The foundation of feudal rule is not the people?!
In a normal year, not the people, not the peasants, but - the "gentry"?What the hell is going on?
In special years, such as the drought in Shaanxi during the Chongzhen period, people's livelihoods have been hit. But in normal years, the ruling base of feudal society was not the people, but the "gentry" group. What exactly is a "gentry"?
The gentry refers to the groups of jinshi and juren who have gained fame through the imperial examination and have the possibility of entering the ranks, as well as bureaucrats who are currently serving as officials or have left office. These two groups of people constitute the vague concept of "cultural landlords". The imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty was the most extensive and authoritative in feudal society, and it was more unique compared to other dynasties.
The imperial examination system began in the Sui Dynasty, but the imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty far surpassed that of previous dynasties in terms of breadth and authority. Regardless of whether they were selected for the show or the promotion, candidates in the Ming Dynasty were awarded lifelong qualifications, which brought with them various privileges such as judicial immunity, tax exemption, exemption from service, and the opportunity to enter the pool of supernumerary civil servants.
These privileges made the gentry a special class of society, with very different clothes and vehicles from ordinary people. These privileged certificates attracted a large number of scholars to pursue fame, and also laid the foundation for the formation of the gentry class in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The reason for cultivating the gentry class in the Ming Dynasty was rooted in the concept of "governing the country by the poor". Different from the period of class solidification, the rise of the gentry class in the middle and late Ming Dynasty made it possible to emerge in the court even if it was not **. The new strata created by this policy provided the local government with middle-level cadres and became the basis for rule.
However, the rise of the gentry was not without *** Through inheritance and hereditary succession, they gradually accumulated a great deal of wealth, began to carry out land annexation, suppressed the commoners, and formed a local privileged power. This made the foundation of feudal rule more solid, and at the same time buried the hidden danger of social contradictions.
Although the gentry class played an important role in the political system of the Ming Dynasty, its rise also accelerated the decay of feudal society to a certain extent. When the situation was turbulent, such as the Chongzhen period, the gentry even colluded with the rebel forces to protect their own interests, showing their complex role.
After the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty by the Dashun army led by Li Zicheng, the gentry became the backbone of society. However, Li Zicheng ignored the lessons of history and was not cautious about the local gentry, which eventually led to the rebellion of the local forces. This also illustrates the complexity and variability of the gentry class, who maintained feudal rule while also having their own selfish interests and intrigues.
With the changes of history, the strategy of the Qing Dynasty towards the gentry class changed after entering the customs. By co-opting the Han gentry, the Qing Dynasty established its rule in the north, eventually unifying the country. This shows the flexibility and pragmatism of the rulers in dealing with the issues of the gentry class.
The second half of the essay deals with the deeds of Li Zicheng and the Dashun army, as well as the story of Wu Sangui, and these historical details vividly show the chaos at the end of feudal society. Through an in-depth analysis of these historical events, we are better able to understand the contradictions and evolution of feudal society, as well as the attempts and mistakes of the ruling class in dealing with complex situations.
Summary: In the feudal society of the Ming Dynasty, the rise of the gentry became the cornerstone of rule, but its power and intrigue gradually revealed complexity. Class contradictions and historical changes weave together a complex picture.
This article profoundly reveals the ruling roots of feudal society during the Ming Dynasty and emphasizes the key role of the gentry in this system. Through a detailed historical examination, the author analyzes the influence of the imperial examination system on the rise of the gentry and their special position in the social structure. This is a thought-provoking view of the complexity of feudal society and its profound impact on society.
First, the article highlights the uniqueness of the imperial examination system in the Ming dynasty, especially when it was more extensive and authoritative than that of other dynasties. This made the gentry, who had gained fame through the imperial examinations, a well-educated group whose status and privileges in society were established. The uniqueness of this system also provided a special background for the evolution of the social structure of the Ming Dynasty.
Secondly, the article provides a detailed analysis of the privileges and status of the gentry group, pointing out their unique position in the judicial, economic, and political spheres. These privileges are not only in terms of immunities and exemptions from duty and exemptions, but also in terms of access to the pool of non-staff civil servants. Through these unique treatments, the gentry became the elite of society, forming a solid foundation for feudal rule.
The article also emphasizes the motivation of the Ming Dynasty to cultivate the gentry class, that is, the concept of "governing the country by the poor". This concept led to the emergence of a group of non-**born ** in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, which brought a certain vitality to the society. However, the author also mentions the negative effects of the rise of the gentry, especially the privileged power that they gradually developed, which led to local social contradictions and injustices.
In his description of the period of social upheaval at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the article uses Li Zicheng and the Dashun army as examples to vividly illustrate the decay of the feudal ruling system and the complexity of the gentry class. The author skillfully illustrates the scheming and selfishness of the gentry in a turbulent situation through historical events. This description gives the reader a deeper understanding of the chaos and contradictions in society at the end of feudal rule.
Overall, this article presents a rich and multi-layered historical picture through the analysis of the foundation of the rule of feudal society in the Ming Dynasty. It provides an in-depth reflection on the structure of feudal society, but also raises a deep understanding of the deep-seated issues behind history, providing readers with a journey of deep historical reflection.
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