In ancient times, many women not only wanted to marry their beloved, but also had a luxury, that is, they entered the palace and became the emperor's concubines, so that they could live a life of food and clothing without worries, and their status was extremely prominent, which could not only change their own destiny, but also change the future of their family.
Perhaps many people learned through watching some costume dramas that ancient concubines shared their blessings. They could eat and wear warmth without doing anything every day, be favored by the emperor or give birth to a prince, and have the opportunity to be promoted to a noble concubine or even a queen. This seems to be a very good life. In fact, everyone has been deceived by these costume dramas. Take the life of the imperial concubines in the Qing Dynasty as an example. Do you know how they spent their real day? It can only be said to be boring and luxurious.
The strict system of selecting concubines in the Qing Dynasty
Every dynasty has its own standards and systems for selecting concubines. The purpose is to enable the emperor of the current dynasty to choose people of equal status. This is relatively strict in the Qing Dynasty. first of all, the basic condition for participating in selection of concubines is that it must be the identity of Manchu people. Han or other ethnic groups are not qualified to participate unless they marry some large families. There is such a regulation to ensure the purity of the so-called royal bloodline. may seem to us that this idea is extremely stupid, but it has been followed during the feudal dynasty.
The second is that he comes from a noble family or has a shocking appearance. Generally speaking, it is more important to see his origin. In the late Qing Dynasty, appearance was no longer important. There was political intention behind doing so. The emperor needed to obtain the support of the big families in the court through this marriage, which would help him strengthen centralization and better consolidate his identity as an emperor. You should know that many families that have always maintained a marriage relationship with the royal family are basically old-fashioned families, just like the Yehenara family, which has maintained the tradition of marriage with the royal family since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty.
After this, there will be special officials to screen the women participating in the selection of concubines to see if there are major diseases or infectious diseases. If there is any, they will be eliminated directly. This is also for the sake of the emperor's personal health. What if the concubine is plagued by illness, what if it is transmitted to the emperor? Then there is how to have children if you are not in good health. After all, since ancient times, the royal family has attached great importance to the continuation of offspring. , and this is just a first-hand introduction. After that, they will learn complex palace rules. Without a little brain or knowledge, there is no chance to be promoted, so it is not that easy to become an emperor's concubine.
Concubines enjoy the luxury of palace life
Of course, if you have experienced such strict selection, you can naturally enjoy the favorable treatment of the concubine. However, the concubines in the harem are also divided into levels. The biggest one is the queen, and then Imperial Concubine , imperial concubines, concubines, concubines, etc. Their status is not high, and they are better than palace maids, but they have no right to speak in the harem, and everyone they meet must pay tribute to.
And the treatment of concubines is earth-shaking. First of all, they will have their own palaces, and they don’t have to squeeze in a room like nobles and promises. And there will be special eunuchs . Palace maids serve them, and the food and desserts are served on time, and the clothes they wear are also real silk and satin . Just like what we see in costume dramas, it can be said that this is the dream life state of all women in ancient times.
And the palace will give these concubines of different levels every year pocket money, ranging from dozens to hundreds of taels. The concubines can also spend money. Over time, they will accumulate a lot of wealth. In addition, in the daily palace, they will also provide concubines with gold, silver and jewelry and other precious decorations. I believe that this is what many girls are eager to get! Even some decorations in the palace are actually very expensive materials or jewelry. For example, some furniture is made of rare wood, and the sculptures and ornaments you see on weekdays are also jade jewelry of real materials.
In addition, during festivals, concubines will also receive expensive gifts, which may be precious jewelry, or food that is difficult to eat, etc., and new clothes will be distributed every year. Even if the emperor of the dynasty dies and the new emperor ascends the throne, they will also be treated preferentially, but the treatment is not as good as before. In this way, entering the palace to become a concubine and enjoying the one-stop service of life is completely a life of a god. Is it really what we have seen or learned about?
Real life is boring and boring
The costume dramas we see on weekdays, especially those special court dramas, mostly tell the daily life and intrigue of the imperial concubines in the Qing Dynasty. They only enjoy themselves every day and think about how to "defeat" other concubines and replace them. It seems that there is nothing to do, but based on the real history, the life of the concubine is really boring and boring. If it were now, I believe no woman would be a concubine.
First of all, the concubines are not in nothing. They must wash and sort out before six o'clock every day, and then collectively pay tribute to the empress and the imperial concubine. If there is an empress dowager, then go to pay tribute to the empress dowager first, and then go to dinner step by step. It will take about eight or nine o'clock after the meal. The rest of the time is at your disposal. And you also have to pay tribute to the evening, and then eat. If the emperor flips the sign and turns to the concubine, she has to wash up in advance and wait for bedtime. As for what time it is unknown, it depends on when the emperor is finished. Sometimes, the emperor may not have to pay tribute to bedtime when he is not interested, so this kind of waiting is really uncomfortable.
Secondly, the palace rules are numerous, and everyone they meet has to bow and comfort everyone they see. There is no friend who can talk to them on weekdays. The only one who can say what they are in his heart is the maids around him. However, due to his identity and rank, the concubines cannot chat with the maids with heart, and it is only limited to relieve boredom. The rest of the time is spent aimlessly waiting, , and they cannot visit other concubines to chat. Although the battle in the harem is not as serious as the film and television dramas, there is still a competitive relationship. If the sentence is wrong, it is easy to be caught and the result can be imagined.
Conclusion
So we should not be misled by costume dramas or palace dramas. The concubines in the harem are not as ideal as they are. Although they enjoy wealth and honor, based on reality, I believe that no one is willing to live such a life. They sleep at home until midnight, enjoy the warmth and unrestrained bed, and can also play with their mobile phones. Watching TV shows and shopping is not much better than the boring life of the concubine. Since that is the case, why should we envy the life of the concubines in the palace?
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