The social class in China that comprised Confucian scholars, government officials, landlords, and wealthy merchants is often referred to as the "scholar-official" class or the "gentry." This class played a significant role in the governance and culture of imperial China, as they were typically educated in Confucian philosophy and held significant influence in both local and national affairs. Their status was often derived from education, land ownership, and wealth, which allowed them to maintain power and prestige throughout Chinese history.
Merchants were in middle class.
The Confucian philosophy discouraged trade as it saw it as an evil. Merchants were discouraged from trading as this was not considered to be an act of righteousness.
The Han government held a generally ambivalent view toward commerce and merchants, often considering them less prestigious than agricultural work. While recognizing the economic importance of trade for prosperity, officials viewed merchants as profit-driven and sometimes unscrupulous. This perception led to policies that aimed to regulate commerce and limit the power of merchants, reflecting a Confucian ideal that prioritized agriculture and the moral value of the land over trade.
Merchants had lower social status than peasants.
Leisler's Rebellion
Merchants were in middle class.
Members of the gentry included Confucian scholars, government officials, landlords, and rich merchants.
Aristocracy Gentry.
Aristocracy Gentry.
The Confucian philosophy discouraged trade as it saw it as an evil. Merchants were discouraged from trading as this was not considered to be an act of righteousness.
Historically, Japan's social hierarchy placed merchants at the bottom due to their profit-seeking activities, which were viewed as selfish and exploitative. Confucian ideals emphasizing agriculture and manufacturing as more noble pursuits also contributed to the perception that merchants did not contribute as much to society. Restrictions on merchants' activities enforced by the government reinforced this belief.
The Han government held a generally ambivalent view toward commerce and merchants, often considering them less prestigious than agricultural work. While recognizing the economic importance of trade for prosperity, officials viewed merchants as profit-driven and sometimes unscrupulous. This perception led to policies that aimed to regulate commerce and limit the power of merchants, reflecting a Confucian ideal that prioritized agriculture and the moral value of the land over trade.
They were business partners running a merchants, building landlords and money lending concern.
A firm social order took hold during Han rule. In the Confucian view, peasants made up the second-highest class. Merchants occupied the lowest class because they merely bought and sold what others had made. However, this social division did not indicate wealth or power. Peasants were still poor and merchants were still rich.
Merchants sell their products in stores and online.The government often controls what products that merchants can sell.When merchants cannot sell an item, they put it on sale.
Wealthy merchants form power as a republic. This is part of the government.
Merchants had lower social status than peasants.