Life in China…Life in China…

……BEFORE the COMMUNIST BEFORE the COMMUNIST RevolutionRevolution

Social ClassesSocial Classes

EmperorEmperor ScholarsScholars Gentry = wealthy Gentry = wealthy

land ownersland owners PeasantsPeasants Artisans and Artisans and

merchantsmerchants SoldiersSoldiers

Mao ZedongMao Zedong Before:Before:

Soldier and college studentSoldier and college student Studied life of the peasantsStudied life of the peasants Believed in communism (Lenin in Believed in communism (Lenin in

Russia)Russia)

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

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

AFTER THE REVOLUTIONAFTER THE REVOLUTION

Marriage – no more arranged couplesMarriage – no more arranged couples Divorce was legalDivorce was legal No more “purchasing women” = dowryNo more “purchasing women” = dowry

Mao ZedongMao Zedong After:After:

Formed People’s Republic of China (PRC) Formed People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 – Communismin 1949 – Communism

Great Leap ForwardGreat Leap Forward Cultural RevolutionCultural Revolution

AFTER…AFTER…

WORK – was done for the good of the WORK – was done for the good of the countrycountry You changed jobs depending on what You changed jobs depending on what

the govt. neededthe govt. needed Kids joined the Red Guard and read Mao Kids joined the Red Guard and read Mao

quotesquotes

AFTER…AFTER…

CHILDREN & ELDERLY – birth control CHILDREN & ELDERLY – birth control nownow Still had rituals for births of baby (only Still had rituals for births of baby (only

for the first born)for the first born) Visited graves of those dead yearlyVisited graves of those dead yearly

AFTER…AFTER…

GOVERNANCE – workers now making GOVERNANCE – workers now making decisions and in controldecisions and in control Labor groups decided issues not Labor groups decided issues not

landlordslandlords All were given land to cultivate and told All were given land to cultivate and told

what to grow (amounts of food were what to grow (amounts of food were decided by the labor groups too)decided by the labor groups too)

AFTER…AFTER…

EDUCATION – In the beginning, all kids EDUCATION – In the beginning, all kids were going to schoolswere going to schools Villages set-up schools and expected Villages set-up schools and expected

uneducated adults to attend classes toouneducated adults to attend classes too School for kids was from August 1 to June 20, School for kids was from August 1 to June 20,

6-days a week, from 8am to noon then 2pm to 6-days a week, from 8am to noon then 2pm to 5pm5pm

Eventually all schools are closed to focus on Eventually all schools are closed to focus on the government and kids began reading Mao’s the government and kids began reading Mao’s Red Book of Quotes instead (like brainwashing)Red Book of Quotes instead (like brainwashing)

AFTER…AFTER…

HEALTH & HYGIENE – still diseases HEALTH & HYGIENE – still diseases like small pox and pneumonialike small pox and pneumonia The Communist Party improved health The Communist Party improved health

care by getting teachers to instruct care by getting teachers to instruct about hygiene, boiling water, cleaning about hygiene, boiling water, cleaning veggies before eating, washing regularlyveggies before eating, washing regularly

The kids then taught their parentsThe kids then taught their parents

AFTER…AFTER…

STANDARD OF LIVING – improved STANDARD OF LIVING – improved conditions for peasantsconditions for peasants Families got essentialsFamilies got essentials Communes = quote of foodCommunes = quote of food Families could also grow own veggies Families could also grow own veggies Govt helped with paying for salt, soap, cotton, Govt helped with paying for salt, soap, cotton,

thread, meatsthread, meats Govt. helped families save money through Govt. helped families save money through

state banks and taxes that never exceeded state banks and taxes that never exceeded what families could affordwhat families could afford