Why did the concubines of the Qing Dynasty hang white cloth strips? It is not a decoration, but also a convenient way for the emperor
Longhua, the symbol of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty, seems to be an ordinary strip of cloth, but it carries the fate of countless women.
The sound of horses' hooves came from far and near, and a luxurious carriage slowly stopped at the city gate. The door opened, and a woman in a cloak stepped out of the carriage with small steps. She looked up at the walls and gates of the palace, and her heart couldn't help but feel uneasy.
This is the legendary Forbidden City, and she is about to become the heroine of this great game of chance. The deep palace that many women dream of is a big gamble for her.
She raised her hand slightly, and the palace maid understood, and stepped forward to pick up the shackles. Her gaze fell on the snow-white Longhua, and she couldn't help but bump into it - this seemingly ordinary ornament decided her future fate.
Longhua: A symbol of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty.
The dragon flower originated from the animal skin scarf of the Manchu people, which was an indispensable ornament for the concubines of the Qing Dynasty. As a symbol of imperial power, the meaning of the dragon flower is much more complex than ordinary jewelry.
When the woman was chosen as the emperor's concubine, the palace maid tied a dragon flower for her. This thin white silk embroidered with delicate flowers marks her official entry into the palace as a concubine.
Longhua clearly shows the identity and status of a woman. The Empress Dowager Cixi's Longhua is the most advanced and is usually embroidered"Blessed"、"Shou"and other auspicious words; Empress Dowager Ci'an's Longhua is second, slightly smaller. The complexity of the Longhua pattern is directly proportional to the status of the concubine.
The new concubines who entered the palace could only wear the simplest white Longhua pattern. Looking at her white Longhua, she couldn't help but sigh that this seemingly ordinary belt would accompany her for the rest of her life.
The dragon flower is made of fine silk and embroidered. The lighter the color, the more delicate the flowers, the more complex the patterns, the higher the value, representing a more noble status. In contrast, the smooth white cloth of the dragon flower was the starting point for women to enter the court.
She stroked the smooth texture of the dragon flower fabric, and her heart throbbed. She was originally a well-dressed girl, but the twist of fate made her a plaything of imperial power. In the future, she can't wait to turn into a colorful dragon instead of a shabby white cloth that symbolizes gorgeousness. This Longhua will be the key to his future.
Second, Longhua: pure concubine level"Logos"。
The significance of Longhua is that it can clearly indicate the rank and status of each concubine. In the Qing Dynasty, there were a large number of harem women, and there were thousands of concubines alone. They live in elaborate palaces, some of which are not even known. It was difficult for the emperor to identify each of his concubines and to remember their identities.
Therefore, Longhua has become a kind of one"Logos", the emperor can identify each concubine by the different dragons. As long as you see the pattern on her Longhua, you know that she lives in **, what her identity is, and you can ask her for mercy.
The women who have just entered the palace are looking forward to the emperor's favor, because it means favor and promotion. So, they dressed themselves up in a flamboyant way, hoping that the emperor would notice the simple white dragon flower on them.
In the fierce competition of the harem, the dragon flower became a symbol of the emperor's power. It is not only a tool for the emperor to mark the concubines, but also a ** for the concubines to compete for favor.
He bent down, straightened his pale green skirt, and silently wrote down the names of his concubines and the characteristics of the dragon flower. He understood that in order to win the favor of the emperor, he must first discover the dragon flower. Only if the emperor remembers it, he will have the opportunity to call it for pleasure in the future.
When the concubines escorted him to the sedan chair, he carefully looked at each concubine. Some are embroidered with birds and phoenixes, representing the emperor's special favor; Some are embroidered with peonies and flowers, indicating that they have been most favored by the concubines. Their light steps express their unshakable pride in the palace.
The monotonous white silk around the neck looks very solemn and simple. She couldn't help but secretly clench her fists, and her heart ignited a fighting spirit - I must let the emperor remember me, and I must become his favorite concubine!
3. Longhua: Greet the emperor's strength and calmness.
Attentive people may find that the dragon is usually tied around the neck to cover the woman's neck. There was a reason for this, not only to satisfy the emperor's power, but also to satisfy the emperor's comfort.
In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, most of the concubines' costumes were round-necked. This collarless design left the neck completely exposed, which was rude according to the etiquette of the time. In order to cover their necks, the concubines wore solid color trousers, which were both beautiful and in line with etiquette.
As a ruler, the emperor had the right to enjoy all the women in the harem. Under the Longhua headdress, the emperor could touch the delicate skin of the concubine without revealing too much.
Longhua is like a key, he wants to be close to the emperor, when he opens his heart, he wants to cover the emperor, and when he is bound, the bodies of the concubines are at his mercy. For the emperor, this was very satisfying and convenient.
When the emperor's gaze swept over him, he bowed his head respectfully. The dragon flowers on his sideburns covered his rosy cheeks and the fawn on his head. He knew that under this thin veil, his body would obey the orders of the emperor.
The emperor's order shocked him. He suppressed his blush and obeyed submissively. That night, under the veil, Longhua experienced the most intimate feeling a woman could experience.
Since then, the emperor has favored her, and her status has been improved. However, the good times did not last long, and a new concubine caught his attention, and she was once again beaten into the cold palace.
But he knew that the emperor would summon him from behind the scenes from time to time to show favor to him, and after his body was hollowed out, he could still commit adultery in Longhua and act arbitrarily.
Fourth, Longhua: the value interpretation of male superiority and female inferiority.
Unlike other dynasties, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty were Manchus from ethnic minorities who brought their own culture and customs to the Central Plains, making the Qing Dynasty's clothing culture present a unique style.
The appearance of Longhua is a typical representative of this style. It originated from the Manchurian custom of using animal skins for decoration, and later animal skins were transformed into fabrics and became essential ornaments for Han women.
It reflects the aesthetic sense and values of the male rulers of Manchuria. They believed that it was inappropriate for women to bare their necks and should be covered with ornaments. This concept is deeply imprinted in the decoration of Longhua.
Not only that, but it was also used to show the secondary status of concubines. The emperor used it to define and honor his concubines, treating them as objects to be manipulated at will. This objectification and plundering also stems from the discrimination against women in Manchu society.
It can be said that Longhua is a symbol, a tool for materialization, and embodies the values of male superiority and inferiority. It represents the conquest and plundering of Han Chinese women by Manchu men.
As he stroked the soft-textured Longhua, he contemplated the image of a woman. They could have lived a simple and peaceful life, but they were forced to become the emperor's playthings and be at his mercy. He didn't dare to tell anyone what he was thinking, because the dragon flower around his neck reminded him that he was just an instrument of the emperor's power.
When the maid bathed, she saw her cold face in the mirror. She was once a woman of flesh and blood with a heart of her own. Now, she is just a cog in the imperial machine, forced to follow the emperor's will.
She realizes that she is no longer an individual, but only a part of the workings of the empire. Longhua is the best interpretation of her loss of self.
v.Woman in the Palace: Hope and sorrow coexist.
When this woman was sent into the palace and saw the gorgeous Longhua of the other concubines, she only felt her heart beat faster. She realized that as long as she was favored, she would have the opportunity to become a new Longhua, which meant a higher status. The desire to be pampered by the Son of Heaven overcame her fear of an unknown fate.
So, she began to dress herself, hoping that her beauty would attract the attention of the emperor. One day, the emperor gave her a new Longhua dress embroidered with a lion.
Since then, she has moved into a luxurious palace, her movement is no longer restricted, and she is accompanied by concubines. She became a real concubine. The noble Longhua became a symbol of her glory, and the other sisters also respected her.
She stroked the freckles on the dragon flower with satisfaction. She was like a proud swan, cruising back and forth in the pools of the harem. All jealousy and resentment were dispelled by her aura.
But the good times did not last long, the new nobles came to power, and the emperor's favorite concubines also moved in. The emperor went into seclusion, reminiscing about the past every day.
Long Hua, the drunkard he once took care of, now left him dumbfounded. She reminds him that the former glory is a thing of the past, and he is back to square one.
Watching the new apprentice stride with her head held high on her back with the dragon flower bird she had once dreamed of, the corners of her eyes were full of tears. The sadness and jealousy in her heart wanted to strangle her to death. Once she looked forward to it, but now all that was left was the desire to talk.
History moves forward, and people today sympathize with the women of that era. She gave them status and also made them lose power. Where does this glory come from, and where does this grief go? Perhaps only the women of the court who were in it could truly understand.
In the long course of history, certain people and things have always become a symbol. They carry the imprint of an era and deduce a thousand sails.
Although we cannot travel through time and space, we can feel the joys and sorrows of the past from these symbols. This connection transcends years and transcends life and death. In the long river of time, we will leave our symbols, but they will live forever in our hearts.