Chapter 26 a source and category

Apart from wives, those who may have sexual relations with men, or even have love, are concubines first, and prostitutes second.Of course, like taking concubines, prostitution is also a thing of the old society. What is a prostitute?The word prostitution, originally written as "advocate", was originally an ancient song and dance musician. "Shuowen" said: "Advocacy, music (yue) also." "Guangyun" said: "Advocacy, excellent." It's an actor, an entertainer.Similarly, prostitutes are also such characters. "Guangyun" says: "Prostitutes, female music." To put it simply, prostitutes (advocacy) and prostitutes were originally art workers in ancient times.However, their work is mainly music, dance and acrobatics, and they may also perform musicals and farces. Those who are engaged in artistic work such as painting and sculpture cannot be called prostitutes.Advocate general singing, anyone who can sing is called advocating.There are men and women who sing opera, regardless of men and women, all opera singers are advocated.Later, when the word "prostitute" came into being, male opera actors were called comedians, actresses, and actors instead of "advocate".Prostitutes are familiar with skills, including dancing and acrobatics, which are also designated as "tricks".Trick also has the meaning of skill and skill, such as "trick" and "trick".Based on this, we can roughly infer that in ancient times, advocates were mainly vocal and instrumental performers, and prostitutes were mainly dancers and acrobats.In addition, advocating means singing and leading singing, and ji means accompanying and partnering, so the lead singer is advocating, and the accompaniment, accompaniment, and dancers are ji.It's just that there are men and women, while jiu seems to only refer to singers and dancers.It is advocated that men and women should follow "people" regardless of gender, and prostitutes should follow "women" because they are mainly women.In short, they were artists engaged in music, dance, and acrobatics, not prostitutes.For the sake of distinction, we call the former "advocating tricks" and the latter "prostitutes".

So, how did singers and dancers become men's extramarital sex objects?In other words, how can "advocating tricks" become "prostitutes"?This requires a little talk about the nature of ancient song and dance acrobatics. In China's ancient and ancient times, things collectively called "music", including music, dance, even acrobatics and song and dance dramas, were originally used to worship and charm gods, with witchcraft and religious nature.Therefore, based on the saying that prostitutes in the West originated from religious ceremonies, some people infer that there were "witch prostitutes" in ancient China.The so-called "witch prostitution" means that a witch acts as a prostitute and commits adultery with a man who is not her husband.This statement, because there is no evidence in history books and unearthed cultural relics, it is still difficult to establish.However, in ancient reproductive worship activities, there was indeed sexual behavior.These extramarital sex, of course, may also target witches.But this kind of sexual relationship is mainly for "entertaining the gods" rather than "relaxing desires", and of course there is no charge, so it is difficult to say that it is the origin of prostitutes in later generations.

After entering the slave society, the singing and dancing of "entertaining the gods" became a thing for "entertaining people", and the "advocating tricks" as song and dance actors also became slaves of the nobles.It is entirely possible for the aristocratic slave owners to ask them to perform sexual services after watching music and dancing.Because there was a tradition of having sex with witches (who were also dancing girls) in ancient times, and the dancing girls have now become slaves and playthings, and of course they have no right to refuse.As a result, the task and nature of "advocating tricks" began to change.In the past, it was just "performance", but now "devotion" has been added; before, it was only necessary to master the skills on the stage, but now it may also need the skills on the bed.Including men's advocates, but also to provide services for homosexuals.Until the period of the Republic of China, high-ranking officials and dignitaries still targeted male opera actors when they played with their husbands and molestered children, which is their legacy.

The transformation from advocating prostitutes to prostitutes probably happened very early, at least in the era of Xia Jie.Later, it developed into "court prostitute" and "domestic prostitute". Court prostitutes are advocating tricks in the palace. They are directly evolved from the "National Song and Dance Troupe" of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. They are mainly engaged in music and dance performances for ritual activities such as sacrifices and banquets.A very few of them may also provide sexual services, but most of them are "amateur".During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, they were often used as gifts and prizes, presented to princes or rewarded to doctors.Most of these gifts and rewards have obvious political and military purposes, and can be regarded as the earliest "pornographic spies" and "sugar-coated cannonballs" in history.For example, Duke Mu of Qin presented "Er Lie of Women's Music" to the Xirong Kingdom. As a result, King Rong indulged in his sensuality and ignored political affairs, causing a "sage" named Youyu to leave in anger.The State of Qin immediately introduced Yu Yu as a special talent, and sent his son-in-law Jiaojiao to welcome him and worship him as a high official. As a result, the national power of the State of Qin increased greatly.

Domestic prostitutes are domestic prostitutes, also known as maids, divas, voice prostitutes, beauties, etc. They also evolved from ancient female music.In the Zhou system, kings were called "Tianxia", princes were called "countries", and officials were called "family".The tricks promoted by Zhou kings and princes later evolved into "court prostitutes", and the tricks played by doctors evolved into "house prostitutes".In the Han Dynasty, there was a practice of raising domestic prostitutes, and it developed to its peak in the north and south.Because the landlords in the Han Dynasty were aristocratic landlords, and the landlords in the Six Dynasties were noble landlords, their "family" was by no means comparable to the scale of today's "family", and of course they had the financial resources to support a small singing and dancing troupe.

The main task of domestic prostitutes is still to provide art and entertainment services with music, singing and dancing.For example, Song Wu in Jin Dynasty did not breed domestic prostitutes because he "does not understand sound" (does not understand music); and Shi Chong's domestic prostitutes, since they were ten years old, have been learning singing and dancing under his personal supervision and receiving strict basic skills training. , has strict requirements in terms of figure, dancing posture and pronunciation, and its level is comparable to that of the "National Song and Dance Troupe".One of Cao Cao's house prostitutes had the best singing voice, so although Cao Cao hated her very much, he waited until he found a replacement before killing her.

Historically, domestic prostitutes were also often referred to as concubines.The so-called "beautiful concubine changed name to horse" refers to domestic prostitutes.In fact, strictly speaking, a domestic prostitute is neither a prostitute nor a concubine, but a kind of enslaved person between a prostitute and a concubine.A concubine has a "husband", but a domestic prostitute does not, and a domestic prostitute only has a "master".Although it is possible for the Lord to have sex with a domestic prostitute, there is no "property" in such a relationship.Therefore, if the master is happy, he can also order the house prostitute to accompany the guests, but the concubine has absolutely nothing to do with it.To become a concubine, a domestic prostitute had to go through certain procedures. For example, there was a man named Gao Cong in the Later Wei Dynasty who registered more than a dozen of his domestic prostitutes as concubines.On the other hand, domestic prostitutes do not necessarily have to sleep with their masters, and there are also some who "perform their skills without dedicating themselves".Even if you dedicate yourself, it is not "everyone can be a husband", and there is no charge, it is not "prostitution".Therefore, domestic prostitutes are not "prostitutes", but "tricksters".

"Prostitutes" in the strict sense, that is, those who sell their bodies and appearances as a profession and provide sexual services to different people for money, may have appeared in the early Spring and Autumn Period.During this period, Duke Huan of Qi, one of the Five Overlords in the Spring and Autumn Period, approved the opening of the first "National Brothel" in history, which was called "Nvlu" at that time.Lu means door.This brothel was set up at the gate of Duke Huan's palace, equipped with 700 prostitutes, with Duke Huan serving as the "chairman" and the "general manager" being the great statesman Qi Xiang Guan Zhong.

Guan Zhong opened a brothel for four purposes, one is to increase the country’s fiscal revenue (collecting his nightly funds for national use); To attract foreign talents, the fourth is to act as pornographic spies.At that time, when countries were vying for supremacy, counselors and envoys often ran on the road and lobbied the princes.The state guesthouse in Qi State has "Miss Escorts", which is naturally more attractive than other countries.Confucius once highly praised Guan Zhong's "benevolence", saying that he assisted Duke Huan in "nine alliances with princes instead of using military vehicles". I wonder if the old man knew that Guan Zhong's "peaceful means" also included the trick of using meat bullets instead of cannonballs?

Guan Zhong set up a "female Lu", and killed four birds with one arrow. Naturally, other countries "see the virtuous and think of the same", and compete to follow suit.For example, King Goujian of Yue conquered Wu, and his soldiers were homesick, and the morale of the army was unstable. Goujian organized a group of prostitutes to send condolences to the front line, calling them "wandering soldiers". This is probably the earliest military prostitute in China. When military prostitutes came to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, they became a system called "camp prostitutes".At first, military prostitutes were only a temporary measure, which was inevitably "unstable".Later, the "suppression of marriage" system was adopted, and the wives and daughters of criminals were forcibly betrothed to sergeants.However, if there are too many "families accompanying the army", too many people will lead to a bloated army, and if there are too few people, it will inevitably lead to "unequal bitterness and joy", which will only lead to conflicts.Therefore, simply implement the system of camping prostitutes, and all officers and men of the three armed forces will be "free and equal", so that they will not be afraid of "not suffering from few but suffering from inequality".

The system of operating prostitutes began in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Wei Dynasty, and persisted in the Tang and Song dynasties.However, its nature is not limited to "labor army".Because the Tang and Song dynasties, after all, were in peacetime, but to be prepared for danger in times of peace, military camps were indispensable, and camp prostitutes were naturally routinely prepared.As a result, some officials who "get on the horse to manage the army, and get off the horse to manage the people" entered the military camp one after another, prostituted prostitutes, and the role of camp prostitutes changed from "boosting morale" to "respecting bureaucrats".This will inevitably lead to many "outrageous" things.For example, when a magistrate resigned and handed over his office, he not only handed over documents and files, public property, money and food, customs, subordinates, legacy issues, etc., but also handed over prostitutes, which is truly absurd.In the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Li Yao who had a good relationship with a prostitute named Shaoguang during his tenure in Shezhou.But because the prostitutes in the camp are "public property", it is not easy to take them with you, so they had to be handed over when they left office, and wrote a poem: "After years of management, the county masters are having fun, and they are asking alcoholics for Xi Gang. Today, they will be handed over before leaving, and they will be collected clearly. Love Chuanzhu." Who knows that the successor Wu Guo didn't appreciate it, so he replied to the poem: "Your clogs sigh every day, and you must say that Dade is twice ashamed. Shaoguang has lost now, and I will read it in the palm of Binzhu" (sigh) , Kan two characters should be pronounced as flat tone), which means that you want something better.There was another Du Hui who was even more outrageous. Before leaving, he hugged Zhu Niang, a camp prostitute, and cried loudly. As a result, Li Zhan, the county guard, said disapprovingly, "This kind of bitch, if you want to, just say it, why are you crying!"So Du Hui took Zhu Niang away from Changzhou. It is really outrageous for senior officials and members of the field to prostitute and love prostitutes like this.What's more inappropriate is that many officials and generals will be jealous of a certain famous prostitute, or fight violently, or sue the chief, and some even cause murder cases.Such misdeeds and disadvantages not only affect the "government image", but also affect "stability and unity".So in the Song Dynasty, restrictions began to be imposed, stipulating that local military and political chiefs were only allowed to "sing and dance with wine" with official prostitutes, and were not allowed to "serve pillow seats in private".In this way, official prostitutes became pure "accompaniment girls", and the most critical companion was made illegal.As a result, many cases arose. For example, Wang Anshi accused Zu Wuze, the prefect of Hangzhou, of having an affair with Xue Xitao, an official prostitute, and Zhu Xi falsely accused Tang Zhongyou, the governor of Tiantai County, of having an affair with Yan Rui, a camp prostitute.In these two cases, because the prostitutes refused to recruit until their death, Zu and Tang were exempted from punishment, but the seriousness of the situation can also be seen. However, "flowers are tea doctors, and wine is a sex matchmaker." Since official prostitutes and camp prostitutes can accompany wine, it is not clear what happened next.Therefore, in the early Ming Dynasty, although Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang also opened government-run brothels in Gandao Bridge and Wuding Bridge, he soon ordered officials to be strictly prohibited from engaging in prostitution, and offenders were severely punished. The punishment is quite severe. Zhu Yuanzhang's move was, on the one hand, to sum up the lessons learned from the fall of the previous dynasty and encourage new governance, and on the other hand, it was also to maintain the image of the government and "parents and officials".Because the status of prostitutes is equal to that of untouchables, how can officials "communicate" with them?If the country is in a dynasties, and the parents of the people, if they also live with the "three indiscriminate" people, where is the dignity and dignity?Nature has to. However, this kind of thing has always been "policy at the top and countermeasures at the bottom".For example, it is not allowed to openly enter a brothel such as Fuleyuan, but you can call the prostitute to the "private seat" of the restaurant to accompany you for a drink; Have a tryst with a prostitute in a secret room; for another example, call the prostitute to the back hall under the pretext of investigating the case to "keep it secret" and make a living.These things happened a lot in the Ming Dynasty.Even the "Three Yangs" (Yang Rong, Yang Shiqi, and Yang Pu), who are recognized by the historians, have stories about holding prostitutes and drinking wine (see the next section for the story), and the rest can be imagined. Of course, no one dared to violate the emperor's prohibition openly.At the very least, since officials were strictly prohibited from engaging in prostitution, the brothels run by the government, in order to maintain their livelihoods and ensure income, no longer only served the bureaucratic class, but were also open to merchants and citizens.In this way, it is neither necessary nor risky to set up official prostitutes.What's more, it is extremely unseemly for the officials and the people to prostitute together.Therefore, in the early Qing Dynasty, the government ordered the closure of state-run brothels.After the twelfth year of Kangxi, the official prostitutes who had lasted for more than two thousand years disappeared and ceased to exist. As a result, there is only one kind of prostitute left—private prostitute. Private prostitutes are individual private prostitutes. Their existence does not depend on "government plans" but on "market demand", so they are also called "city prostitutes".Of course, strictly speaking, only those who have officially registered with the government to "operate with a license" are called "city prostitutes"; those who have not registered with the government to "operate without a license" are called "private prostitutes".The latter is actually a "secret prostitute".But regardless of whether they have a license or not, they are all "private" and must operate according to "market laws".Therefore, we call all private and public prostitutes "private prostitutes" and "city prostitutes". Private prostitutes existed in the pre-Qin period, but they were real "self-employed" at that time, and prostitutes often came alone and did not form a scale.It really took shape in the Tang Dynasty.The business of prostitution in the Tang Dynasty was quite developed.In the palace, there are large-scale national song and dance troupes, some of which are personally appointed by the emperor (such as Li Longji of Tang Xuanzong, Wang Yan of the former Shu, Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty, etc.); Zhangtai, brothel.There was also a rule in the Tang Dynasty: Jinshi and the first degree must select two handsome young men from among them, and let them travel all over the city to pick "famous flowers".Wherever Tanhualang went, the alleys were empty, and prostitutes leaned against the windows of the brothels one after another, and gave them frequent glances. "The spring breeze is proud of the horseshoe disease, and I can see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day", how chic it is! The private prostitute industry in Song Dynasty was also very developed, and there began to be a beauty pageant for prostitutes organized by non-governmental organizations, called "praise the flower list".The so-called "evaluating the flower list" is to judge the rank of prostitutes.The host and judges are all celebrities and talents who often go to brothels.These celebrities and talents are either unsuccessful candidates, frustrated literati, or "hidden in the market" who despise fame and are known as "thousands of poems proud of ten thousand households".They play with their lives, laugh proudly in the world, put their love on their lovers and confidantes, and mock their wealth and fame, so the title of conferring prostitutes is actually the number one.This is almost equating brothels with the imperial court, or even equating prostitute beauty pageants with the country's "talented ceremony" - the imperial examination. In addition to the usual "beauty pageants" in the Ming Dynasty, there was also an "academic monograph" dedicated to the study of prostitutes - "The Classic of Prostitution". "Jing" is a very sacred word.In Confucianism, only poems, books, rites, music, changes, and spring and autumn can be called "classics", and the rest can only be called "transmissions". Ancestral Altar Sutra".Now, whoring prostitutes actually have a "Book", and the depravity of scholars is really extreme. In the early Qing Dynasty, like the early Ming Dynasty, there was a "ban on prostitution".But after Qianlong, the ashes revived again, and it was even more out of control.At this time, official prostitutes were abolished, market prostitutes gradually disappeared, and private prostitutes were all over the world.When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom came out to ban prostitution, the prostitutes all ran to Shanghai and started their "modernization" process in Shili Yangchang. Around 1864, the Shanghai Concession had a population of 500,000, and there were 668 brothels, and the business in Duan was booming. From Guan Zhong setting up "female lus" to prostitution for a fee, to the founding of New China and the banning of brothels, Chinese prostitutes have a history of more than 2,600 years. Go to a brothel?