Daily Life Of The Ancient Chinese
Farmers
Farmers in Ancient China were not farmers like we have today. They had lives nearly as hard as women. They would provide lots of food for the town or village they lived in. They would usually live in a small village of about 100 families. Farmers didn't have the tools we have now, so they had to do most of their work by hand. The tools farmers used were an iron plow, and a waterwheel. They would also do their work in rows which was not like any other country. A farmer's life was very complicated; they would have to work for the government for at least 1 month per year. While they were working, they would have to pay tax by giving a percentage of their crops to the government. They would also have to work on construction projects to build the village. Farmers also had to serve in the military for a specific period of time.
The types of food that farmers would harvest would depend on what area of the country they were in. If they lived in the North, they would usually get millet (a type of grain), and if they lived in the South, they would get rice. After many years, rice took over most of the country and most farmers would harvest it. Also, farmers would keep animals such as: goats, pigs and chickens. Some families though, would also be able to get fish from a river if they lived near one, meaning they wouldn't need as much food from the farmers.
City Livers
People who lived in the city were more under the control of the government. The people there would have to work many jobs, including merchants, craftsmen, government officials and scholars. The rules of the city were very strict. At night time, people would close the gate to the city so nobody could leave or enter the city.
Family Life
Living in a family had many rules. The family was ruled by the father, and the wife and children were to obey him. While the men were out working, the women had to stay home and take care of their house and children. Families were always required to respect elders. Children always had be nice to their parents, and they had to take care of their parents. If a someone had died, they were still required to give respect. This was because elderly respect was part of their religion; Confucianism. Families would also pray to their ancestors and also sacrifice things for them.
School
Back then, only wealthy boys would go to school. No girls would go as they were considered worth less than men. They learnt calligraphy (cursive writing), studied poets and poems and learnt about the teachings of Confucius.
Women
Women were living the hardest life of all of the Chinese. They were considered as being worth less than men. They weren't treated with respect and were forced into everything. They didn't get to choose who they married and they didn't get a choice as what to do in the house. If a baby girl was born and the family didn't want it, then they would leave the baby to die. This was okay in their society.
Farmers in Ancient China were not farmers like we have today. They had lives nearly as hard as women. They would provide lots of food for the town or village they lived in. They would usually live in a small village of about 100 families. Farmers didn't have the tools we have now, so they had to do most of their work by hand. The tools farmers used were an iron plow, and a waterwheel. They would also do their work in rows which was not like any other country. A farmer's life was very complicated; they would have to work for the government for at least 1 month per year. While they were working, they would have to pay tax by giving a percentage of their crops to the government. They would also have to work on construction projects to build the village. Farmers also had to serve in the military for a specific period of time.
The types of food that farmers would harvest would depend on what area of the country they were in. If they lived in the North, they would usually get millet (a type of grain), and if they lived in the South, they would get rice. After many years, rice took over most of the country and most farmers would harvest it. Also, farmers would keep animals such as: goats, pigs and chickens. Some families though, would also be able to get fish from a river if they lived near one, meaning they wouldn't need as much food from the farmers.
City Livers
People who lived in the city were more under the control of the government. The people there would have to work many jobs, including merchants, craftsmen, government officials and scholars. The rules of the city were very strict. At night time, people would close the gate to the city so nobody could leave or enter the city.
Family Life
Living in a family had many rules. The family was ruled by the father, and the wife and children were to obey him. While the men were out working, the women had to stay home and take care of their house and children. Families were always required to respect elders. Children always had be nice to their parents, and they had to take care of their parents. If a someone had died, they were still required to give respect. This was because elderly respect was part of their religion; Confucianism. Families would also pray to their ancestors and also sacrifice things for them.
School
Back then, only wealthy boys would go to school. No girls would go as they were considered worth less than men. They learnt calligraphy (cursive writing), studied poets and poems and learnt about the teachings of Confucius.
Women
Women were living the hardest life of all of the Chinese. They were considered as being worth less than men. They weren't treated with respect and were forced into everything. They didn't get to choose who they married and they didn't get a choice as what to do in the house. If a baby girl was born and the family didn't want it, then they would leave the baby to die. This was okay in their society.