In feudal China, the emperor and the concubines in the imperial harem required the service of a large team of attendants. Among them, eunuchs and palace maids were chosen to carry out tasks such as preparing and serving meals, managing rest time, and being responsible for selecting and dressing up the masters. The palace maids usually belonged to the lowest social class in the hierarchy of the imperial harem.
The “worms and ants” status
Most of the palace maids in the court came from commoner families and had a good moral character. Some palace maids were chosen from families who committed crimes and were forced to perform menial tasks in the harem. In addition, there were palace maids chosen from local officials or sometimes from other small countries, often as gifts. These palace maids were usually beautiful and had artistic talents such as dancing, singing, and embroidery…
The process of entering the palace required the palace maids to undergo teaching and training from a management group. From how to walk, comb their hair, do makeup to actions like eating and sleeping, everything had to comply with strict rules. Violating these principles could lead to severe punishments such as beatings, kneeling, and even death, decided by the emperor and the concubines themselves.
In addition to serving the masters, the palace maids also had to obey and be managed by the senior palace maids. All the daily personal tasks of the senior palace maids, from washing their faces, combing their hair to washing their feet and bathing, were the responsibilities of the junior palace maids.
If during their service, the palace maids did not commit major mistakes until they turned 25 years old, they could be released from the palace. However, leaving the harem did not mean escaping difficulties. On the contrary, a greater “storm” was often waiting for them outside.
Difficulties in integrating into a new life
In the autobiographical work “My Early Life” by Phổ Nghi, the last emperor of the feudal dynasty in China wrote about the sad fate of the palace maids after leaving the palace, a tragic reality. These palace maids often did not dare to get married and had to face their remaining lives in misery and poverty, with very few cases being able to reintegrate into society like normal people.
The main reason for this situation originated from the fact that the court usually chose palace maids from girls of 13-14 years old, but they were only released from the palace when they reached 25 years old. At that time, this age was considered quite old, and according to tradition, people used to get married and have children very early, making it difficult to find single men for the palace maids after leaving the palace. They only had two choices: becoming the concubine of someone else or living independently.
The second reason was that their health was greatly affected. The disruption of daily routines and severe punishments had caused great damage to the health of the palace maids. Many of them lost their ability to reproduce due to cruel punishments, making it difficult to find a husband. Preserving the family lineage became difficult when ancient Chinese people attached great importance to the wives’ childbearing ability.
Some palace maids had to become skilled courtesans to make a living. Most of them lived alone throughout their lives, facing contempt and disdain from society. They faced difficulties in reintegrating into the community, and in some cases, even the older palace maids had no place to return to, so they had to wander and live a life of hardship without any support.
Life in the depths of the palace had made the palace maids accustomed to harsh rules, being controlled by others, and losing the ability to choose and decide their own destiny. This left many limitations on their personality, making it difficult for them to integrate into normal life after leaving the Forbidden City. In some cases, the concubines even had to find husbands for the palace maids before they left the palace, although this was a rare occurrence. The palace maids of the past were considered the most pitiful group in the harem, facing difficult fates and unable to integrate into normal society after stepping out of the Forbidden City.
Why did eunuchs in the past get married even though they couldn’t have children?
There is a common misconception that eunuchs never get married, but the reality is that most of them do. The truth behind it is quite heartbreaking.
Silence rule forces Qing dynasty concubines to keep quiet during intimate activities
During the Qing Dynasty, imperial consorts were expected to maintain silence and refrain from making any noise while being attended to by the emperor.
Unspoken rule stops Qing dynasty concubines from making noise during intimate moments
During the rule of the Qing Dynasty, concubines were required to maintain absolute silence during their encounters with the emperor. They were forbidden from making any sound at all.
Unspoken rules that forced Qing dynasty concubines to stay silent while being inspected by the emperor
When in the presence of the emperor, all concubines must maintain silence. This is a mandatory rule, and no one is allowed to disobey.
Who is the “thê” and who is the “thiếp” among ancient men’s “tam thê tứ thiếp”?
Why did people in the past have “three wives and four concubines”? Who are these “three wives” and “four concubines”?
