Life in China… …BEFORE the COMMUNIST Revolution

Social Classes Emperor Emperor Scholars Scholars Gentry = wealthy land owners Gentry = wealthy land owners Peasants Peasants Artisans and merchants Artisans and merchants Soldiers Soldiers

Mao Zedong Before: Before: Soldier and college student Soldier and college student Studied life of the peasants Studied life of the peasants Believed in communism (Lenin in Russia) Believed in communism (Lenin in Russia)

Marriage Parents arranged marriages Parents arranged marriages Lived with husband’s family Lived with husband’s family NO divorces! NO divorces!

WORK Peasants rented land Peasants rented land Worked all day Worked all day Children worked as soon as they walked Children worked as soon as they walked

CHILDEN & ELDERLY Birth of a girl was not celebrated Birth of a girl was not celebrated Not given name until 1 month old Not given name until 1 month old “The bamboo stick makes a “The bamboo stick makes a good child” good child”

Family Respect Children learn from birth that family interests come before your own Children learn from birth that family interests come before your own Parents expected and got complete obedience Parents expected and got complete obedience Family’s worship their ancestors and have ceremonies for them Family’s worship their ancestors and have ceremonies for them

Family Life Family is most important thing in life Family is most important thing in life Respect elders Respect elders Women obey men, but kids respect mom Women obey men, but kids respect mom Many generations of one family lived together to survive Many generations of one family lived together to survive Oldest male is in charge Oldest male is in charge

Role of Women Chinese valued girls for work and childbearing Chinese valued girls for work and childbearing Did not celebrate the birth of a girl Did not celebrate the birth of a girl When married, a woman becomes part of his family When married, a woman becomes part of his family A young bride must obey her mother-in-law and husband (she can’t criticize either of them) A young bride must obey her mother-in-law and husband (she can’t criticize either of them) Birth of a son = respect (birth of girl is ignored) Birth of a son = respect (birth of girl is ignored) 950AD = binding feet because small feet were considered more desirable for men and possible husband (very painful!) 950AD = binding feet because small feet were considered more desirable for men and possible husband (very painful!) Small feet = more beautiful Small feet = more beautiful

GOVERNACE Emperor was a distant figure Emperor was a distant figure Peasants had absolutely no say Peasants had absolutely no say

EDUCATION Only wealthy boys were educated Only wealthy boys were educated Peasants were easily cheated by anyone who could read and add Peasants were easily cheated by anyone who could read and add

HEALTH & HYGIENE Many food shortages Many food shortages Doctors very far away Doctors very far away “Foot binding” “Foot binding”

Binding Feet

BINDING FEET FOR WOMEN Having tiny feet was a sign of beauty and wealth and men were attracted to women with small feet. Foot Binding is an attempt to stop growing your feet and usually began between the ages of four and seven. A ten foot long bandage was wrapped tightly around the foot. This bandage forced the four small toes to go under the bottom of the foot. This made the foot become more narrow, but also shorter because it forced the big toe and the heel of the foot to become closer together by bowing the arch of the foot. An ideal foot should be no longer than three inches. The clef between the heel and the sole should be two to three inches deep. Finally, the foot should appear as an extension of the leg, rather than a stand for the body. To achieve the perfect foot, girls would walk long distances so their own body weight would crush the foot into its deformed shape. After two years of extreme pain, you would get a tiny pair of folded feet, but become unable to move normally. The tradition is carried out for ten years to make sure the toes stay in place.

STANDARD OF LIVING Tax collectors came every month Tax collectors came every month Families shared one-room hut Families shared one-room hut

AFTER THE REVOLUTION Marriage – no more arranged couples Marriage – no more arranged couples Divorce was legal Divorce was legal No more “purchasing women” = dowry No more “purchasing women” = dowry

Mao Zedong After: After: Formed People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 – Communism Formed People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 – Communism Great Leap Forward Great Leap Forward Cultural Revolution Cultural Revolution

AFTER… WORK – was done for the good of the country WORK – was done for the good of the country You changed jobs depending on what the govt. needed You changed jobs depending on what the govt. needed Kids joined the Red Guard and read Mao quotes Kids joined the Red Guard and read Mao quotes

AFTER… CHILDREN & ELDERLY – birth control now CHILDREN & ELDERLY – birth control now Still had rituals for births of baby (only for the first born) Still had rituals for births of baby (only for the first born) Visited graves of those dead yearly Visited graves of those dead yearly

AFTER… GOVERNANCE – workers now making decisions and in control GOVERNANCE – workers now making decisions and in control Labor groups decided issues not landlords Labor groups decided issues not landlords All were given land to cultivate and told what to grow (amounts of food were decided by the labor groups too) All were given land to cultivate and told what to grow (amounts of food were decided by the labor groups too)

AFTER… EDUCATION – In the beginning, all kids were going to schools EDUCATION – In the beginning, all kids were going to schools Villages set-up schools and expected uneducated adults to attend classes too Villages set-up schools and expected uneducated adults to attend classes too School for kids was from August 1 to June 20, 6-days a week, from 8am to noon then 2pm to 5pm School for kids was from August 1 to June 20, 6-days a week, from 8am to noon then 2pm to 5pm Eventually all schools are closed to focus on the government and kids began reading Mao’s Red Book of Quotes instead (like brainwashing) Eventually all schools are closed to focus on the government and kids began reading Mao’s Red Book of Quotes instead (like brainwashing)

AFTER… HEALTH & HYGIENE – still diseases like small pox and pneumonia HEALTH & HYGIENE – still diseases like small pox and pneumonia The Communist Party improved health care by getting teachers to instruct about hygiene, boiling water, cleaning veggies before eating, washing regularly The Communist Party improved health care by getting teachers to instruct about hygiene, boiling water, cleaning veggies before eating, washing regularly The kids then taught their parents The kids then taught their parents

AFTER… STANDARD OF LIVING – improved conditions for peasants STANDARD OF LIVING – improved conditions for peasants Families got essentials Families got essentials Communes = quote of food Communes = quote of food Families could also grow own veggies Families could also grow own veggies Govt helped with paying for salt, soap, cotton, thread, meats Govt helped with paying for salt, soap, cotton, thread, meats Govt. helped families save money through state banks and taxes that never exceeded what families could afford Govt. helped families save money through state banks and taxes that never exceeded what families could afford