Daily life in Ming and Manchu China were marked by these characteristics:

The family exercised great social influence.

The family guided the education of children, marriage, religious life, and welfare services.

Power in both nuclear and extended families rested with the father.

Marriages were arranged between the parents of the children. Sometimes marriage contracts would be arranged when the children were still very young, even as young as three or six years old, but the actual marriage would not take place until the betrothed couple were older.

Divorce was open only to men.

Elderly people were given respect.

Village schools for boys stressed preparation for civil service. Girls received training that prepared them to be wives and mothers.

Scholars held the highest rank in the social order.