Four divisions of society
Encyclopedia
The four divisions of society refers to the model of society in ancient China and was a meritocratic social class
system in China, and other subsequently influenced Confucian societies. The four castes—gentry, farmers, artisans and merchants—are combined to form the term Shìnónggōngshāng (士農工商). The concept was first brought up in the Confucian classic Spring and Autumn Annals
, and was influential in countries with Confucian influence. It has been adapted into Japanese as , in Korean as "Sa, nong, gong, sang" (사농공상), and in Vietnamese as "Sĩ, nông, công, thương (士農工商).
The ranking of the divisions was influenced by confucianist thinking
: The wise ruler was at the top, followed by the farmer who produces the wealth of the society. The artisan only reuses the wealth created, while the merchant only distributes the goods.
In China, Korea, and Vietnam, this meant that the Confucian scholar gentry that would- for the most part- make up most of the bureaucracy. This caste would contain both the more-or-less hereditary aristocracy as well as the meritocratic scholars that rise through the rank by public service and, later, by imperial exams.
In Japan, this caste essentially equates to the samurai
class. In Edo period
, with the creation of the Domains (han) under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
, all land was confiscated and reissued as fiefdoms to the daimyo
. The small lords, the , were ordered to either give up their swords and rights and remain on their lands as peasants, or move to the castle cities to become paid retainers of the daimyo. Only a few samurai were allowed to remain in the countryside; the . Some 5% of the population were samurai. Only the samurai could have proper surnames, which after the Meiji Restoration
became compulsory to all inhabitants (see Japanese name
)
In Japan's Edo period, the peasants, around 80% to 90% of the population, had to carry the burden of the economy. Taxes were paid in rice, 40% to 50% of the harvest, collected from the village as a community.
In Japan, artisans typically lived within larger towns, thus, below the castles towns were divided into four parts: the samurai quarter, the merchant quarter, the artisans quarter, and the hanamachi
, where theaters, brothels and gambling dens were located. In the towns, different ways of life developed, with the chōnindō
of the artisans and merchants and the bushidō
of the samurai.
In Japan, there were groups that did not even rank amongst the castes. The Burakumin
were effectively outcasts, because their occupations were taboo under Buddhism
and Shinto
. They were undertakers, butchers, and tanners, among other "unclean" trades. The hinin, literally "Non-people", were the second group: travelling minstrels and convicted criminals. Ronin
were former members of the samurai class who had lost a master, and therefore their purpose as samurai. In some cases their master died without an heir or the ronin had committed a crime and had been banished from his home domain. As social outcasts with no trade skills, many became drifters, bandits, or joined crime organizations.
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
system in China, and other subsequently influenced Confucian societies. The four castes—gentry, farmers, artisans and merchants—are combined to form the term Shìnónggōngshāng (士農工商). The concept was first brought up in the Confucian classic Spring and Autumn Annals
Spring and Autumn Annals
The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 722 BCE to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annalistic principles. The text is extremely concise and, if all the commentaries are excluded, about 16,000...
, and was influential in countries with Confucian influence. It has been adapted into Japanese as , in Korean as "Sa, nong, gong, sang" (사농공상), and in Vietnamese as "Sĩ, nông, công, thương (士農工商).
The ranking of the divisions was influenced by confucianist thinking
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
: The wise ruler was at the top, followed by the farmer who produces the wealth of the society. The artisan only reuses the wealth created, while the merchant only distributes the goods.
The four divisions
The four divisions are usually given in the following order: gentry, farmers, artisans, merchants; but this does not necessarily imply hierarchy. Different sources have cited the divisions in different order.Gentry
Gentry means different things in different countries.In China, Korea, and Vietnam, this meant that the Confucian scholar gentry that would- for the most part- make up most of the bureaucracy. This caste would contain both the more-or-less hereditary aristocracy as well as the meritocratic scholars that rise through the rank by public service and, later, by imperial exams.
In Japan, this caste essentially equates to the samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class. In Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, with the creation of the Domains (han) under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
, all land was confiscated and reissued as fiefdoms to the daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
. The small lords, the , were ordered to either give up their swords and rights and remain on their lands as peasants, or move to the castle cities to become paid retainers of the daimyo. Only a few samurai were allowed to remain in the countryside; the . Some 5% of the population were samurai. Only the samurai could have proper surnames, which after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
became compulsory to all inhabitants (see Japanese name
Japanese name
in modern times usually consist of a family name , followed by a given name. "Middle names" are not generally used.Japanese names are usually written in kanji, which are characters of usually Chinese origin in Japanese pronunciation...
)
Farmers
Farmers in a largely agrarian society, the farmers occupy a high position in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese society, at least in theory. Some sources, such as Xunzi, list them before the gentry, based on the Confucian view that they directly contributed to the welfare of the state. In China, the farmer lifestyle is also closely linked with the ideals of Confucian gentlemen, and aging scholars and bureaucrats often retire to a life of farming—again, at least in theory.In Japan's Edo period, the peasants, around 80% to 90% of the population, had to carry the burden of the economy. Taxes were paid in rice, 40% to 50% of the harvest, collected from the village as a community.
Artisans
The artisans were ranked below farmers, for they only create products from other products.In Japan, artisans typically lived within larger towns, thus, below the castles towns were divided into four parts: the samurai quarter, the merchant quarter, the artisans quarter, and the hanamachi
Hanamachi
A hanamachi is a Japanese courtesan and geisha district. The word's literal meaning is "flower street". Such districts would contain various okiya . Nowadays, the term hanamachi is commonly used in modern Japan to refer to the areas where modern-day okiya are still operating. In Kyoto's Gion...
, where theaters, brothels and gambling dens were located. In the towns, different ways of life developed, with the chōnindō
Chonindo
Chōnindō emerged as a way of life of the townspeople during the Edo period of Japanese history. It was a distinct culture that arose in cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Edo. It encouraged aspiration to bushidō qualities—diligence, honesty, honor, loyalty, and frugality—while blending Shinto,...
of the artisans and merchants and the bushidō
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
of the samurai.
Merchants
The merchants were ranked the lowest due to the fact that they do not produce anything, only profit from others' creations. Ironically, the merchant class were more affluent than farmers and artisans and held influence above and beyond their supposed social standing. As early as Spring and Autumn period in China, wealthy merchants have influenced state politics.Others
The imperial household and the highest hereditary nobility were typically considered separate from the four divisions, whether they held ultimate power, as in much of imperial China, or were mere ceremonial figureheads as in feudal Japan.In Japan, there were groups that did not even rank amongst the castes. The Burakumin
Burakumin
are a Japanese social minority group. The burakumin are one of the main minority groups in Japan, along with the Ainu of Hokkaidō, the Ryukyuans of Okinawa and Japanese residents of Korean and Chinese descent....
were effectively outcasts, because their occupations were taboo under Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
. They were undertakers, butchers, and tanners, among other "unclean" trades. The hinin, literally "Non-people", were the second group: travelling minstrels and convicted criminals. Ronin
Ronin
A or rounin was a Bushi with no lord or master during the feudal period of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the death or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege....
were former members of the samurai class who had lost a master, and therefore their purpose as samurai. In some cases their master died without an heir or the ronin had committed a crime and had been banished from his home domain. As social outcasts with no trade skills, many became drifters, bandits, or joined crime organizations.
See also
- ConfucianismConfucianismConfucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
- Caste system
- Class system
- Feudal Japan hierarchy
- Varna – four-fold division in Hinduism