The four smaller stars represent the four social classes of the traditional Chinese society - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China. Five 5-pointed stars reflects the importance of the number five in Chinese philosophy (The number 5 is associated with the five elements - Water, Fire, Earth, Wood, and Metal - and hence, it was historically associated with the Emperor of China)