<P> The four occupations ( simplified Chinese : 士 农工商 ; traditional Chinese : 士農工商 ) or `` four categories of the people '' ( Chinese : 四 民 ) was an occupation classification used in ancient China by either Confucian or Legalist scholars as far back as the late Zhou dynasty and is considered a central part of the fengjian social structure ( c. 1046 -- 256 BC ) . These were the shi ( gentry scholars ) , the nong ( peasant farmers ) , the gong ( artisans and craftsmen ) , and the shang ( merchants and traders ) . The four occupations were not always arranged in this order . The four categories were not socioeconomic classes ; wealth and standing did not correspond to these categories , nor were they hereditary . </P>
<P> The four occupations ( simplified Chinese : 士 农工商 ; traditional Chinese : 士農工商 ) or `` four categories of the people '' ( Chinese : 四 民 ) was an occupation classification used in ancient China by either Confucian or Legalist scholars as far back as the late Zhou dynasty and is considered a central part of the fengjian social structure ( c. 1046 -- 256 BC ) . These were the shi ( gentry scholars ) , the nong ( peasant farmers ) , the gong ( artisans and craftsmen ) , and the shang ( merchants and traders ) . The four occupations were not always arranged in this order . The four categories were not socioeconomic classes ; wealth and standing did not correspond to these categories , nor were they hereditary . </P>
when did confucian political philosophy first gain acceptance among the chinese ruling class
when did confucian political philosophy first gain acceptance among the chinese ruling class
as far back as the late Zhou dynasty
as far back as the late Zhou dynasty