Chinese Foot Binding

a pair of shoes for bound feet

Foot binding was the custom of binding the feet of young girls painfully tight to prevent further growth. The practice probably originated among court dancers in the early Song dynasty but spread to upper class families and eventually became common among all classes. The tiny narrow feet were considered beautiful and to make a woman's movements more feminine and dainty. Although reformers challenged the practice, it was not until the early twentieth century that foot binding generally died out, partly from changing social conditions and partly as a result of anti-foot binding campaigns.  Foot binding resulted in lifelong disabilities for most of its subjects. In the 1990s and early 2000s, some elderly (born until the mid-1940s) Chinese women still suffered from disabilities related to bound feet.  Some of the earliest versions of the story of Cinderella come from Song dynasty China. In these versions, the point of the story is that the Prince loves Cinderella because she has the smallest feet of any girl in the kingdom, so the slipper will only fit her.

an X-ray of bound feet

a women displaying the results of years of binding her feet

bound feet and healthy feet side by side

It was very painful to walk on bound feet and many women ended up disabled. 

Foot binding was a tradition passed on from mother to daughter.

Along the River During the Qingming Festival

Along the River During the Qingming Festival, is a panoramic painting by Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145).  It captures the daily life of people from the Song period at the capital, Bianjing, today’s Kaifeng.  The theme celebrates the festive spirit and worldly commotion at the Qingming Festival, rather than the holiday’s ceremonial aspects, such as tomb sweeping and prayers.  The entire piece was painted in the hand scroll format and the content reveals the lifestyle of all levels of the society from rich to poor as well as different economic activities in rural areas and the city.  It offers glimpses of period clothing and architecture.  

If you like the painting and would like to see it init's entirety click HERE!!!

This is AWESOME....

In 2010, an electronic version of this painting was created for exhibit in the China Pavilion at the Shanghai EXPO.

The Growth of Trade & Commerce in Imperial China

Barge

 Chinese barge

modern day Chinese barge

A barge is a long boat with a flat bottom and an excellent means to transport goods.

Canal

modern day Chinese canal

A long passage dug out of the ground and filled with water, either for boats to travel on, or to take water to a place.

Junk

ancient Chinese junk

modern day Chinese Junk

An ancient Chinese sailing vessel that is still used today.

Currency

ancient Chinese currency

A system or type of money that country uses.

Agricultural Tools of Imperial China

Chain Pump

A chain pump is a type of water pump in which several circular discs are positioned on endless chain.  One part of the chain dips into the water, and the chain runs through a tube, slightly bigger than the discs.  as the chain is dran up the tube, water becomes trapped between the discs and is lifted to the top.

Harrow

A farming tool with sharp metal blades, used to break up the earth before planting crops.

Ox

A very large bull that is used to work on farms.

Rice Paddies

A field flooded with water in which rice is grown.

Terrace Farming

A series of flat areas cut out of a hill like steps, and used to grow crops.

Mongols

Thank you Mr. Zoller!

The Yuan Dynasty

• Emperor
• Government by foreigners
• During this period the Mongolians were in control of China
• Because most mongolians could not read or write the entrusted government position to foreigners, specifically Muslims 
• Ended Civil Service Exam
• They did not want to rely on chinese to run the government
• They did not believe that the Confucian learning was needed for government jobs
• During this time China was divided up into 4 classes
1. The Mongols were on top
2. Next came the foreigners from outside China
3. The 3rd class was the Northern Chinese
4. On the bottom was the Southern Chinese
• Eventually the chinese rebelled and reestablished their own government 

The Song Dynasty

• Emperor
• Meritocracy
• It wad during this time the idea of the scholar-official reached it's height 
• Civil service exam opened up to lower classes
• There were new state supported schools allowed lower clases to attend university
• Civil Service Exams
• The exams were set up to prevent cheating
• Only a small portion of people could pass the difficult exams
• They were based on the works of Neo-Confucianism 
• This dynasty was eventually conquered by the Mongols

The Tang Dynasty

• Emperor
• Aristocracy
• Most bureaucrats were hired because a relative had a high position
• They had a personal recommendation from a friend with a high position
• They married into an imperial family
• Civil Service Exam
• During the second half of the dynasty they tried to improve the bureaucracy by incorporating a civil service exam to fill government positions
• However, the exam favored members of the aristocracy because only wealthy people could afford to go to university and prepare for exams
• Peasant rebellians brought down the Tang Dynasty 

Confucius

Confucius, who's name translated literally means "Master Kong," was a very important Chinese teacher and philosopher.  Confucius' main interset was to figure out ways for the government to do a better job of taking care of people.  He felt that people could achieve peace by doing their duty, and cooperating with society.  So people should obey the law, and do what the emperor and government officials told them to do.  Also, people should do their duty to their parents and take good care of their children, and people should do their duty to their ancestors and to the gods.  Confucius taught that people must act properly in 5 important relationships: 1. ruler & subject, 2. father & son, 3. older & younger sibling, 4. husband & wife, 5. friend & friend.  Within each of these relationships one person is above the other and the person above should be kind, while the person below should show respect. 

The Mandate of Heaven

The Political Development of China

IMPERIAL CHINA

The term imperial refers to leadership that is belonging or related to a emperor or king.  Imperial China refers to a time period where China was under the rule of emperors. 

DYNASTIES

Historians divide Chinese history into periods ruled by dynasties, or ruling families.  In a dynasty, power is passed from father to son so the sequence of rulers are considered to of the same family. 

BUREAUCRACY

This is depicting Chinese bureaucrats (government officials) at work.   The members of the bureaucracy were employed to help the emperor run the large nation.

ARISTOCRACY

The aristocracy was a wealthy ruling class, or government run by a wealthy class.  In other words, the bureaucracy would be made up of rich landowners.

MERITOCRACY

 Meritocracy, is a system were the government officials, members of the bureaucracy, are chosen for their merit and ability.  The civil service examination was designed to select the best candidates for the Chinese bureaucracy.  The test had questions on Chinese classics, poetry, legal and administrative issues.  They were mainly based on the works of Confucius, China's great philosopher and teacher. 

WARLORD

Throughout Imperial China's history there have been times of chaos and division were governments grew weak and cold not protect their citizens.  During these times, warlords rose up to fight the emperor and cease power. A warlord is a military leader operating outside the control of the government not unlike a gangster.  These leaders use violence, force, and fear to control people. 

GOVERNMENT BY FOREIGNERS

In the 13th century, the Mongols conquered almost all of Asia.  The Mongol leader, Kublai Khan (the grandson of Genghis Khan), took the title of emperor of China.  He called his dynasty the Yuan dynasty.  For nearly 100 years China was under Mongol rule.  

This is a painting entitled Auspicious Cranes by Huizong of Song (1082-1135) a Chinese emperor and painter during Song Dynasty.

To access a vast array of Chinese artwork and historical information click HERE.

Geography Challenge: China

1. Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia became important Chinese trading partners.

2. Travel in these areas would be difficult because of climate (weather), mountainous terrain (rocky mountains), and altitude (high mountains).

3. The rivers could be used for fishing and transportation, and they supplied water for farming.

4. Oasis provided water for travelers.  Camels were used as pack animals.  Military posts provided protection from bandits.

5. The compass allowed the Chinese to travel at times when the sun and the stars are not visible.

The Himalayan Mountains from Space

Night-Iime Satellite Imaging from Space 

6. India is separated from China by the Himalayas.  North Korea and South Korea are on the peninsula northeast.

7. China is the second largest country in Asia.  Governing it might be difficult because of its size and becasue mountains and deserts separate different areas of the country.

8. Mongolia is the country north of China that is nearest the Huang He.  People living here might have wanted to raid the farms near the river or to control the river.  

Today We Start China!

China is the second largest country in the world following Russia, covering approximately 3.7 million square miles. 

The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces. 

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Cinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups such as the Mongolians.  The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Top Lake in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia.

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.  It is located in the middle of Beijing, China and now houses the Palace Museum.  For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government.

It is the most populous country in the world with 1.3 billion citizens. 

Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex.  Important components of Chinese culture includes literature, music, visual arts, martial arts, cuisine, etc.