The shāng (商)/ Merchants and Traders

 

The lowest class in ancient China is the Shāng (商) who was the merchants and traders of the kingdom.

 

There was not a lot of respect for merchants and traders in ancient Chinese society. Even though they able achieve significant wealth, they were held in low strata because they did not produce anything for the society, but rather transported and traded goods made by others. Sometimes merchants bought land in order to be considered farmers and therefore command more respect in society. Some would buy a good education for their descendants so that they could attain the status of scholars. Though traders, merchants, and peddlers were viewed as essential members of society, they were lowest on the rank strata of ancient Chinese social hierarchy, due to popular perception of these people as greedy and immoral.