Polygamy could only survive by observing a strict hierarchyĮach dynasty had its own set of titles and ranks for the imperial wives.

Love had to be distributed evenly among the wives, which effectively meant that passionate attachment was not acceptable.Ĥ. The husband should not have a favourite, nor should any of the wives monopolise the man. Attachment could radically destabilise polygamy The belief that they were living for a higher purpose presumably helped displace feelings of bitterness, jealousy and rivalry.ģ. Women, especially the main wife, had to rise above their earthly emotions. She was responsible for submitting to the higher principles of polygamy and to mentor the other wives in harmonious behaviour for the greater good. The main wife was superior to all other wives. The strict distinction between main wife and concubines In the case of the emperor, guaranteeing a successor to the throne was of paramount importance.ġ. Confucianism emphasised the ability of a man to manage a family as part of his personal growth in daxue (great learning). The emphasis was on procreation and the continuity of the father’s family name. It was seen as an affirmation of male potency, and the presence of many women was taken to indicate a man’s virility. Polygamy was common practice in feudal China, although only upper- and wealthy middle-class men could afford to take several wives. The ranking remained consistent but the number of consorts and concubines varied under different emperors Many of them spent their entire lives in the palace without any contact with the emperor.įrom the archives: how Hong Kong ended the concubine system (slowly) Concubines had their own rooms and would fill their days applying make-up, sewing, practising various arts and socialising with other concubines. With hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of concubines at the emperor’s disposal, any lady the emperor graced with a visit would be subject to jealous rivalries.

Concubines were required to bathe and be examined by a court doctor before the emperor visited their bed chamber. Most of their activities were overseen and monitored by the eunuchs, who wielded great power in the palace. Naturally, concubines were strictly forbidden from having sex with anyone other than the emperor. Beauty was more of a curse than a blessing in China during this period of history. Most would spend their lives in bitter loneliness, and unsurprisingly, politics and jealousy was rife among concubines. Only a few of those who made it through this rigorous process would be noticed by the emperor and win his favour. The three favourites would receive the highest ranking for imperial concubines

They would be accompanied by their parents, or nearest relatives, together with their clan heads and local officials. The Board of Revenue then set the date for selection.ĭuring the Qing dynasty, girls were brought on the appointed day to the Shenwu (Martial Spirit) Gate of the Forbidden City for inspection. The banner officials then submitted a list of all available females to the commanders’ headquarters in Beijing and to the Board of Revenue. The Board of Revenue sent notices to officials in the capital and provincial garrisons to enlist the help of clan heads. (Eight Banners was a Manchurian administrative and military framework.) Only girls who where married or with certified physical disabilities or deformities were exempt.īut the Qing Emperor Shunzhi (1638-61) began to exclude most of the Han population by limiting selection to 'Eight Banners' families, who were mainly Manchurian and Mongolian. According to statutes, all young unmarried women went through xiunu selection process. In the Ming dynasty, for example, no household was exempt from the selection. Women were selected as xiunu (elegant females) for the court as early as the Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD) and the selection criteria ranged from emperor to emperor.

Ancient chinese feudal kingdoms