Unlike in the movies, concubines cannot arbitrarily scold the palace maids. But why is that?
In Chinese palace drama films, we often see scenes where concubines, when angry, punish the eunuchs and palace maids. However, scholars argue that while concubines in the imperial court can hit, they cannot scold them casually, as doing so could lead to serious consequences. Why is this the case?
According to the “Qing History Compilation”, palace maids held a relatively low status in the imperial court during feudal times. They were brought to the palace to serve their masters, attending to all aspects of their lives and sometimes performing dirty, laborious tasks. In many film scenes, we see concubines venting their frustrations on palace maids.
Masters cannot scold palace maids in the court. (Illustrative image)
However, history tells a different story. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, some palace maids revealed a startling truth: In the palace, masters were not allowed to scold palace maids for three main reasons:
First, concubines understood that using vulgar language to scold palace maids would tarnish their own grace and dignity. Particularly when angered, they might struggle to control their emotions, leading to rash actions that could damage their royal image.
In ancient times, emperors prioritized the virtue of concubines over their beauty. Confucian teachings state: “A modest and simple appearance reveals the value of one’s character. If one’s attire is too extravagant, it exposes their vulgarity.” This means that women must adhere to standards and decorum, especially in their speech.
Second, the palace was bustling with people, and harshly reprimanding a palace maid could easily become gossip. As the tale circulated, it could be exaggerated, transforming what seemed like a minor issue into a significant scandal. If this news reached the emperor, it could lead him to view the concubine as sharp-tongued and unpleasant, resulting in her losing favor or even being exiled to a remote palace.
Finally, palace maids who worked in the court for long periods were well aware of the inner workings. They knew which concubine was competing with whom, or slandering others, and held various secrets. If a concubine acted impulsively and struck or scolded them, in a moment of desperation, the palace maids might reveal all the concubines’ secrets, which was a dire fear for them.
The rules were clear, yet many concubines, consumed by anger, ended up scolding or even assaulting palace maids, resulting in being despised by the emperor.
