ABSTRACT
The gentry as a status group had an organized system of behavior patterns by which the activities and interrelations of individuals were controlled. Among the gentry members themselves, there were still some differences of degree. The lives of Confucian scholars were simpler and more old-fashioned. Wealthy men always attracted relatives and friends. It was characteristic of the gentry to be appreciative of fine hospitality. The magnificent house was considered a great mark of eminence and success in the village world. The gentry therefore became very conscious of the social significance of housing. The gentry's aspirations were constructed around the effort to maintain its prestige in the community with minimum challenge. Most members of the gentry did have large or extended families. For the most part, life for the gentry was an affair of constant display. Its members had constantly to bolster up their prestige; otherwise they would lose their social status.
