Daily Life

Life in Qing China depended on where you lived. Most people were farmers, growing rice, wheat, or vegetables. Cities were crowded and busy, with shops, markets, and temples.

The Manchus wanted to stay in control, so in many cities they lived in separate walled areas, while most Han Chinese lived outside. Society was unequal, and this separation caused anger over time.

Clothing showed status. People wore long robes, jackets, and cloth shoes. Rich families used silk and bright colors, while poor families wore plain cotton. Food was simple but filling: rice, noodles, vegetables, tofu, pork, fish, and lots of tea, which was part of daily life for almost everyone.

Men were required to wear a hairstyle called the queue. This meant shaving the front of the head and growing a long braided ponytail in the back. The Manchu rulers made this rule to show loyalty to their government. Many Han Chinese did not like the queue, but refusing to wear it was seen as rebellion. Over time, the queue became one of the strongest symbols of Qing rule and control.