Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode's in-depth reveal!In the deep palace of the ancient imperial palace, eunuchs and palace maids were tasked with taking care of Niangniang's daily life, including bathing Niangniang. Why should the eunuchs be involved, and it is considered their least favorite errand?Let's have a hard time.
In ancient times, the palace was full of harem beauties, princes, and princesses, who needed to be served by their subordinates. Originally, these subordinates were basically women to facilitate the care of the concubines. However, some physical activities, such as carrying water and carrying, are not suitable for women. In order to prevent the occurrence of improper relationships, especially for those concubines who were not favored or unruly, in order to ensure the purity of the royal blood, the emperor introduced the profession of eunuch.
Eunuchs are often despised by people because of their unsound health and performing the task of serving people. Even though some eunuchs enjoyed the supreme glory and wealth, they were still spurned. According to Sun Yaoting, the last eunuch of the Qing Dynasty, as a new eunuch, he was often bullied, had to kneel when serving the royal family, and they had to take care of any trivial matters. However, nothing was more tormenting for the eunuchs than waiting for the concubines to take a bath.
The Zhou Rite records that ancient people washed their hair every three days and bathed once every five days, which was not only to keep it clean, but also a ritual rule. If you don't take a bath for a long time, you will naturally have some smell on your body, and if the emperor notices it, you will be scolded at least and punished at worst. Therefore, the concubines bathed strictly according to the rules.
Bathing in ancient times was far from being as easy as it is today, and there were no showers and water heaters. Before bathing, eunuchs and court ladies needed to prepare a bath bucket and necessary bath supplies such as essential oils and flower petals. Each bath requires more than a dozen eunuchs and palace maids to serve, and the hot water and spices are poured into the bath bucket, and the concubines can lie in and wait for the waiting.
For example, Yang Yuhuan, who was deeply loved by Tang Xuanzong, would put flower petals and a variety of spices in the bath, which could not only wash away the dirt on the body, but also exude a fragrant fragrance. Some concubines even soaked lemongrass in water to achieve the effect of repelling insects. The whole process is tedious and complicated and takes hours. In addition to taking turns to serve, the eunuchs and palace maids also had to kneel near the bath tub to massage and add water to the concubines. During the entire process, the eunuch had to keep his head down and not look up, lest he be punished for being caught peeping.
It was not a matter of minutes, but hours, and the eunuchs had to keep their heads down. Their gestures should be moderate so as not to offend the concubine, otherwise they will also be punished. It was especially difficult in the summer, where the combination of high temperatures and the inability to wear revealing clothing made it easier for the concubines to sweat. The increased frequency of bathing was an unspeakable pain for the eunuchs. What was supposed to be a mission every few days has become multiple times a day, and they almost always worry about losing their lives.
Cixi was a person who loved cleanliness, especially bathing and washing her feet. It is said that the Empress Dowager Cixi bathed with specially made rose soap, soaked chrysanthemums in the summer, and washed with papaya soup in the winter to make her body warmer. During the bath, Cixi sat in a custom-made low rotating chair, with two gold-rimmed wooden basins containing the upper and lower body bath water. Cixi bathed with more than 100 towels, all embroidered with dragon patterns of gold thread, and discarded after use, which was very luxurious. Four palace maids in charge are waiting. After the bath, Cixi would also wipe the perfume, dip it in rose water and wipe it again, and finally the palace maid would wipe it again with a clean towel, which was considered complete. During the whole process, there was also a female officer who accompanied and chatted.
Cixi was equally particular about washing her feet, with two specially trained court maids in charge of washing her feet. The footbath is made of silver, and charcoal is placed in the middle to keep the water temperature from dropping. Cixi also used two basins, one for soaking her feet and one for washing, and the eunuchs and maids helped her wipe them clean. The reason why Cixi likes bathing so much is not simply because she loves cleanliness, but because she believes that bathing can remove bad luck.
Some concubines like to be served by palace maids, while others like eunuchs. Eunuchs have great strength and high efficiency, and at the same time they are not considered real men, so they are more likely to be trusted by concubines.
The origin and development of the profession of eunuch is closely related to the complex system of the ancient court and the purity of the royal bloodline. Behind the seemingly ordinary work of serving the concubines to take a bath, there is hidden the suffering and bitterness of the eunuchs, who silently bear the dilemma of their identity, and perform this seemingly hard task without regrets in order to protect the purity of the royal family.
In general, in the ancient court, eunuchs not only performed the task of taking care of concubines, but also took on the responsibility of maintaining the dignity and purity of the royal family. The efforts and sacrifices they put into this particular profession make people sigh for what happened to them and their fate.
Through this in-depth revelation, we gain a deeper understanding of the details and intricacies behind the ancient court, as well as how the eunuchs survived in this special environment. This also gives us a more comprehensive understanding of the life of the ancient royal family, making history more vivid and interesting. The Suffering of the Eunuchs: The Secrets of the Most Difficult Duties of the Ancient Court.
This in-depth article revealing the ancient court eunuchs' service to the concubines to bathe really presents us with a unique perspective rich in history. The author uses vivid language and rich details to decipher the origin and development of the eunuch profession and the special role they played in the court.
First of all, the article begins with the palace life in the pre-Qin era, and explains some manual tasks that are difficult for female subordinates to perform, which led to the emperor having to recruit men, but in order to prevent romantic affairs, it eventually evolved into the unique profession of eunuch. This process illustrates the intricate interweaving of power, rules, and purity in the ancient court, giving the reader a glimpse of the inner workings of an ancient dynasty.
Secondly, by describing the specific process of the eunuchs serving the concubines to bathe, the article reveals the torment and pressure behind this seemingly ordinary work. The author takes the etiquette rules in "Zhou Li" as a starting point, and deeply analyzes the importance of the concubines' bathing, as well as the identity anxiety, physical discomfort, and strict behavioral norms that the eunuchs endured in this process. This makes the reader feel more able to feel the toil and sacrifice of the eunuchs in this work.
At the same time, through the case of Cixi, the article shows the various preferences of different concubines for the bathing process, such as the spices in the bath water, special bath products, and extra steps after bathing, outlining a luxurious picture of the bathing in the court for the reader. This not only adds color to the article, but also highlights the extravagance and diversity of court life.
Finally, the article describes the summer scene, the hardships of the eunuchs waiting for the concubines to bathe in the high temperature, and the increase in the frequency of bathing due to the increase in sweating in summer, so that the reader has a more intuitive feeling of the hardships of the eunuchs. This realistic depiction of the eunuchs' duties allows the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the pressures and challenges they faced in the court.
Overall, with its unique themes, profound analysis, and vivid descriptions, this article successfully presents the work of the ancient court eunuchs in serving the bathing of their concubines. Through this perspective, the reader has a deeper understanding of the various aspects of ancient court life, so that the historical scenes are brought to life.
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