Chapter 39 3. Concubine management

The emperors of all dynasties in China have stipulated the concubine management system, which is roughly the same, but each has its own differences.From the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the kings of all dynasties married a large number of concubines, not only to satisfy the emperor's lust, but also to prosper their descendants. Therefore, there is a saying that there are seventy-two concubines in the three palaces and six courts, and there is a legend of three thousand beauties in the harem.How many emperors and concubines are there?How is it managed? After Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he asked his ministers to study the harem system of past dynasties.The minister reported: "In the Zhou system, internal officials were set up in the harem to praise internal governance. In the Han Dynasty, there were 14 internal officials, with hundreds of people. In the Tang Dynasty, there were 24 divisions in the Six Bureaus, with 190 officials, and female historians. There are more than fifty people, all of whom are women from good families." ("History of the Ming Dynasty: Concubine Biography" Volume 113) Zhu Yuanzhang believes that the above-mentioned number is too many, and the number should be reduced by more than 140 in the current dynasty compared with the Tang Dynasty.In fact, no one can tell how many concubines there are in the harem, and neither can many emperors.

It is very important to establish regulations for the founding of the country.In view of the misfortune of women in the previous generation, Zhu Yuanzhang adopted the memorial of Zhu Sheng, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and said: "Those who rule the world, the upright family is the first. The way to uphold the family starts with the couple." How to do it?Establish guidelines and strict internal teaching: First, concubines and mothers respect the world and must not interfere in political affairs.In the Ming Dynasty, there was no such thing as the empress dowager listening to politics behind a curtain.Second, stipulate the duties of concubines and serve the emperor's palace.Third, draw up gold and red plaques decorated with iron, engrave the commandments and disciplines of empresses and concubines, and hang them in the palaces.Fourth, from the concubine down to the imperial concubine, the supply of food, clothing, utensils, gold and silver, etc., is implemented according to the level of the supply system.Fifth, it is forbidden to communicate with domestic and foreign letters, and if there is any, it will be punished by death.Therefore, "in the end of the Ming Dynasty, the palaces were cleared up, and the commentators said that the family law was good, surpassing that of Han and Tang." ("Ming History·Empress Biography" Volume 113) The harem of the Ming Dynasty has two characteristics. : There is no chaos of mother-in-law's monopoly and foreign relatives' monopoly.

There are very few historical materials about concubines.For example, the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang lived through the five dynasties of Tianming, Tiancong, Chongde, Shunzhi, and Kangxi at the age of 75. She was assisted by two young masters, Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangxi. The "Manuscript of Qing History Biography of Empress Xiaozhuang Wen" only has 941 characters.Another example is the concubine of Emperor Kangxi, some of which have only six characters: "Chen, Ziyi, Changning." There are also four and a half characters: "Zhang, female." What is the word "half"? What's going on?Because there are four unnamed daughters recorded consecutively, these daughters "all died" and died early, and the four people only used two characters, half a word per person on average, so each person "four and a half characters".If the concubines have no children and no special deeds, they will not remember a word. "History of Ming Dynasty: Biography of Concubines" says: Only the concubines who are in the top ranks, or concubines who have special events happened, are not recorded otherwise.

Formulate palace rules and strictly manage them.The Qing Dynasty formulated the "Existing Regulations in the Imperial Palace", which is 828 pages long.The management of concubines is basically "four determinations": this is to determine the establishment, the level, the treatment, and the rules. First, make sure.The empress and concubines of the Ming Dynasty did not have a fixed number, but the Qing Dynasty did.After Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the harem system was greatly prepared.It is stipulated that there is one empress, one imperial concubine, two imperial concubines, four concubines, and six concubines. There are no fixed numbers of nobles, constant presence, promises, and students. (Volume 214 of "Manuscripts of Qing History Biography of Concubines").At that time, it was called titles, but in fact, the ranks below concubines were not strict and there were changes.Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong had the most concubines in the Qing Dynasty.Emperor Kangxi recorded 41 people, and Emperor Qianlong recorded 29 people.The least is Emperor Guangxu, with only one empress (Yehenara) and two concubines (Jinfei and Zhenfei).Each of the six east and west palaces has a seat, or empress, or imperial concubine, or noble concubine.Other concubines, concubines, dignitaries, etc. are divided into rooms such as the east and west side halls according to their ranks.The emperor generally does not sleep in the sixth palace.The concubines who were served in bed had to go to the emperor's sleeping palace, such as the East Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, the back bedroom of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, etc., and returned to their original palace courtyard after serving the bed.

Second, determine the level.Empresses and concubines in the Ming Dynasty are divided into fourteen grades: empress, imperial concubine, imperial concubine, concubine, talented person, Jieyu, Zhaoyi, beauty, Zhaorong, Xuanshi, lady and other titles or grades, but there are changes in each dynasty, not It doesn't change. The configuration of the Sixth House is mainly about people and things.Talk about people first, then things. The servants of concubines are mainly eunuchs and court ladies.Eunuchs, each palace is equipped with two chief eunuchs (eight rank servants), four taels of silver per month, four dendrobiums of rice, seven cents and three cents of public money; twelve eunuchs, two taels of silver per month, one and a half dendrobium of rice, Public expense silver is six cents and six cents.Their responsibilities are "furnishing the palace, sweeping, inheriting and receiving, sitting and watching, etc." ("Guochao Palace History" Volume 21) For the configuration of eunuchs and court ladies, see the table below:

Third, set treatment.Concubine treatment, there are strict levels.Their food, clothing, tea, pocket expenses and other expenses are all provided according to the level.From the queen to the promise, their salary is called "gongfen", and the level difference is very large.Let me introduce the Queen and Chang Zai as examples. Queen's Palace: Every year: 1000 taels of silver, 2 pieces of large-rolled river silk, 4 pieces of makeup satin, 4 pieces of Japanese satin, 3 pieces of flashy satin, 2 pieces of gold lettered satin, 7 pieces of cloud satin, 4 pieces of plain plain satin, 2 pieces of blue plain satin, 2 pieces of hat satin, 6 pieces of poplar satin, 2 pieces of palace silk, 8 pieces of yarn, 8 pieces of inner yarn, 8 pieces of silk, 12 pieces of spinning silk, 8 pieces of hang fine, 8 pieces of cotton silk, 10 pieces of Korean cloth, and three-thread cloth 5 pieces, 40 pieces of woolen cloth, 5 pieces of coarse cloth, 20 locks of gold thread, 10 catties of cashmere, 6 catties of cotton thread, 40 catties of cotton, 40 pieces of mink skins, and 50 pieces of Ula mink skins.

Daily: 166 catties of pork for meat dish, 1 plate of mutton, 2 small animals, 1 liter of 8 rounds of new round-grained rice, 1 liter of 3 rounds of yellow rice and 5 spoons, 1 liter of 5 rounds of Korean rice, 1 catty of 8 taels of round-grained rice noodles, 7 catties and 8 taels of white flour.8 taels of wheat flour, 3 taels of pea vegetables, 1 catty of white sugar, 4 taels of potted sugar, 4 taels of honey, 2 taels of walnut kernels, 1 qian of pine nuts, 2 taels of wolfberry, 5 taels of sun-dried dates, 9 catties of pork, and 1 catty of lard , sesame oil 1 catty 6 taels, eggs 10, gluten 12 taels, tofu 1 catty 8 taels, powdered pot dregs 1 catty, sweet sauce 1 catty 6 taels 5 qian, green sauce 1 liang, vinegar 2 taels 5 qian, fresh vegetables 15 Jin, 20 eggplants, 20 king melons, 1 stick of white wax of three or two, four sticks of white wax of one or two five cents, four sticks of yellow wax of one or two and five cents, 10 sticks of heavy sheep oil wax of one or two and five cents, and more 1 stick of wax (5 taels in summer, 10 taels in winter), 10 catties of red bamboo charcoal in summer, 20 catties in winter, 50 catties of black charcoal in summer, and 60 catties in winter.In the palace of the Ming Dynasty, there was an institution for managing charcoal, which was located in the Hongluo Factory outside the gate of the imperial city of Xi'an.The red bamboo charcoal used in the palace was made from hardwood felled in the mountains in Yizhou (now Yixian, Hebei). It was first transported to the red bamboo factory and sawn according to the size. , make a small round red wattle basket to hold it, hence the name "red bamboo charcoal".According to the prescribed number, it was sent to various places in the palace.If the red bamboo charcoal is soaked in the rain, the fire will be too hot, and it will often cause dizziness, coma and vomiting, and infants and young princes and princesses may die of this poison.This may be carbon monoxide poisoning, the ancients did not understand the reason.

Usually in the palace: Every year: 50 taels of silver, one piece of large-volume eight-silk satin, one large-volume five-silk satin, one piece of cloud satin, one piece of plain plain satin, one piece of blue plain satin, one piece of spring silk, one piece of palace silk, yarn 1 piece, 1 piece of silk, 2 pieces of spinning, and 3 catties of cotton. Monthly: 5 small animals, 15 plates of mutton. Daily: 5 catties of pork, 1 liter of aged japonica rice, 2 catties of white flour, 2 taels of sugar, 3 taels of sesame oil, 8 taels of 1 catty of tofu, 8 taels of powdered pot residue, 6 taels of sweet sauce, 2 taels of vinegar, fresh 6 catties of vegetables, 6 eggplants, 5 king melons, 2 sticks of heavy yellow wax for one or two five cents, one stick of heavy suet wax for one or two five cents, 10 catties of black charcoal in summer and 20 catties in winter.

It can be seen that the treatment of different levels of concubines is very different, which prompts the concubines to fight desperately for favor, because only the emperor can promote himself, and can make himself pregnant and give birth to dragons and phoenixes. The difference in remuneration is not only the difference in palace points, but also the distribution of daily necessities (called shop palaces), vehicles, clothing, etc. at each level is also very different.Take the queen and the often present Pu Palace as an example: Queen's Palace: 1 piece of jade cup and gold plate, 2 pieces of gold holding pot, 1 piece of gold square, 5 pieces of gold plate, 6 pieces of gold saucer, 5 pieces of gold bowl, 1 piece of gold tea cup lid, 1 piece of gold spoon inlaid with turquoise, 2 pieces of gold spoon 1 pair of gold three-inlaid tooth chopsticks, 2 golden cloud-wrapped corner tables, 1 silver square, 1 silver folding bowl, 30 silver plates, 10 silver plates, 10 silver bowls, 8 silver tea cup lids, 10 pieces of silver spoons, 8 pairs of silver three-inlaid chopsticks, 3 silver teapots, 13 silver-backed pots, 2 silver pots, 3 silver fire pots, 2 silver pots, 2 silver pots, 3 silver ladles, copper 1 pair of elephant trunk furnaces, 2 copper gossip furnaces, 2 copper hand furnaces, 4 copper tile high lamps, 1 pair of copper shade lamps, 14 copper wax sticks, 6 copper scissor pots, 5 copper sign plates, 2 copper ladles, 1 copper dustpan, 10 tin basins, 2 tin pots, 5 tin tea bowl lids, 30 tin teapots, 4 tin back pots, 2 tin fire pots, 8 tin sitting pots, 2 tin refrigerators, 2 tin cobalt drawers, 1 iron gossip stove, 5 iron stoves, 4 iron fire covers, 4 iron sitting lamps, 2 iron fire tweezers, 220 pieces of yellow porcelain plates, porcelain of various colors 80 pieces of plates, 40 pieces of yellow porcelain dishes, 50 pieces of various colored porcelain dishes, 100 pieces of yellow porcelain bowls, 50 pieces of various colored porcelain bowls, 300 pieces of yellow porcelain cups, 70 pieces of various colored porcelain cups, 100 pieces of various colored porcelain cups, and various colored porcelain slag hoppers 4 pieces, 2 foreign lacquer low tables, 26 pairs of lacquer boxes of various colors, 15 lacquer tea trays of various colors, 25 lacquer leather trays of various colors, 20 stamp lamps, 10 incense table lamps, and 4 ram horn handle lamps.

Often in the palace: 1 copper wax stick, 1 copper scissor pot, 1 copper stick plate, 1 copper ladle, 1 tin tea bowl lid, 2 tin teapots, 1 tin pot, 1 tin sputum pot, silver-plated iron cloud 1 corner table, 1 bright iron tweezers, 2 multicolored red dragon porcelain plates, 8 multicolored porcelain plates, 2 multicolored red dragon porcelain dishes, 4 various colored porcelain dishes, 4 multicolored red dragon porcelain bowls, various colored porcelain There are 10 bowls, 2 multicolored red dragon porcelain cups, 6 porcelain cups of various colors, 1 lacquered tea tray, and 1 ram horn handle lamp.

Even with the promise of the lowest salary, there is no need to worry about food and clothing.However, their money is not enough.For example, gifts are given to the queen mother and empress during Chinese New Year and birthdays, and money is given to eunuchs and court ladies. Where does the money come from?One is to rely on the private money accumulated on weekdays (small treasury); the second is to rely on the emperor's regular rewards; the third is to rely on family support; The emperor was happy to give rewards (tips) and so on when he was sleeping. Fourth, set the rules.The order of the inner court is clear and orderly.Behave in words and deeds, abide by your duty.Be humble and docile, follow up with respect, and treat your subordinates with courtesy, eunuchs and maids of the palace are not allowed to order without authorization. The "Current Regulations in the Imperial Palace" stipulates that: those who have elderly parents in the inner court, or those who have a special order to meet relatives for a year or several months, only their own parents are allowed to enter the palace.He condolences to his family, and the eunuchs of the palace leaders are allowed to go there on the New Year's Day, but they are not allowed to publicize any internal and external affairs.The young eunuchs of each palace are allowed to come and go at the Yemen of the palace.The chief eunuch is not allowed to go to the owner's house for a long time to chat. For the above four items, the most important thing for concubines is their status and rank.The promotion of concubines does not depend on seniority, what is it?One depends on giving birth to sons, and the other depends on the emperor's liking, so the concubines tried their best to display their talents to win the emperor's favor and love.The biggest source of benefits for concubines is the emperor's favor, because only the emperor's favor can have more sons, and only the emperor's favor can receive more awards--promote to a higher level, and get more rewards.Under the polygamous system, being favored by the emperor is even more hard-won.For this reason, many thrilling stories have been deduced in the harem of all dynasties. From now on, the three palaces are the main body, the east six palaces and west six palaces are the two wings of the living quarters of the empress. There are many concubines, eunuchs, and maids. The standard of life for them is: only one person governs the six palaces, and all the six palaces serve them. one person.Emperor Jiajing's grandmother Xingxian said: "When a woman enters the palace, no one will be happy." See Mao Qiling's "Successful Notes on the History of Sheng Chaotong".The tragedies and comedies of the harem are staged here—although there are plenty of food and clothing for the concubines, there are also their lonely nights; although there are short-lived youthful laughter of the concubines, there are also their endless tears of sorrow.The East and West Six Palaces are not only the paradise for the monarchs in the imperial era, but also the purgatory for the concubines within the high walls.