While we, as a class, agree that artisans have made some amazing works and were exceptional craftsmen, it is surprising to learn that, despite doing so much for the development of the empire, artisans were not higher up on the social class hierarchy. It was sad to see that artisans did not hold a high role in society at all. The fact that they were almost ostracised from society and treated poorly honestly reminds me of how people in America view minorities with such contempt despite knowing they are necessary for the nation’s future. As I’ve said before, “these individuals, who decided to dedicate the rest of their lives to building and crafting, and who helped pave way for the success of their empire, were not given the respect they deserved”.
Things I learned this week:
- During the Qin and Han dynasty, the emperor and imperial family occupied the highest class. Nobles, government officials, and scholars followed right after. And, at the bottom, were commoners, convicts, and slaves.
- The commoner population was then divided up into four other groups, or Simin, based on their occupation: scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans.
- There was one quality that a perfect artisan was thought to have: Qiao. While it indicated the skillfulness of the artisan and helped give artisans some recognition, the word could also mean “the ability and the inclination to use skill for deceit and trickery”.
Bibliography
Barbieri-Low, Anthony J. Artisans in Early Imperial China. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2007.
