Chapter 7: Early China Section 2: Life in Ancient China Chinese society had three main social classes: landowning aristocrats, farmers, and merchants. Three Chinese philosophies, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism, grew out of a need for order.

A. Life in Ancient China 1.Early Chinese society had three main social classes: a.LANDOWNING ARISTOCRATS i.lived in large houses with fine furniture and silk hangings ii.Did not own large estates for long; each aristocrat divided his land among his sons b.FARMERS i.9 of 10 Chinese were farmers ii.Lived in simple houses inside the village walls iii.Northern China, wheat and millet were grown; Southern China, rice was grown iv.Farmers paid part of their crop to the landowner (TENANT FARMERS) v.Most owned a small piece of land where they grew food for their families vi.In wartime, the farmers also served as soldiers. c.MERCHANTS i.Shopkeepers, traders, and bankers ii.Some grew quite wealthy iii.Not allowed to have government jobs since government officials should not be concerned with money

B. What Was Life Like in a Chinese Family? 1.Large families to produce more and become wealthier 2.Filial piety-children respected their parents and older relatives 3.Men were respected because they grew the crops, went to school, ran the government, and fought wars-more “important” than the work of women (raised children and managed the household) 4.Wives of rulers or women in the royal family often convinced men in power to see things their way.

C. Chinese Thinkers 1.During the “Period of the Warring States”, whole villages of men, women, and children were beheaded-Chinese began looking for ways to restore order and peace to society 2.Between B.C., Chinese thinkers developed three major theories about how to create a peaceful society:

a.CONFUCIANISM- i.ALL MEN WITH A TALENT FOR GOVERNING should take part in government ii.Confucius believed that people needed to have a sense of duty (Parents OWE their children love; children OWE their parents honor, etc.) iii.GOLDEN RULE-“within the four seas all men are brothers” iv.Confucius say… b.DAOISM/TAOISM- i.Based on teachings of Laozi, but unsure if he was a real person ii.Ideas written in Dao De Jing-people should give up worldly desires and turn to nature and the Dao (the force that guides all things) iii.Called on people to give up their concerns about the world and seek inner peace and live in harmony with nature

c.LEGALISM- i.“School of Law” ii.Humans were naturally evil and they needed harsh laws and stiff punishments to force them to do their duty iii.Strong ruler was needed to keep order in society iv.Favored force and power, and did not require rulers to show kindness or understanding