BELL RINGER

 Many critics have claimed that foot-

binding was a way to restrict
women’s freedom. Are there beauty
practices in America that might be
intended to restrict women?
Chinese Society and
Culture

Chapter 9 Section 2
Economic Changes

 Population Increase
 Grew from 80 million between 1390
and the end of the 1700’s.
 Less land for each family.
 Shortages led to unrest .
Economic changEs…con’t

 Unlike Europe, China didn’t develop

the Commercial Capitalism:
 Private business based on profit.
 Merchants not as independent in
China.
 Government controlled trade and
manufacturing and raised taxes.
Daily Life in China
 The Confucian ideals on family remained
strong and contributed to the stability of
the Chinese society.

Who is Confucius?
A Chinese thinker and social
philosopher, whose teachings and
philosophy have deeply influenced
Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and
Vietnamese thought and life.

“I hear and I forget. I see and I

remember. I do and I understand.”
- Confucius
Confucius
The Chinese Family
 The family met each other needs, and were
expected to sacrifice their individual desires
for the good of the family.
What would you
sacrifice for your
family??
All Under One Roof

 The ideal family was the extended

family.
 As many as four generations under one
roof.
 Son brought their wives and unmarried
daughters remained home.
 Elderly given the utmost respect.
The Clan

 Clan: consisted of dozens, or even

hundreds, of related families.
 Clan council and religious and social
activities linked the families.
 Wealthier families helped out poorer
families within the clan.
Role of Women

 Women were inferior to men.

 Only males were educated and had
careers.
 Men could divorce their wife if she
didn’t produce sons.
Footbinding

 Bound feet were a status symbol

and made getting married easier.
 Up to 2/3’s of Chinese Women
bound their feet.
 Painful process and women with
bound feet could not walk.
Footbinding
Cultural Developments
 Traditional Chinese culture reached new
heights in the Ming and Qing Dynsaty.
 The Golden Lotus:
 The first realistic social novel with its criticism of
the excesses of the powerful and wealthy.
Chinese Literature

 The Dream of the Red Chamber.

 Written by Cao Xuegin and published in
1791.
 Still considered China’s most popular
novel.
Chinese Architecture

 The Most outstanding example is

the Imperial City in Beijing.
 An immense walled compound with a
maze of apartments, offices, and
stately apartments.
 Became known as the Forbidden city
because commoners could not enter.