Formation of Gentry Society Establishing elite status: local magnates, family heads, informal public servants, and ex-officials- shi /literati class- prerequisite Classical education Class of scholar-gentry: degree holding with land-holding political and economic --dual meaning Narrow definition of gentry status: individuals who held degrees gained normally by passing examinations, or sometimes by recommendation or purchase. lower gentry''(first-level degree) vs. " upper-gentr Gentry families and familys elite status, rigid scholar training under Neo-Confucianism(5 Classics to 13 Classics) a Gentry society - but where to find women's voices?Formation of Gentry Society  Establishing elite status: local magnates, family heads, informal public servants, and ex-officials– shi/literati class– prerequisite: classical education  Class of scholar-gentry: degree holding with land-holding; political and economic -- dual meaning  Narrow definition of gentry status: individuals who held degrees gained normally by passing examinations, or sometimes by recommendation or purchase.  “lower gentry” (first-level degree) vs. “upper-gentry”  Gentry families and family’s elite status, rigid scholar training under Neo-Confucianism (5 Classics to 13 Classics).  Gentry Society – but where to find women’s voices?