Section IV: Ancient Chinese Life and Culture
(Pages 90-93)
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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.
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Lets look at the main
ideas on page 90.
Also. How about the
left hand side –
“Then and Now”:
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:
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Children must obey
their parents.
Wives must obey their
husbands.
Young people must
obey and respect older
people.
That’s what their
religion and beliefs
insisted upon.
Children
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Were the reason for the family.
Raising children was very
important.
Children ended up becoming
farmers and soldiers.
Boys are more important than
girls.
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They were stronger and could
work longer in the fields.
They could perform family
ceremonies that honored
ancestors.
In hard times, baby girls might
even be left to…
(you might not want to know)
Girls are also a financial burden.
If they were to get married, their
family often had to pay a dowry to
the grooms family.
Women
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Were inferior to men – so
we don’t know much
about them (no-one even
wrote about them).
Even when women did
something, they were
thought of as lower than
men.
Women were supposed to
keep in their place.
Let’s read on page 91 (in
the quotation marks).
Ten Signs of Beauty in Ancient China
Concepts of beauty have changed throughout the various periods of China's history, but
the following 10 characteristics have continuously been considered signs of beauty:
1. Lustrous black hair;
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 shaved their
eyebrows, and then drew eyebrows with pigment;
4. Large, bright and expressive eyes;
5. Red lips and white teeth. In addition to beauty, this was considered a sign of good
health;
6. Graceful fingers and arms. A pretty woman was expected to have well-shaped hands,
with slim, soft fingers, and fair, fleshy arms;
7. Slender waist and fair skin. Throughout history, women have wanted a willowy figure;
8. Tiny feet and a light, elegant gait;
9. Dressing according to complexion, figure and disposition; and
10. A fragrant body. It's said a concubine of Qing Emperor Qian Long (1711-1799) gave
off a natural fragrance.
Farming and Trade
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In the Zhou period,
farmland was
divided up into a
well-field system.
Large areas of land
were divided up into
9 parts – 8 for
individuals and the
9th for the noble
landowner (farmed
by all).
Chinese peasants were very poor
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Two meals a day.
Floods and droughts.
Still had to pay taxes
(sold crops to make
money – or
borrowed).
Some were forced to
sell everything they
had – including their
____________.
They had an agrarian economy
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This meant the depended
on agriculture.
It’s nice to have food,
but that’s not the best
way to live.
China has had periods of
bad weather for a long
time.
When they do, people die
(droughts and starvation,
floods and death).
And, they divided up the
land poorly – dividing it
up among sons until…
Merchants and Trade
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You’d think if you were a
businessman, being hardworking
and clever would be good.
In China it wasn’t.
Merchants were thought of as
even lower class than farmers
and peasants.
Confucius said profit wasn’t
important – and businessmen
want to make a profit.
Other countries like Chinese
Merchants better than the
Chinese liked their own
merchants (silk, lacquer-ware,
coins, etc…).
Advances in Technology:
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Large scale flood control
systems.
Processes for making bronze,
silk, and fine porcelain were
perfected.
Making cast iron was
developed.
Better farm tools and
equipment.
Paper was invented.
Excellent geographers and
astronomers.
Wrote Algebra and Geometry
books.
Some of the world’s first medicine
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Relied on observation
and careful study.
Had to pass a test to
practice medicine.
Books were written
on surgery and the
use of drugs.
Began to use
acupuncture.
And… Literacy and Literature
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Only the upper class
went to school.
Considered the ability
to read as important.
Had a written
language as far back
as 4500 BC.