Social Structure
The Social Structure of the Ming Dynasty was influenced by Confucianism. There were four solid classifications with the Mings.
4 Classifications of Social Structure
4 Classifications of Social Structure
- Shi-top of the social structure. Includes aristocrat scholars and an educated bureaucracy
- Nong-second to the Shi. Farmers.
- Gong-Artisans. Producers. More respected than merchants.
- Shang-Merchants and traders. Looked down upon by society because they did not produce anything and "lived off the labors of others."
Trade
In 1500, the Ming Dynasty has an isolationist policy towards trade. Since private foreign trade illegal, a lot of trading was done in secret. According to http://www.chinahighlights.com/, the official sanctioned trading was only allowed in 3 ports, and the Japanese were allowed in one designated port only once every ten years. Later, in the middle of the dynastic era, the trade policy was once again changed. Finally, trade was again allowed and encouraged.