What is the "caste system"?

graded system

A strictly differentiated social class or group system among Hindu residents in South Asian countries ruled by India. Sanskrit is Varna, which means color, variety and quality. It is called caste or surname in the ancient Buddhist scriptures translated into Chinese by China or in the works of eminent monks who traveled in India. Pronunciation in Portuguese, translated into Casta, the international word Caster. Now it has been gradually abolished. But it still exists in some ethnic groups.

Ancient caste system

The emergence of caste system

Indian Aryans (hereinafter referred to as Aryans) began to use the word Varna in order to distinguish their whiter skin color from the darker skin color of indigenous people after they invaded the Seven Rivers Valley in India. Aryan Varna and Dasavarna appeared in Aryan-occupied areas. With the social differentiation of Aryans, the monks engaged in sacrifice and the samurai group headed by tribal leaders gradually separated from Aryans and became two privilege levels. The general public has become the third level of Aryan society. In this way, together with the conquered indigenous people, four social classes with different status naturally formed in society. The earliest records of these four grades can be found in the prakash Hymn, the last article of Rigveda. Among them, Brahman, Rajanana (Khshatriya), Vedas and sudra are mentioned in turn. The emergence of the four castes belongs to the late Tuo period.

With the further differentiation of society, the caste system has gradually formed a social system. As a first-class brahmin, he monopolized religious affairs and formed a special priestly class. Some brahmins are also involved in political affairs. Khrushchev's second level is the samurai class that holds the military and political power. These two levels are in a dominant position. The third-class Vedas are Aryans, engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and commerce. This is in terms of three representative occupations of Aryans, but the social reality is not so simple. In fact, some high-caste people also engaged in low-caste occupations, and some businessmen in the middle of the monastery later prospered on their wealth. The fourth grade sudra is basically a conquered indigenous people, but there are also poor Aryans. They are oppressed, enslaved and discriminated against, engaged in handicrafts and agriculture and animal husbandry, and most of them are slaves.

The four grades of the ancient caste system became more and more strict in the code and code era. Professionally, all castes are hereditary in principle. According to the Code of Manu, a high caste can engage in a low caste occupation because of "poverty"; On the contrary, lower castes are not allowed to engage in occupations of higher castes. In marriage, all surnames intermarry with the same surname in principle, that is, endogamy is implemented. The Code of Manu stipulates that a man of high caste can marry a woman of low caste because of "greed"; On the contrary, men of low caste are not allowed to marry women of high caste. The former is called "shun marriage" and the latter is called "reverse marriage". Occupational heredity and caste endogamy are the basic characteristics of caste system. People of different castes can't sit and eat together. In addition, in terms of religious and social life and legal rights, there are strict boundaries and differences between surnames, especially between the first three surnames and sudra. The former has the right to participate in the religious life of Aryans, which is called rebirth after entering the religion. The latter has no right, so it is called non-regenerative person. The law has different provisions on civil disputes such as criminal offences, debts and inheritance between regenerative and non-regenerative people. Brahmanism classics make such strict regulations on the relationship between various surnames, aiming at ensuring the privileged interests of higher castes, especially Brahmanism castes.

With the development of social division of labor, there are many small groups engaged in different occupations between Vishnu and sudra. These small professional groups gradually broke away from the original Varna and became independent Katie. Gatti has the basic characteristics of Varna's occupational hereditary and endogamy, belongs to the oppressed class and has a low social status. There are 59 kinds of Katie recorded in the Code of Manu, among which the most oppressed are the so-called inverse six kinds of Katie: Suter (who looks after chariots and horses), Magto (a businessman), Vidihaka (who serves women), Ayogovo (a carpenter), Sateri (who kills cave animals) and Shantalo (who transports the bodies of relatives and executioners). Among these six kinds of people, Chantalat is the representative of ancient Dalits (Dalits), with the lowest status and the most discrimination. Later, the number of Gatti increased, and the distinction between the four Varna became more and more meaningless, so the concept gradually disappeared and was replaced by Gatti.

Modern caste system

After British colonists invaded India, the caste system continued to exist. According to the census conducted by British colonial authorities in India in 193 1, there are 3,500 casters in India. Among them, there are 429 oppressed castes with about 60 million people. Indian nationalists have noticed the problem of oppressed castes. 193 1 year, M.K. Gandhi called for the abolition of the untouchability system, advocated the Harijan movement, and improved the status of untouchables in order to arouse them to participate in the national independence movement. From 65438 to 0942, Amdeka, who was born as a "Dalit", established the All India Scheduled Caste Alliance and led the "Dalit" in their legal struggle. In India today, the number of "Dalits" is close to 1 100 million, and caste is still an important issue in society.

In addition to Hindus, Hindus practice the above caste system, and Muslims are influenced by it, as well as caste such as Said, Sheikh and Mughal. Other ethnic groups in India, including Oriya, Bihar, Gujarat, Cannara, Rajasthan, Malayalan, Marathi, Santar and Telugu. , all implement the caste system, but the caste name and specific circumstances are different. For example, Bihar people are divided into six castes: Brahman, Bamin, Rajput, Weiya, Gayast and sudra, with strict boundaries; The Orians are divided into five castes: Brahman, Hande, Golala, Rakhine and sudra. If the system is not strict, the caste status can rise or fall. Rajasthan people are also divided into five castes. The people of Mahakin caste with low status are mainly engaged in industry and commerce, but they are quite rich, with Kolkata as the center and capitalism developing rapidly.

Nepalese Nevard people practice caste system, with Brahman being the highest and scavenger the lowest; Later, Buddhists also practiced caste division, the highest in Cuba and the lowest in Japp. The caste system of Sri Lankan Sinhalese is secular, with the Qu Wei caste (cultivator) being the highest and the camel caste (laundryman) the lowest. In Bangladesh, Hindus are divided into four castes: Brahman, Vidi, Jainism and sudra. Among them, Jaynes's special surname is literate and often occupies a high position, which has produced many social activists and religious leaders.

Indian caste system

According to the religious division of social groups, ancient Indians were divided into four castes:

Brahman: on behalf of monks and nobles,

Khrushchev: On behalf of the military nobility,

Vedas: representing civilians,

Sudra: For slaves.

In addition, there are "untouchables" lower in rank than sudra, also known as Chandra, who are made up of prisoners of war and people who do not follow the caste system.

Caste began to appear when Aryans entered South Asia 2000 years ago. At first, Aryans used "Aryan Varna" and "Dasavana" to distinguish Aryans from local aborigines. Later, there were four castes gradually. The division of caste is very similar to the occupational division of social groups, except that the division of caste depends on birth, and you can't change your caste when you enter this society.

The most typical way to maintain the caste system is the Code of Manu. According to the code of Manu, Brahman is the master of the world, sudra can only serve other castes meekly, sudra can't accumulate private property, and can't have any words and deeds disrespectful to the higher castes, while Brahman and Khrushchev have the right to seize everything in sudra.

The boundaries between castes are strict, so they can't intermarry, eat and sit together.

There are conflicts between people of high caste and people of low caste. If people with low castes use a certain part of their bodies to cause harm to people with high castes, they must cut off the body parts that cause harm to people. The low caste with low status insults the high caste, and those who are light are severely punished, and those who are heavy are tortured. If a man of high caste kills a sudra, he will only pay with livestock. People are used to the fact that people with high castes cannot eat and live together, and intermarriage between castes is prohibited. People of high caste may be sentenced to death if they marry people of low caste, especially Dalits.

In every caste, there are people who supervise the people of this caste to abide by the Manu code and traditional customs. If there are violators, they will be punished by Brahmin priests, or expelled from the caste and become untouchables.

Although the caste system has been abolished since India's independence, today's Indian society still retains the remnants of the caste system, which has branded every Indian with religion.