A Look on How Was a Life During Ming Dynasty in China

To start with, the Chinese Empire was large and controlled most of Asia at one point in time. One of the dynasties that ruled the empire was the Ming Family. In the Ming dynasty, villages has its own ordinances. Even though ordinances cannot control all the greedy, crimes, unlawful actions people make, however it is a proper way to keep the society behave good social order and morality. In the document, the author stated “Contact between the high and low will be established, and the cycle will be formed.” This means the ordinances not only keeping the village out of control, it also bringing people from low class to high class together, and remove the distance of judgement between the rich and the poor. The local government thinks prohibiting gambling and travel at night is important due to village safety and proper behavior. The prohibition of gambling created since people who is unemployed becoming addicted to gambling. Gambling become an addiction because it rises up people desire to win. People even sell their house, land, jewelry for money on gamble. The author stated “Unlawful intents are born, and wicked schemes are hatched.” This proves people are willing to participate in unlawful actions such as stealing, robbery, burglary, being violence, commit a crime, etc.. As a result, the rate of vagrancy increase overtime. Losing in the bet caused people's attitude is getting worst. They become more violence in the family, always grumpy in the conversation, and being drunk no matter day or night. All in all, prohibiting gambling can bring together unlawful fortunes, prevent unlawful behavior, and forbids homeless forming gang and occupy themselves with gambling.

Prohibition on travel at night is for the purpose of safeguarding. It was strictly prohibited by the mandarin of the village. People who violated will be punished by the public, no exception. While there are so many thieves and rogues start grow out of their bad habit, people living in village afraid they will be the next target, which leads to everyone worry about their privacy. The village has to come up with the option to prevent night wanderers and also keep the town safe. With the prohibition, thieves and rogues will not prevail. People can feel safe during night time because there will be guards take turns patrolling the street.

The economy of the Ming dynasty in China was the largest in the world during that period. The period was marked by the increasing political influence of the merchants, the gradual weakening of imperial rule, and technological advances. Chinese society by Ming times was highly commercialized. During period, most villagers are illiterate because only the rich can afford education. Trade was also significant in village activities, although there was a move from barter to money transactions in many areas of China during mid-Ming times. However, they all know the importance of having a contract to prove the agreement of buying and selling, borrowing and mortgaging, pursuit of profit. Anything dealing with money will have to have a financial agreement of both parties.

Villages were real communities, small gathering places for group activity. During the Ming period, the villagers are very kind and sharing. Such as people are willing to share the water in the spring with other village. Since the water in the spring was so abundant that it often overflown, they want it to irrigate all the fields of the villagers. Unfortunately, the spring gushed so strong that they are unable to make it work. Di Ming Shi said “It is better to share water with neighboring villagers than to let it go to waste. And if two more ditches are built, East Great-Water village will also enjoy the benefits of further irrigation.” He wanted to take this as a chance to approach neighboring villages to gain their cooperation for projects of mutual benefits. The village constructed more ditches so everyone has enough water came to sharing labor and benefits. Some people rise up the controversy to the magistrate because they feel it is unfair that people drain off too much and they always have to finish the job, which is why Magistrate Di ordered another order to satisfy the villagers. The ditch are now divided equally in every area. Relying on the fairness of Magistrate Di, the villagers are sharing the water peacefully, and later generations should be aware of the Old South Ditch.

Most villages had small votive shrines and temples. Monks and nuns traveled extensively, providing links to the outside. They often promoted village group pilgrimages to religious sites such as well-known temples. Most villages had schools that were established on temple premises. In 1874, the village brought up the proposal about building a temple-market so all the people in the area would be beneficial. “It is important to appease the gods and to satisfy the people, for this will bring our village as well as the surrounding communities a good reputation.” This explains people often feel a stronger loyalty to their village than they do towards their country or ethnic group. They have a strong bond to their home village even if it has been generations since their family lived there. Villagers assist one another in various ways. Such as they collecting funds for the cost of construction, soliciting donations from neighboring for the construction to build a temple-market. It becomes popular because all kinds of goods were brought in from all over, and people came from all directions.

They believe more educated will speed rural development. Students mainly studied Confucianism and classic Confucian books, such as the Four Books.

To conclude, the Chinese developed a society based on respect for the spirits of the earth, one's ancestors, and other people. The wealthy and middle class were either nobility, merchants, politicians, or civil servants while the poor were the farmers and laborers. The villagers were all as one. They take leadership roles in helping villagers in many activities such as prohibiting travel as night and gambling, build a temple market for everyone benefit, and sharing water with neighborhood. Seeing them as ways to promote morality and good social order no matter what class they are.