Serving in the royal harem, the eunuchs felt fear while attending to the concubines every day, wishing they could erase it from their memories.
In the vast confines of the feudal court of China, there exists a unique group of individuals – the eunuchs. To become a eunuch, they must undergo “castration” (removal of the reproductive organs from a young age) to freely operate within the emperor’s harem. Their primary duty is to serve the emperor and his concubines. With three thousand beauties in the harem, the number of eunuchs serving there is immense.
As they stand by the concubines, one of the daily tasks the eunuchs must perform is attending to their bathing. However, the pain and challenges behind this job that eunuchs endure are often beyond comprehension.
One of the tasks that eunuchs must perform every day is attending to the bathing of the concubines. (Illustrative image).
The eunuchs are stripped of their physical characteristics after the castration process and no longer hold the traditional social roles of men. Although they have close contact with the emperor’s concubines in the harem, they are always confined to the role of loyal servants. The existence of eunuchs serves not only to maintain order in the harem but also binds them to their own fates. They live in an environment filled with taboos and dangers, facing countless psychological and even physical stresses.
Bathing the concubines is not merely a process of cleaning the body; it also serves as a spiritual cleansing. During this process, the concubines temporarily escape the constraints of daily life and immerse themselves in their own world. However, this is a highly challenging job for the eunuchs tasked with it.
First and foremost, eunuchs must exercise extreme caution in their relationships with the concubines. While serving them during bathing, they need to confront the physicality of the concubines in the most natural way possible. This is undoubtedly a significant challenge for eunuchs, who were born male. They must tightly control their behavior and emotions to avoid crossing boundaries while still completing their duties professionally and with sufficient decorum. Any disrespectful behavior towards a woman belonging to the emperor could lead to the most tragic consequences for the eunuchs.
This is a highly challenging job for eunuchs performing this duty. (Illustrative image).
Additionally, eunuchs must be keen observers and sensitively recognize the psychological changes of the concubines while bathing. They need to understand the personalities, preferences, and needs of the concubines to perform their duties better. At the same time, they must also handle various unexpected situations, such as mood changes of the concubines or sudden incidents during bathing, to ensure that the task is carried out safely and smoothly.
During the bathing of the concubines, eunuchs endure not only physical exertion but also numerous technical and emotional challenges. Bathing conditions during that time were far inferior to modern standards; they needed to prepare large amounts of hot water, mix fragrances, and even scrub the concubines by hand. This process often took three or four hours, with the concubines simply sitting still in the tub, leaving most eunuchs exhausted after each bathing session.
The duties of eunuchs attending to the concubines’ bathing are filled with pain and challenges. (Illustrative image).
More importantly, eunuchs must continuously restrain their emotions and inner desires. Although they have lost their masculine traits, male hormones are still secreted. They are acutely aware of their status and limitations, understanding that they are merely a lowly group of servants, with no chance of catching the eye of the concubines or being able to confront the emperor, the ruler of the realm.
In summary, the work of eunuchs serving the concubines during bathing is filled with pain and challenges. They are not only physically tormented but also suffer from psychological and emotional torture. In their eyes, this job serves as a test and a training of their spirit.
Existing in the grand palace, although the stories of eunuchs are little known, they are an indispensable part of the history of the feudal royal system in China.
