During the feudal period, the emperor sat on the position of supreme power with a vast harem, consisting of thousands of concubines and beauties. Particularly, in the Qing dynasty, concubines had to abide by the unspoken rule of remaining silent and not revealing any expressions during the intimate moments. But why were these strict regulations established?
The unspoken rules during the Qing emperor’s intimate moments with concubines
During the feudal period, many people mistakenly believed that life in the imperial palace was luxurious and happy. However, the reality showed that the lives of concubines and Chinese beauties during the feudal period were extremely harsh and miserable. They had to abide by numerous unspoken rules and were restricted by countless regulations within the imperial palace.
Even in husband-wife relationships, concubines still had to adhere to strict rules, and even during intimate moments, they were bound to make no sound. Additionally, there are anecdotes that, aside from the complicated intimate process, concubines were even prohibited from making any sound while being favored.
These regulations not only limited personal freedom but also created heartbreaking aspects and difficulties in the lives of these women. The “concubines cannot make any sound” rule is considered an “unwritten rule,” not recorded in legal texts, but it is evident in the minds of everyone.
The reason behind this rule mainly comes from the strict control of the Imperial Chamber Beholder during the emperor’s intimate moments. The eunuchs of the Imperial Chamber Beholder played a crucial role in reminding about the time and fulfilling the sudden requests from the emperor. This made the intimate environment uncomfortable and unnatural.
Because of these reasons, the emperor wanted to avoid embarrassing situations and not be labeled as excessively indulgent. Therefore, the rule “concubines cannot make any sound” was established, not to protect women but to maintain the image of the emperor’s power. These women, regardless of the situation, still had to endure and become victims of the feudal system.
Concubines are not allowed to wear clothes when brought to intimate moments
To step onto the royal bed to enjoy the “favor of the emperor,” concubines had to undergo an extremely difficult process. The first step in this process is selecting the concubine through flipping a board.
The decision on who will serve the emperor at night depends primarily on the emperor’s mood. Therefore, some people are favored to the extent that their names frequently appear on the board, while unlucky ones may have to wait for many years, even decades, to receive a summon from the emperor.
Afterwards, the chosen concubine must prepare herself and in the evening, she has to undress, wrap herself in a blanket, and be led to the emperor’s chamber by eunuchs. Even when nearing the royal bed, they still have to adhere to strange and incomprehensible rules. For example, they must not independently lift the blanket to lie down, but crawl from the edge of the blanket, revealing their legs when approaching the emperor. When the favor session ends, they have to crawl backward out of the royal bed, then be brought back to the chamber without being allowed to sleep with their husband.
The main reason for not wearing clothes during intimate moments is to protect the emperor from potential dangers. Chinese history recorded many assassination cases carried out by concubines and palace maids. This rule became even more important in the context of political instability, especially during the Ming-Qing transition period when the country was undergoing significant turmoil, particularly after the unjust executions and deaths of many people at the beginning of the Qing dynasty.
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.
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.
Why does a concubine need to be led back to the palace after being favored by the emperor?
This was the rule in the ancient harem. Once they were favored by the emperor, the concubines were escorted back to the palace to rest.
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