An Exploration Of Common Culture Of Society In The Middle And Later Period Of Ming Dynasty

The Middle and later Ming Dynasty is a vital period in the past more than 2,000 years' feudal society of Chinese ancient history. As the feudal elite culture -Cheng and Zhu's Idealist Philosophy went through its formation, development and prosperity in the early Ming Dynasty, went into a decline in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, its counterpart, an opposite new kind of culture, common culture of society was emerging . It will make us deeply understand common culture of society in the middle and later Ming Dynasty by the comprehensive and systematic study on it at that time.Any type of culture are formed by a variety of complicated factors, so did common culture of society in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, which included the economy, the culture's own developing way, science and technology, etc. The prosperity of the commodity economy during this period laid the firm foundation of the formation of common culture of society. When the Idealist Philosophy declined, there would be a mew type of culture that could replace it. We call it as common culture of society. At the same time, the progress in science and technology made it come into reality and popularity.Culture subject, culture structure, and culture bearer characterize the culture. The difference between cultures only relies on the contents of each individual part.The culture subject of common culture of society was different from the elite culture, which was the body of the lower-class in the society: the civil class, reflecting its popularity and civilarity.The culture structure, comparing the elite culture, had changed in such ways as the value, social phychology, love-affairs and marriage and social custom etc. In the value, people tended to be commercial and profitable. In the social phychology people were liable to follow what someone else had done, show curiosity for novelty, make a display, and go against everything they dislike, which reflected the enhancing in the individual independence. In love-affairs and marriage, people paid much attention to property and liberty than family status and parents' advice. And women's status was improved accordingly. In the prevailing social custom, people tended to be more profitable and luxurious, indulge in pleasures sensual. In a word, the practical and unrestrained culture characterized the whole culture structure.And the culture must have its certain bearer. There were two kinds of culture bearers of common culture of society in the middle and later Ming Dynasty. One included the novels, traditional operas, folk rhymes that were easy and loved by ordinary people. The other included the large bookstores and public places of entertainment. Thus common culture of society was expressed by written and non-written ways that large scales of lower-class participated in. In the meantime, common culture of society struck root in the hearts of the people and lasted.