1. The top nine: emperors, sages, hermits, child immortals, literati, warriors, farmers, workers, and merchants
These people are all people who live at the top of the pyramid. In ancient times, In the feudal imperial system, the emperor is naturally the supreme being. Sages are very respected, while hermits are particularly talented and can't stand the secular world. In ancient times, the most respected people were to study hard and get ahead through the imperial examination. Only such people Only then can one enter the ninth stream.
2. Lower-level witches: witches, prostitutes, great gods, bangers, shavers, hand-players, actors, street, and sugar sellers
First-class witches: As the name suggests, they are wizards. In ancient times, they were feudal and superstitious. In this era, people are generally very feudal. If they have nothing to do, they will invite people to their homes to draw amulets, check the feng shui, and drive away ghosts and disasters.
Second-rate prostitutes: open prostitutes and secret prostitutes. The prostitutes here refer to geishas. These women are all singers, and places like this are usually where rich young men come, and only these romantic men of letters come. I can also play with the singing girls.
Third-rate masters: In the northern region, there are magic sticks that specialize in dancing masters to heal people. And the great people we talk about now are all very good in a certain industry.
Si Liu Bang: We often see those people in movies and TV dramas who beat gongs at night and shout "The sky is dry and things are dry, be careful of the candle". They are called watchmen.
Fifth-rate barbers: In ancient times, barbers carried burdens and walked around the streets to shave people's heads. They did not have the same appearance as today.
Sixth-rate flute players: When there are weddings or weddings at home, they will go to these people to play, play and sing.
Seven-rate actors: Ancient people looked down on actors, so this industry is also very looked down upon. Actors who perform on stage are not respected by others. In the eyes of everyone, they are inferior people. .
Baliu Street: generally refers to those beggars brothers.
Jiuliu sugar selling: This is a traditional handicraft that is gradually being lost. Sugar selling refers to those who sell sugar. They can use a little sugar to blow out various shapes. little animals, deeply loved by children.
The origin of the upper, middle and lower nine streams
The earliest explanation of the social class distinction of "nine streams" can be found in "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi", in which the term "nine streams" is used. " to describe the academic schools such as Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, Legalism, Za, Nong, Yin and Yang, and Zongheng that formed the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.
At the beginning, "Nine Streams" was not a derogatory term. The "stream" here refers to the sect. In today's academic discourse, these sects can also be called It is a certain belief, such as Western "Freudianism", "existentialism" and "neopositivism".
About the Tang Dynasty, the three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism were formally formed. After that, people combined the three religions and the nine streams, thus the term "three religions and nine streams" came into being. However, the theory of dividing social classes into upper, middle and lower classes is very different from the three religions and nine classes, and is used in a wider range.