Exhibition "Chinese People's Life in the Time of Late Ming Dynasty" was displayed at the National Museum in Wroc?aw from April 24, 2015 - August 12, 2015.

Here is the introduction:

Preface

The European Renaissance brought about the awareness of humanity and the rapid development of economy and culture for European society. At the same time in the east part of the Asian continent, China was in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The social economy and culture flourished in a different pattern from Europe. From the exhibition, we not only can experience the social development, cultural prosperity, and elegant life during the Ming dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries, but also can sense the wisdom of the Eastern counties.

Part I. A Society of Respecting Culture

The Imperial Civil Examination System for selecting government officials started from Sui dynasty (581–618). In the Ming period, this examination system had been in practice for about a thousand years. Positions of officials were not hereditary and could not be handed down to the next generation except the titles granted by the imperial family. Scholars from lower classes also had chances to be civil officials with higher ranks through the imperial examination by which a gentry class of scholar-bureaucrats was formed. This demonstrated a relatively open social stratification and a society of respecting culture.     

Part II. Religions and Daily Life

In Ming period, China was a country of separation in religions. Although the emperor was called the Son of Heaven, he had never been the head of any religious authorities. To ordinary Chinese people, religious emblems appeared on utensils for daily life. In this period, the significant changes in society were that many missionaries from Western countries introduced much knowledge of modern science and technology when they came to China.

Part III. Flourishing City Life

In Late Ming period (after middle 16th century), agriculture and handicrafts progressed and the market developed quickly both at home and abroad. Maritime trade was permitted after 1567 and much silver was imported into China. As a result, the silver became hard currency and the commodity economy was rapidly developed.

Epilogue

In 16th–17th centuries, the prosperous economy made people's life more colorful and liberal. Chinese humanism roughly synchronized with that in Europe, but different from the latter the Chinese humanism did not revive interest of the ancient thought.

Although the social ideological trends in China did not promote the development of market economy, and the Industrial Revolution did not happen in China, changes were irresistible, and Chinese began to contribute to social transformation on their own way.

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