However, Shi (士) was originally one of the terms indicating the Kizoku class in ancient China (the Shu period), placed under the Taifu (大夫) class, and there was also the term Shi-taifu (士大夫) that combined both Shi and Taifu.
しかしながら、そもそも、「士」という語は、古代中国（周代）では貴族の称号の一つであり、大夫の下に位置し、大夫とあわせて「士大夫」とも呼ばれた。