No matter how they are treated, the beautiful women in the imperial harem often live in solitude.
The Tang Dynasty in feudal Chinese society was a regime that practiced humanization, prominently reflected in its treatment of women. In marriage, if women felt dissatisfied, they had the right to initiate divorce, and even negotiate terms during the process. They could wear men’s clothing and, notably, could don provocative outfits that accentuated their alluring curves.
Treatment of Concubines
During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor’s concubines could build their own residences, and if they needed money or servants, they had access to them without necessarily having to spend all day in the palace serving the emperor. Most notably, the system of conjugal visits in the Tang court was regulated; although the schedule was organized and choices had to be made according to regulations, it was still seen as a typical example of humanization in ancient feudal society.
Beauty in the harem.
To manage the “army of women,” the head of the harem had to establish a grading system, dividing the concubines and palace maids into eight ranks, managed similarly to officials. The empress was considered the national mother, directly subordinate to the emperor, overseeing the management of the harem. The concubines were then categorized into the following ranks:
- First rank includes the principal wives: Imperial Concubine, Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, and Gentle Consort.
- Second rank includes the nine concubines: Charming Lady, Beautiful Lady, Beloved Lady, Elegant Lady, Graceful Lady, Affectionate Lady, Splendid Lady, Lovely Lady, and Adored Lady.
- Third rank includes the Consort.
- Fourth rank includes the Beauties.
- Fifth rank has the Talent Concubines, with three tiers, each consisting of nine women forming a unified group called the Second Ten-Seven Tier Ladies.
- Sixth rank includes the Protectors.
- Seventh rank consists of the Fish Ladies.
- Eighth rank includes the Great Ladies, with three tiers, each having 27 women forming what is known as the Eighth Ten-First Ladies.
Arrangements were typically determined before the 15th day of each month, as the moon grew fuller and brighter. From the 1st to the 15th, assignments were made from the lowest rank, the Fish Ladies, up to the highest rank, the Empress. From the 16th day onward, the order would reverse, starting from the highest rank back down to the lowest.
Life of Palace Maids in the Tang Dynasty
By the end of the Tang Dynasty, while the hierarchy of the harem had changed significantly, the core structure remained intact. The duties of the palace maids were clearly defined and detailed. Women of higher ranks were a minority among the palace maids, while the majority were ordinary maids who had to perform labor-intensive tasks, rarely having opportunities to interact with high-ranking concubines or meet the emperor. In fact, many of these maids, even after death, had no graves, resulting in their lives being largely unknown.
The manner in which palace maids entered the harem determined their status within it. Most maidens came from the common populace, selected for their noble lineage and moral character, which provided them opportunities to be promoted to court ladies. Conversely, those who were captured or whose families committed crimes had the lowest status, often relegated to tasks like embroidery, sewing, laundry, and cooking…
Hundreds of thousands of women serve just one man.
Additionally, a few maids were from vassal states, local dignitaries, or princesses presented to the court; these women were often exceptionally talented and easily caught the emperor’s attention, frequently being promoted to concubines. However, they often served as intermediaries for those who presented them.
The daily work of the palace maids was arduous, from early morning until late at night. Their primary duty was to serve the emperor and the concubines. To meet the needs for a comfortable and luxurious life for their masters, their tasks included managing meals, accommodations, clothing, and transportation.
Despite the hardships, in the Tang Dynasty, the emperor placed great importance on training the palace maids, establishing a school in the harem dedicated to educating them. They were regularly taught and cultivated in cultural knowledge, music, arts, and various skills, resulting in a relatively high caliber of Tang palace maids. Among these was Shangguan Wan’er, a famous figure in history, who was a crucial aide to Empress Wu Zetian.
