aristocratic families; scholar-official class
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
aristocratic families of scholar-officials that passed down privileges through generations in feudal society
formalHistorical term referring to the privileged landowning class in ancient China, particularly prominent during the Wei, Jin, and Southern-Northern Dynasties (魏晋南北朝). Often contrasted with 寒门 (commoner families).
Wèi魏
Jìn晋
shí时
qí期
，
shì士
zú族
xiǎng享
yǒu有
zhèng政
zhì治
hé和
jīng经
jì济
shàng上
de的
tè特
quán权
。
During the Wei and Jin periods, aristocratic families enjoyed political and economic privileges.
Zhè这
gè个
jiā家
zú族
shì世
dài代
wéi为
guān官
，
shì是
dāng当
dì地
zhù著
míng名
de的
shì士
zú族
。
This family held official posts for generations and was a famous aristocratic clan in the area.
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Shì士
zú族
zhì制
dù度
suí随
zhe着
kē科
jǔ举
zhì制
de的
wán完
shàn善
ér而
zhú逐
jiàn渐
shuāi衰
luò落
。
The aristocratic family system gradually declined with the perfection of the imperial examination system.