China was one of the most advanced societies in the ancient world. Whether in medicine, the arts, or education, the Chinese far outpaced the Europeans. Although most people were peasants, society included a myriad of other jobs.

It may sound like a great position, but being emperor had its downside. If you displeased the gods, you could be put to death. As a silk maker, you would be sworn to secrecy so foreigners wouldn’t learn how to spin the precious thread. Other jobs included wailer (yes, you’ll cry whether you want to or not), noodle maker (noodles were not only delicious, but also a symbol of long life), or Shaolin warrior monk (if you were really good, you could break stone slabs with your fists).

A fact-filled introduction, index, and timeline make this book—the sixth in the series—perfect for research projects, while the humorous illustrations keep it fun.

Sarah Tsiang is an award-winning poet as well as a children's book author. Her books with Annick Press include A Flock of Shoes, Dogs Don't Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kids Know, Warriors and Wailers: 100 Anicent Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled, and The Stone Hatchlings. She lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Sarah Tsiang's profile page

MARTHA NEWBIGGING has illustrated for numerous magazines including TreeHouse Family, Canadian Business, Toronto Life, TV Guide, and Destinations. Her illustrations have also been featured on a line of t-shirts for the famous Canadian casual clothing retailer Marci Lipman. She lives in Toronto.

Martha Newbigging's profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids & Teens 2012, starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre

With age-appropriate sensitivity, Tsiang covers controversial subjects... and includes women's roles, which are not widely integrated into many other resources.

Booklist

Warriors and Wailers: One Hundred Ancient Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled (Jobs in History)

If you’re interested in Ancient China or researching weird and wonderful opportunities for a different kind of summer job, this is the book for you. Author Sarah Tsiang looks at 100 different jobs that were performed in China between the Han Dynasty, which started in 206 BCE, and the Tang Dynasty, which ended in 907 CE. The job descriptions range from the Emperor right down to the lowliest professions of the time — pirates, assassins and fake Buddhist monks. Each of the 12 chapters describes different levels of jobs, from the highest-ranking Imperial and noble jobs, followed by scholars and civil servants, then peasants, who ranked above artisans and craftspeople, down to merchants, who didn’t grow or make anything and thus ranked at the bottom of society.

The book is written in a fun, yet informative, manner, and Martha Newbigging’s humorous cartoons complement Sarah Tsiang’s writing style. Newbigging has illustrated all six books in the Jobs in History series. A timeline shows students which dynasties ruled China from 1600 BCE to 907 CE, and sections about rank and honour, women, education, religion and schools of thought provide students with a brief historical background of China. This is an excellent resource for anyone studying Ancient China or for teachers who want to show children how professions have changed over time. Even Civics and Careers teachers in high schools could use this series of books to get students thinking about the myriad of possible career choices one could make.

Warriors and Wailers: One Hundred Ancient Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled (Jobs in History)

Author Sarah Tsiang looks at 100 different jobs that were performed in China between the Han Dynasty, which started in 206 BCE, and the Tang Dynasty, which ended in 907 CE. The job descriptions range from Emperor right down to the lowliest of professions at the time — pirates, assassins and “fake” Buddhist monks.