Ancient China and India's Similarities

The hierarchy of ancient China and India were similar with a noticeable sign of select individuals being considered “higher” than others. The caste system was strict in India and prohibited other classes from interacting with each other. China’s social system differed from India’s caste system, by not demonstrating a formal and strict social ladder. Where in India there existed over three hundred sub castes at one point, China had a simple three caste social ladder. Although the Chinese did not have as strong of a social ladder, there still existed “higher” people such as the bureaucrats. Bureaucrats and landowners were considered to be of a higher class then peasants, farmers, and merchants. Patriarchy was a very big factor in culture and social order in China and India. India’s strict caste system led to a more “flexible” and popular religion known as Hinduism. Many Indians preferred this religion over Buddhism, which the Chinese practiced, because the brahmans or priests strongly influenced the population. Brahmans and many other Indians did not like the idea of any being of any caste level achieving “peace” by their efforts, which Buddhism taught. The Chinese believed in Buddhism and reaching nirvana by finding peace within. A major difference between Indian and Chinese culture was that Indians lived to die and reincarnate to a better caste level and eventually reaching the gods, whereas the Chinese lived a good life with no rituals necessary to find nirvana. Although the Chinese and Indian culture was very different, both races strived and lived in balance to find their gift in the