economyeconomy

This meant the depended This meant the depended on agriculture. on agriculture.

It’s nice to have food, but It’s nice to have food, but that’s not the best way to that’s not the best way to live.live.

China has had periods of China has had periods of bad weather for a long bad weather for a long time.time.

When they do, people die When they do, people die (droughts and starvation, (droughts and starvation, floods and death).floods and death).

And, they divided up the And, they divided up the land poorly – dividing it land poorly – dividing it up among sons until…up among sons until…

Merchants and TradeMerchants and Trade

You’d think if you were a You’d think if you were a businessman, being businessman, being hardworking and clever would hardworking and clever would be good.be good.

In China it wasn’tIn China it wasn’t Merchants were thought of as Merchants were thought of as

even lower class than farmers even lower class than farmers and peasants.and peasants.

Confucius said profit wasn’t Confucius said profit wasn’t important – and businessmen important – and businessmen want to make a profit.want to make a profit.

Other countries like Chinese Other countries like Chinese Merchants better than the Merchants better than the Chinese liked their own Chinese liked their own merchants (silk, lacquer-merchants (silk, lacquer-ware, coins, etc…) ware, coins, etc…)

Advances in Technology:Advances in Technology: Large scale flood control Large scale flood control

systems.systems. Processes for making Processes for making

bronze, silk, and fine bronze, silk, and fine porcelain were perfected.porcelain were perfected.

Making cast iron was Making cast iron was developed.developed.

Better farm tools and Better farm tools and equipment.equipment.

Paper was invented.Paper was invented. Excellent geographers Excellent geographers

and astronomers.and astronomers. Wrote Algebra and Wrote Algebra and

Geometry books.Geometry books.

Some of the world’s first Some of the world’s first medicinemedicine

Relied on Relied on observation and observation and careful study.careful study.

Had to pass a test to Had to pass a test to practice medicine.practice medicine.

Books were written Books were written on surgery and the on surgery and the use of drugs.use of drugs.

Began to use Began to use acupuncture.acupuncture.

And… Literacy and And… Literacy and LiteratureLiterature

Only the upper Only the upper class went to class went to school.school.

Considered the Considered the ability to read as ability to read as important.important.

Had a written Had a written language as far language as far back as 4500 BCback as 4500 BC