乡绅 (xiāng shēn) — (historical) local gentry; rural literati-landowner class with social and political influence

Definition

Historical term for the rural gentry — educated landowners with local social and political influence in imperial China, between officials and common villagers. Reads as a formal, literary noun used in historical writing.

noun
(historical) local gentryrural literati-landowner class with social and political influence

Examples

  • 乡绅，。
    Zhè wèi xiāng shēn zài cūn lǐ hěn yǒu wēi wàng, dà jiā dōu tīng tā de.
    This local gentleman had great prestige in the village, and everyone listened to him.
  • 乡绅，。
    Qīng cháo de xiāng shēn bù jǐn yào guǎn lǐ zú chǎn, hái yào tiáo jiě lín lǐ jiū fēn.
    The gentry of the Qing dynasty not only managed clan property but also mediated neighborhood disputes.
  • 乡绅，。
    Xiǎo shuō zhōng miáo xiě le yí wèi lè shàn hào shī de xiāng shēn, shēn shòu cūn mín ài dài.
    The novel depicts a benevolent local gentleman who is deeply loved by the villagers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

乡xiāngcountryside
绅shēngentry

'乡' gives the local countryside and '绅' the gentry class, together naming local gentry.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鄉; 乡 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠨍𠨍𠨍two people facing each other
  • 皀皀jía round-mouthed food vessel

The traditional form 鄉 combines two people facing each other with a round-mouthed food vessel, depicting a feast. The village meaning is connected to this feasting event.

Open 乡 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紳; 绅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn紳shēn
Same sound today

The traditional form 紳 pairs 糸 (thread) with the sound 申, and represents a large sash used for formal dress.

Open 绅 →

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