According to historical records, the number of concubines in ancient China who had children was not large. Did they really have to engage in fierce rivalries as depicted in palace drama series?
In ancient times, women often did not hold power and faced many societal injustices, relying on men to advance. Therefore, many young women aspired to enter the palace to become concubines of the emperor.
Many concubines gained significant status through motherhood. (Illustrative photo: Sohu)
There is an ancient Chinese saying, “a mother’s wealth is dependent on her children,” which suggests that the prosperity of a mother is tied to her offspring. This saying originated from the fact that many concubines relied on their children for support. In fact, many women had their status elevated due to their children. If a child was chosen to inherit the throne, the biological mother would enjoy considerable wealth and honor.
In reality, there were many concubines who could not bear children. To clarify this issue, scientists examined the remains of these ancient concubines. The results were quite surprising.
Due to Excessive Use of Medicinal Ingredients
Many concubines opted to use herbal medicines to maintain youthfulness and beauty. A notable example is Zhao Feiyan from the Han Dynasty, who, desiring to have smooth skin and a fragrant aura, inserted a pill called “Xiang Ge Huan” into her navel.
This herbal remedy primarily contained deer antler, ginseng, and musk. While it had beautifying effects, prolonged use negatively impacted a woman’s reproductive capabilities. Ultimately, unable to have children, Zhao Feiyan spent her days plotting against other pregnant concubines.
Zhao Feiyan was willing to use harmful aphrodisiacs for beauty. (Illustrative photo: Sohu)
Similar to Zhao Feiyan, many concubines resorted to various means to harm those who were pregnant. Due to frequent miscarriages and the underdeveloped medical practices of the time, many concubines could not recover their health or reproductive abilities. Thus, it became common for concubines in these eras to struggle with infertility.
Due to the Emperor’s Favoritism
Even with thousands of beauties in the imperial court, not everyone received the emperor’s favor. Many lived in solitude for years without being summoned to the emperor’s bed. Additionally, even if a concubine was fortunate enough to be chosen, whether she could conceive often depended on the emperor’s decision.
If the emperor did not wish a concubine to become pregnant, he had ways to prevent it. This was done to avoid rivalry in the harem. Furthermore, many concubines were brought into the palace as part of political marriages. Thus, to protect the country from potential dangers, the emperor would strictly prohibit these politically connected concubines from becoming pregnant.
The ability of a concubine to conceive also depended on the emperor’s decision. (Illustrative photo: Sohu)
Due to the Concubine’s Condition
This reason often stems from the concubine’s inability to conceive. Many concubines, despite living in luxury, had weak reproductive health, making it difficult for them to conceive even if they were favored by the emperor.
Another reason is that even if they were summoned, it might not be a time conducive to pregnancy, making the chances slimmer. Additionally, with over 3,000 beauties available to the emperor, the likelihood of a concubine being summoned at the right time for conception was very low.
Thus, the struggles of ancient concubines to bear children, despite being favored, were not solely the result of their rivalries. This also highlights the injustices faced by women in the past, as they could not seek happiness for themselves.
