According to the excerpt from the passage included below, what role did the emperor play in ancient Chinese society?
"Ancient Chinese society had a very rigid social structure, reinforced by the teachings of the revered Chinese philosopher, Confucius. Above it all sat the emperor, who answered to no man and was in general considered separate from Chinese society. The top social class below the emperor was the aristocrats and nobles, who often owned land and occupied key positions in the Chinese bureaucracy. Though they were often the poorest, the next highest social level was farmers, who produced all the food to feed the growing Chinese population. Below the farmers were the artisans and craftsmen, who produced most of the goods of ancient China, from pottery to swords. Finally, below all were the merchants."
