1. China
Chapter 15-3
By Bill N.

2. Social Classes All people were not considered equal
Women were considered inferior to men
Young had to respect their elders
The highest class was the Gentry
Wealthy landowners
Allowed fingernails to grow very long to show they didn’t have to work
Next was the Peasants
Class most people belonged to
Some were relativley rich
Others were tenant farmers
Chinese Gentry

3. Social Classes Lower than Peasants were artisans and merchants
You could move up in class
If you passed examinations you might become a gov’t official and therefore rise in society
Chinese Peasants

4. Family Life
From an early age children learned their needs came after the family’s
The idea of Filial Piety was used. This meant the eldest family members needs were met before the youngest
Values such as respect for elders, duty and harmony were of great importance
The most desired type of family, was a Joint Family
A Joint Family contained many generations with the oldest male having the most authority
Family Elder

5. Family Life Marriages were always arranged
The Gentry used marriages to strengthen their positions in society
Peasants looked for wives who could work in the fields and bear them many children
Families consulted ancestors for approval before marriages
Final details were worked out with a go-between
Traditional Chinese Wedding

6. Role of Women
Women’s role in the Chinese society was to bear children and work
No family celebrated the birth of a daughter
When a woman married she then became part of her husband’s family
Chinese Wife

7. Role of Women The young bride had to obey her husband’s mother
It was under her mother-in-law that she learned the ways of the household
Some mother-in-laws could be very cruel
Chinese also adopted the practice of binding women’s feet to make sure her feet did not grow
This practice was very painful, but parents thought they wouldn’t find a husband for a girl with big feet
Lady who had bound feet