The People of Beijing, China – June 1550 A.D.
- afterthesunsetsgam
- May 8
- 3 min read
General Overview:
In the summer of 1550 A.D., Beijing stood as the imperial capital of the Ming Dynasty, a city of formidable stone walls, grand palaces, winding hutongs, and bustling marketplaces. The people who lived in Beijing during this time were a complex tapestry of classes—scholars, soldiers, merchants, farmers, artisans, monks, eunuchs, entertainers, and bureaucrats—all woven into the fabric of an empire at its zenith but increasingly strained by internal corruption and northern threats.
Clothing:
Commoners: Peasants and laborers wore simple, loose-fitting cotton or hemp garments. Men wore tunics and trousers tied with sashes, while women often wore long-sleeved robes. Earthy tones like brown, grey, and dull blue were typical.
Merchants and Craftsmen: Those with more wealth favored silk blend garments, often dyed in darker blues or greens. They wore layered robes, finer stitching, and accessories like caps or jade pendants.
Scholars and Officials: Ming officials wore structured robes according to rank, often dyed in indigo or crimson, with embroidered rank badges (buzi) displaying birds or animals to signify their status. Wide sleeves and black gauze hats with stiff wing-like flaps denoted their service to the state.
Women of the Gentry: Gentry women dressed in finely tailored jackets and skirts, often with floral patterns and embroidery. Hair was carefully arranged with jade, ivory, or gold hairpins.
Food and Cuisine:
Staples: Wheat noodles, mantou (steamed buns), millet porridge, and rice (though rice was more commonly imported from southern provinces).
Vegetables: Locally farmed bok choy, leeks, garlic, turnips, cabbage, and beans were common.
Meat: Pork was the most common, though beef, chicken, and duck were available. Lamb was eaten by northern minorities and soldiers.
Street Foods: Skewers of roasted meat (precursors to modern kebabs), dumplings, flatbreads, and preserved fruits sold in market stalls.
Beverages: Tea was ubiquitous. Fermented rice wine (huangjiu) was drunk during festivals or by the affluent. Herbal infusions were used both for health and refreshment.
Locally Crafted Goods:
Porcelain and Ceramics: Beijing artisans produced both utilitarian pottery and luxury ceramics, often glazed in celadon, cobalt blue, or pale green.
Silk and Embroidery: While Suzhou and Hangzhou were silk centers, local tailors crafted garments using imported silk. Skilled embroiderers sold elaborate panels and household goods.
Calligraphy and Brushware: Made for scholars and officials, the city was known for its ink stones, brushes, and paper of high quality.
Lacquerware and Woodcraft: Boxes, furniture, and scholar’s desk sets were commonly made from local wood and decorated with lacquer or carved motifs.
Imported Goods from the Rest of China:
Rice and Tea: Brought from the Yangtze River Delta and southern provinces.
Spices and Medicines: Ginseng, cinnamon, star anise, and dried tangerine peel from Fujian and Guangdong; mineral and animal-based medicines from Sichuan and Hunan.
Jade and Gems: Raw jade from Yunnan and Xinjiang, refined by Beijing artisans.
Books and Scrolls: Classical texts and religious scriptures from Nanjing and Hangzhou printing houses.
Local Agriculture:
Grains: Millet, wheat, and sorghum were grown in nearby plains.
Vegetables: Grown in garden plots just outside the city walls—cabbage, radish, garlic, and onion, especially.
Fruits: Apples, dates, and plums were cultivated in orchards around the northern suburbs.
Livestock: Chickens, pigs, and goats were raised for meat and household use.
Entertainment and Leisure:
Theatre: Kunqu opera and zaju performances were popular, especially during festivals. Portable wooden stages were erected in market squares.
Storytelling: Professional storytellers recited classic tales or local legends at teahouses.
Teahouses: Centers of gossip, philosophy, and politics, where tea, sweets, and small dishes were served.
Games were common: Weiqi (Go), xiangqi (Chinese chess), and dice gambling.
Festivals: Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu), held in June, featured boat races on the canals, eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and hanging mugwort and calamus for protection.
Defense and Protection of the Region:
City Walls and Gates: Towering walls with 9 gates defended the city. The gate towers were staffed with archers and soldiers, especially near the northern frontier.
Garrisons and Watchposts: The Ming capital was ringed by military settlements (weisuo system), housing thousands of hereditary soldiers.
Great Wall: Ongoing construction and repair continued in nearby sections of the Wall to the north, especially against the growing threat of Mongol incursions.
Militia Drills: Local men participated in archery and spear training under neighborhood watches (baojia system), overseen by civil officials.
Taoist and Buddhist Temples: Spiritual defense was also sought—priests and monks conducted protective rites to ward off disasters, disease, and evil spirits.
Beijing in 1550 was a resplendent city and anxious, polished in courtly glory, yet wary of threats to the north. Its people were industrious, spiritual, artistic, and proud, holding tightly to tradition while adapting to the realities of their time.
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