Yuan Dynasty Society
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Summary
In Yuan society under Mongol rule, people were clearly divided into several classes according to the order of conquest and ethnic difference. The first layer was the Mongols, the conquerors; the second was the Semu, who were the first to submit and join the campaigns; the third was the Chinese. The Chinese were further divided into two grades: the first was the Hanren, the second the Nanren. The distinction between Hanren and Nanren was drawn by the borders of Song and Jin: Chinese who had been under Jin rule were called Hanren, including Khitans, Jurchens, and Koreans; Chinese under Song rule were called Nanren, including the three provinces of Jiangzhe, Huguang, and Jiangxi and the circuits north of the Yangtze and in Huainan in Henan province. The Song submitted last, so the Nanren ranked even lower than the Hanren and received the coldest treatment from the Mongol government.
Editor's review
In this short essay, Wu Han sketches the hierarchical structure of Yuan society with a concise touch, making clear the layered relations among Mongols, Semu, Hanren, and Nanren. The article points out that Yuan society was divided into several classes according to the order of conquest and ethnic difference: the first layer was the Mongols, the conquerors; the second was the Semu, who were the first to submit and join the campaigns; the third was the Chinese, who were further divided into Hanren and Nanren. The distinction between Hanren and Nanren was drawn by the borders of Song and Jin; Khitans, Jurchens, and Koreans all belonged to the Hanren, while the Nanren referred to those originally under Song rule in the three provinces of Jiangzhe, Huguang, and Jiangxi and the circuits north of the Yangtze and in Huainan in Henan. Its value lies in establishing, within a short space, a basic framework for understanding social status and political treatment in Yuan society, in plain language and with clear lines. It is suitable as an introductory read for understanding Yuan society and can be read alongside discussions of Yuan politics and law to understand how the hierarchy affected daily governance. The article is an institutional overview and does not develop individual cases, so readers need to extend their reading on their own.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Introductory readers who want a quick understanding of the hierarchical structure of Yuan society
- Students of Chinese social history who need a Yuan case study
- Teachers of ethnic relations and institutional history who want a short supplementary text
- Readers who like clear institutional overviews that are easy to take notes from
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting details of daily life and individual stories in Yuan society
- Readers who need a systematic social history textbook or a long general survey
- People with little interest in the topic of ethnic hierarchy who want only light reading
Reading tips
- First draw a tier diagram of Mongols, Semu, Hanren, and Nanren, then check the basis of division against the original text.
- Be sure to remember the criterion that Hanren and Nanren were divided by the borders of Song and Jin, so as not to confuse them with later concepts.
- Read alongside materials on Yuan political institutions and legal treatment to see how the hierarchy was embodied in institutions.
- After reading, retell the four-class division in your own words to test whether you have truly sorted out the layers.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 一
- 二
- 三
- 四
- 五
- 六
- 附 元明两代之“匠户”
FAQ
By what standard were Hanren and Nanren in the Yuan dynasty divided?
According to the text, the distinction between Hanren and Nanren was drawn by the borders of Song and Jin: those who had been under Jin rule were called Hanren, including Khitans, Jurchens, and Koreans; those under Song rule were called Nanren, including the three provinces of Jiangzhe, Huguang, and Jiangxi and the circuits north of the Yangtze and in Huainan in Henan. The Nanren submitted last and ranked even lower than the Hanren.
What position did the Semu hold in Yuan society?
The text places the Semu in the second layer, as the first to submit and join the campaigns, below the Mongol conquerors and above the Chinese. This layered division reflects differences in order of conquest and political trust, and readers can use it to understand that the social hierarchy of the Yuan was not arranged purely by ethnicity.
Can this short essay serve as a systematic reader on Yuan social history?
It should not be treated as a systematic reader. It is a short institutional overview focused on the hierarchical framework and criteria of division; it does not develop individual cases or touch on details of daily life. It is suitable as an introductory clue or review outline, and deeper understanding of Yuan society should be sought through specialized works on social and legal history.
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About the author
Wu Han
Author · China · 1909–1969
Wu Han (1909–1969), originally named Wu Chunhan and styled Chenbo, was a native of Yiwu, Zhejiang, and a Chinese historian and social activist who was one of the pioneers of modern Ming studies. After graduating from the Department of History at Tsinghua University in 1934, he taught at Yunnan University, National Southwestern Associated University, and Tsinghua University, and later served as vice mayor of Beijing. His research centered on Ming politics and institutions. His representative work, Biography of Zhu Yuanzhang, combines textual criticism with vivid character portrayal, while monographs such as A Study of the Hu Weiyong Clique Case, The Ming Military, and Zhu Yuanzhang's Art of Rule show his rigorous approach to history through institutional operation and power relations. He also wrote popular historical works, including the nine-volume Chinese History Series and The Mirror of History, whose plain, clear prose blends scholarship with readability and has done much to spread knowledge of Ming history.
