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Suzhou Ming Social Life
Ming period (1368 to 1644) one of the great eras of orderly government and social stability in human history. 100,000,000 + population enjoyed 276 years of relative peace.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
The population was organized into military, artisanand civilian categories. They were registered in thetax lists under their households and landholdings.
Households were obliged to provide labor serviceaccording to the number of registered adult malesbetween sixteen and sixty years of age.
Public works labor service was one of the adult maleresponsibilities. This service was organized underthe “li-jia” system, under which each 110 neighboringhouseholds formed a “li” or “village”. Each year oneof the 10 leading families superintended 1/10 of theremaining 100 households, to form a “jia” or “section”,responsible for local labor service during the year.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
The founding emperor, Hong Wu, reinstated the CivilService Examination System for selection of officialsat every level of government:
Preliminary examinations in the County Town (Xian)
Prefectural examinations two of every three years,successful passing of which won the Xiucai degree. TheXiucai degree holders would be re-examined, usuallyevery 3 years. They were also authorized to take thequalification exam for the highest level exam of all --
the Jinshi, from among whom the highest rankingofficials in the empire were chosen. These Jinshialso had to take periodic re-evaluation exams.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
In general, from the 14th to the early 19th centuries,the Chinese economy seems to have grown in almost all itsaspects -- population, area of cultivated land, volume offoreign trade, production of handicaft and industrialgoods, and even in the use of money.
Transportation and communication all advanced under theMing administration, first to ensure safe delivery oftax grain from the southern producers to the northernparts of the country, especially after the capital wasmoved from Nanjing to Beijing under the reign of YongLe.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Now, let’s take a closer look at Suzhou during the Mingperiod, as depicted in the famous scroll painting by theMing painter Qiu Ying, “Riverside Scenes at the Qing-Ming Festival”
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Courtyardhome, seenfrom above
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
A bride being carriedoff to her new home,with carriers andporters
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Here we see a “MarriageDate Calculator”, and tohis right, a store that isadvertising “qing-xiao”, a“Cut-throat Sale”
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
A manufacturer of tinimplements, storefrontwith manufactory behind
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Gold-inlaid lacquerwarestore; incense factory;mobile puppet theatreon the street; court-yard home below
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Store selling grains,rice and beans, thesupplies being delivered by theboat.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Ceramics storefront.Notice the Suzhougarden behind thestorefront, with aswing, bamboo, andTaihu stones.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
A lumber company on the waterfront, forconvenient shipping,receiving, and sales.Is that a Buddhistmonk wearing a stupahat?
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Noodle shop below; behind, a “singingyoyo”; above, a manpaying for a goat?
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Precious metal jewelrystore at upper left; acarpentry; below,residences
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Shoe repair shop on left;woodworking shop on right
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Silk and Satin merchanton right; letter-writingservice to his left (most of the populationwas illiterate, and hadto hire letter-writers.We write our own letters today, but stillhire calligraphers formore beautiful writing)
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Palanquin stopping by a docked boat
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Silver exchange shopon a crowded bridge
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
“Authentic” herbalmedicine shop;Arts and craftsshop; fan salesmanon the street
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Goods delivered to your door
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
“Hall of AssembledWorthies” Bookstore,advertising “ancient andmodern poetry and proseby famous writers”
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Flower shop on the left,“Southern GoodsDistribution” storefronton the right.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Herbalist above;pack animals carryinggoods to market;residence below
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
“Male and FemaleInternal and ExternalMedical Clinic” (left);“Former Residence ofGovernor Zhou” (right)
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Pediatric Clinic andstreet scene
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Puppet show in front of an Academy
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Upper right: a turtlesoup restaurant; middle,a guest house with atennent examining aportrait painting; below,salesmen and a personin a palanquin.
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Even in the most stablesocieties, there will bethe occasional street-fight. Each combatantis holding onto the other’s long hair, andthree others are tryingto pull them apart.Notice the taxi passengerbeing pulled at lower left
Suzhou: Ming Social Life
Thank you for your attention!