Ancient China banner

Social structure

Key groups

Ancient Chinese society was very much a hierarchy of classes. At the top, of course, was the Imperial Family which included the Emperor. The main groups (in no particular order) were:

  • artisans, potters and weavers

  • merchants, e.g. bankers and traders

  • officials, e.g. scholars and scribes

  • peasant farmers.

Painting showing soldiers escorting the Imperial Family in Ancient China

Escorting the Imperial Family (Public domain)

Can you identify each group? How much social status did each class have?

Activity icon

After looking at the images of the four key groups answer these questions.

Other groups

The four main groups did not cover all of Chinese society. Others included:

  • nobles, some of whom were in the Emperor’s family but others reached this position by merit

  • soldiers — all men served at least two years in the army

  • slaves, including the poor, convicts and sometimes, their relatives.

Statue of a Silk Road traveller and his horse

Silk Road traveller

©DEC

In which of the key groups would you most likely find a traveller along the Silk Road?