Traditions in China…Traditions in China…

Ming and Qing Dynasties Ming and Qing Dynasties

Practiced isolationismPracticed isolationism Did not want influence from the WestDid not want influence from the West Put trade restrictions and regulations Put trade restrictions and regulations

on trade from the Weston trade from the West Were self-sufficient Were self-sufficient Not interested in Not interested in ““strange objects”strange objects”

Social ClassesSocial Classes

EmperorEmperor ScholarsScholars Gentry = wealthy Gentry = wealthy

land ownersland owners PeasantsPeasants Artisans and Artisans and

merchantsmerchants SoldiersSoldiers

MarriageMarriage

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

WORKWORK

Peasants rented landPeasants rented land Worked all dayWorked all day

Children worked as soon as they Children worked as soon as they walkedwalked

CHILDEN & ELDERLYCHILDEN & ELDERLY

Birth of a girl was not celebratedBirth of a girl was not celebrated Not given name until 1 month oldNot given name until 1 month old ““The bamboo stick makes a The bamboo stick makes a

good child”good child”

Family RespectFamily Respect

Children learn from Children learn from birth that family birth that family interests come interests come before your ownbefore your own

Parents expected Parents expected and got complete and got complete obedienceobedience

Family’s worship Family’s worship their ancestors and their ancestors and have ceremonies for have ceremonies for themthem

Family LifeFamily Life

Family is most Family is most important thing in lifeimportant thing in life

Respect eldersRespect elders Women obey men, Women obey men,

but kids respect but kids respect mommom

Many generations of Many generations of one family lived one family lived together to survive together to survive

Oldest male is in Oldest male is in chargecharge

Role of WomenRole of Women Chinese valued girls for work Chinese valued girls for work

and childbearingand childbearing Did not celebrate the birth of Did not celebrate the birth of

a girla girl When married, a woman When married, a woman

becomes part of his familybecomes part of his family A young bride must obey her A young bride must obey her

mother-in-law and husband mother-in-law and husband (she can’t criticize either of (she can’t criticize either of them)them)

Birth of a son = respect (birth Birth of a son = respect (birth of girl is ignored)of girl is ignored)

950AD = binding feet 950AD = binding feet because small feet were because small feet were considered more desirable considered more desirable for men and possible for men and possible husband (very painful!)husband (very painful!)

Small feet = more beautifulSmall feet = more beautiful

GOVERNACEGOVERNACE

Family Dynasties controlled regions Family Dynasties controlled regions within the country-Passed Downwithin the country-Passed Down

Emperor was a distant figureEmperor was a distant figure Peasants had absolutely no sayPeasants had absolutely no say

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Only wealthy boys were educatedOnly wealthy boys were educated Peasants were easily cheated by Peasants were easily cheated by

anyone who could read and addanyone who could read and add

HEALTH & HYGIENEHEALTH & HYGIENE

Many food shortagesMany food shortages Doctors very far awayDoctors very far away ““Foot binding”Foot binding”

Binding FeetBinding Feethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmOqpoDFEw

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 LIVINGSTANDARD OF LIVING

Tax collectors came every monthTax collectors came every month Families shared one-room hutFamilies shared one-room hut

China’s Self-sufficiencyChina’s Self-sufficiency

Agricultural economyAgricultural economy Mining and manufacturing industry- salt, tin, Mining and manufacturing industry- salt, tin,

silver, iron.silver, iron. Produced silks, cottons, and fine porcelainProduced silks, cottons, and fine porcelain SO- they had little interested in trading with the SO- they had little interested in trading with the

WestWest How do the European get the Chinese to increase How do the European get the Chinese to increase

trade with them? trade with them?

Opium WarOpium War British begin selling Opium to the ChineseBritish begin selling Opium to the Chinese By 1835, By 1835, 12 million Chinese12 million Chinese were were addictedaddicted to the drug. to the drug. Opium caused great social, moral, and monetary Opium caused great social, moral, and monetary

problems for China.problems for China. Emperor desired to stop trade, but the British refused. Emperor desired to stop trade, but the British refused. Opium Opium War breaks outWar breaks out between the Chinese and between the Chinese and

BritishBritish BRITISH WIN! And get:BRITISH WIN! And get:

Hong Kong Hong Kong $Access to more Chinese ports$Access to more Chinese ports Makes more money as Opium trade still continuesMakes more money as Opium trade still continues

Opium Field

Opium Dens – Unproductive men

War!

Other foreigners enter China now…

Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion Poor peasants and workers resented foreignersPoor peasants and workers resented foreigners Began a campaign against the Empress and Began a campaign against the Empress and

foreigners by foreigners by attacking European section of attacking European section of BeijingBeijing

People killed on the streetsPeople killed on the streets and in hotels and in hotels BoxersBoxers were eventually were eventually defeated by the defeated by the

EuropeansEuropeans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4QdEKjEg88

Boxers

Foreign soldiers take back China and gets rid of Boxers

Boxers try to take back the cities from

foreigners.

Foreigners squash the Boxers and take back the city of Peking.

Results of the Boxer Results of the Boxer RebellionRebellion

Chinese Boxers lostChinese Boxers lost but a but a strongstrong sense of sense of nationalismnationalism had emerged had emerged

China must China must resist foreign interventionresist foreign intervention The government must become responsive to the The government must become responsive to the

needs of the peopleneeds of the people Chaos in China for years over who would lead nextChaos in China for years over who would lead next Internal fighting leads to the rise of nationalist Internal fighting leads to the rise of nationalist

leader, Chaing Kai-Shek, who wants to unify China leader, Chaing Kai-Shek, who wants to unify China but other groups fight against him including but other groups fight against him including communists led by Mao Zedongcommunists led by Mao Zedong