The princesses of the Qing Dynasty were born into royalty, embodying the ideal beauty and privilege of their time. They were the golden branches and jade leaves, enjoying all the worldly riches and luxuries available. However, most princesses of the Qing Dynasty suffered from tragic fates; why is that?
“Living like a princess” is a common phrase people use to describe a life of wealth and being “treated with utmost care.” When it comes to the standard of living for women in society, no one surpasses the princesses. Yet, the princesses of the Qing Dynasty (China) often faced early deaths.
From birth, they bore the heavy burden of political marriage. The princesses were essentially tools used to protect the empire.
In reality, the lives of the Qing princesses were quite sorrowful. Historical records and documents from the Qing royal family indicate that out of hundreds of princesses, most were unable to bear heirs and many died young.
Understanding the reasons behind this is truly heartbreaking.
The first reason is that these princesses were married off to foreign nations, drastically altering their living environments. This often led to health issues due to unfamiliar customs and climates, which over time could weaken their health. Long-term illness not only hindered their ability to conceive but also adversely affected their lifespan.
Many princesses were married off at a young age and, overwhelmed with homesickness for their families, fell into deep depression. Growing up with only maids and wet nurses, these princesses often felt “unloved by their fathers and mothers,” making them even more susceptible to melancholy.
Princesses served as tools to protect the empire.
Due to many strict regulations, the lives of Qing princesses were not more fortunate than those of commoners at that time.
The second reason lies in the numerous rules within the Qing palace. From a young age, they were bound by the constraints of feudal culture, where the reputation of the royal family was deemed more important than personal happiness, even more so than their own lives.
Princesses and their husbands did not live together. The household was managed by the wet nurse, and the couple needed her approval to stay together. The husbands were also prohibited from requesting to see their princesses due to the hierarchical differences. Therefore, the shared life of the princess and her husband was fraught with complications.
In some cases, the wet nurses could not be subtly reminded or hinted at, often accepting bribes and gifts. If a wet nurse became displeased, she could ridicule or oppress the princess using moral standards.
The “intimacy” between married couples during the Qing Dynasty was a very private matter. If the couple did not meet for extended periods, how could they conceive? This was one of the main reasons why princesses could not bear children.
<pLater, when excavations and studies of Qing princesses' tombs were conducted, it was discovered that many princesses remained virgins even at the time of their death.
Two Qing princesses.
The third reason is that these marriages were political rather than based on love, leading to a type of marriage devoid of affection. It was not uncommon for princesses to live in loneliness throughout their lives.
The rules of the royal court infringed upon human dignity, especially for the princesses.
During the Qing Dynasty, princes could act freely, but out of fear that a princess’s indiscretions would tarnish the royal family’s reputation, strict control was enforced over the princesses.
In fact, when compared, the everyday lives of common people might have been much more humane.
This also confirms that the issue of “intimacy” posed significant challenges. As the princesses spent long periods without companionship, often feeling depressed and unhappy, this inevitably affected their health, leading to shorter lifespans.
By the time of Emperor Qianlong, out of sympathy for Princess Gu Lun Hejing, the only surviving daughter of his late wife, Empress Xiao Xian, when he married her off to a prince of the Khorchin Mongols, he ordered a residence to be built for the young couple in the capital. This set a precedent allowing princesses married to Mongolian men to spend most of their time in the capital.
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