In 1644, after the Qing army entered the customs, the Qing Dynasty was establishedIn terms of culture and social life, it has also integrated the traditions of the Central Plains and created a new system.
Especially in the selection of concubines, the improvement and development of the system reflects the particularity of women in the Qing DynastyIt also reveals the social background of the integration of Manchu and Han cultures.
Qing Dynasty harem concubines).
In the hit TV series "The Legend of Zhen Huan" and "Yanxi Raiders", the audience can often see that the concubines are constantly seeking status promotion for their own status and family development.
The queen who promised to be prominent since she was a child, in this difficult process, the most critical step is often to be promoted from a noble person to a "concubine".
In addition to the promotion of status, it is more important because of these three privileges.
Concubine canonization ceremony).
Nurhachi, as the founding emperor of the Later Jin Dynasty, was also the founder of the Qing DynastyIn his life, he successively married more than a dozen wives and concubines, called Dafu Jin, Fu Jin, and Side Fu Jin, and later changed his name to Hou and Side Concubines. Therefore, there was no strict hierarchy initially.
However, with the development of emperors such as Taizong and Shunzhi, the rudiments of the hierarchy of concubines in the Qing Dynasty were gradually formed.
By the Kangxi Dynasty, the ceremony system was basically perfect。"The queen is in the middle palace; The imperial concubine is one, the concubine is two, the concubine is four, the concubine is six, the nobleman, always there, and the promise is indefinite. ”
Qing Dynasty Show Girl) In the hierarchical draft system, the status of show girls and palace maids is the lowest. Although their identities, statuses, and destinations are different, there are also individual women who are beautifulwas favored by the emperor, gave birth to a son and a half daughter, and got a certain title.
But it still can't change the fate of being born in the emperor's family and having a low status.
Often in and promised to be known as "the girl of the room" in the folk,Their status is slightly higher than that of the show girls, but from the common name of the common people, it can also be glimpsed that they are not recognized by the royal family.
concubines).Low-level concubines have no harem titles to speak of, and they are not qualified to participate in major royal activities such as ancestor worship and canonization.
A higher level of concubines officially entered the ranks of concubines in the ancient "monogamy and multiple concubines" system. Although her status is not as good as that of the queen, as one of the three wives and four concubines, she also has the qualifications to serve as a personal maid and receive a salary.
Obviously, the transformation from a nobleman to a concubine is a change from a servant to a masterThis is a crucial step in the promotion process for concubines.
Concubine hierarchy).
In ancient China, housing, food, clothing, etc. not only played a role in meeting people's needs, but more importantly, they were used to distinguish social hierarchies and maintain the order of superiority and inferiority.
Although there were many concubines, each of them acted according to complicated and strict rules for their residence, diet, and honor guards. The transformation from a noble person to a "concubine" statusIt also means that they can enjoy better living conditions.
Ancient palaces) The concubines of the Qing Dynasty lived in the six eastern palaces according to their ranks: Jingren, Chengqian, Zhongcui, Yanxi, Yonghe, and Jingyang; West Sixth Palace: Yongshou, Yikun, Chuxiu, Qixiang, Changchun, Xianfuzhong. The Empress Dowager is the most noble and lives in Cining Palace.
The concubines who were promoted to "concubines" had their own residences and palace maids who were "for the order" to take care of their daily lives.
The diet of the harem in the Qing Dynasty was reduced from the queen to the nobles and promises, and their daily meals had their own rules, and the ingredients were prescribed. The elevated status also means that you can enjoy more meat and high-end ingredients.
Ancient court meals).
Although the concubines are under the fence and have a low status, this does not mean that the concubines are completely isolated from politics. On the contrary, as the emperor's wives and concubines, they were very close to the core of power.
In the major political events of the Qing Dynasty, it was difficult for the concubines to stay out of it. They usually influenced the political and historical course of the Qing Dynasty through their own heirs, the princes.
According to Qing history, the children of the Qing Dynasty royal family did not grow up next to their biological mothers, and most of them were taken care of by special nurses and palace maids.
As the princes and princesses get older, it is possible for them to meet their biological mothers. But this mainly depends on the hierarchical status of the birth motherOnly if the biological mother has a higher position will she have custody rights.
And whether you can see the dividing line of your own heir's statusIt is a "concubine", and the nobles below the "concubine", the low-level concubines such as Chang Present, and Promise may not even be able to see their children for a lifetime.
Concubines" and above concubines can "meet regularly" with their heirs, but this must also be within the scope of the harem and will not be too close.
The status of the biological mother will affect her son, and the phenomenon of "mother is more expensive than son" often occurs. Concubines above the "concubine" often adopted the children of low-ranking concubines to enhance their status and family influence.
The prince and the biological mother).
The three thousand beauties of the harem are attached to the emperor and are born, so after the emperor dies, where should the concubines go?
According to the different hierarchical status and the upbringing of the offspring, it is divided into a variety of different treatments.
If the first emperor gave birth to a dragon heir, he can live with the descendants of the title. If there are no concubines to rely on, they will generally become nuns.
nuns) concubines with relatively low status can only go to guard the tomb of the first emperor, that is, live around the tomb of the first emperor and never leave, which is equivalent to another form of burial.
The Cining Palace in the Forbidden City of the Qing Dynasty was specially used for the widow of the first emperor. And only the concubines above the "concubine" are lucky enough to have the right to live with the queen mother after the emperor's death.
Although the general trend of the first emperor has gone, the treatment of the concubines of the first emperor is not as good as before. But there is a place to live at least in peace.
Compared with the low-ranking concubines who were expelled everywhere, the quality of life was greatly guaranteed.
The situation of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty was closely related to the social background and the trend of historical development at that time, and the strict hierarchy could effectively manage the harem and maintain the stability of the regime.
In the strict harem system, if you are successfully promoted to "concubine", it represents the acquisition of many privileges and the transformation of status.
The possession of these powers can not only provide political support for the concubine's familyIt is also to seek welfare and security for the rest of his life.
However, as members of the ruling class, the concubines were both vested interests and victims of the feudal system, and were firmly bound in the Forbidden City physically and mentally, destined to spend a miserable life in depression.