In feudal China, it was common for wealthy and high-status men to have “three wives and four concubines.”
During wedding customs of that time, when a man took a wife, he could also take additional “bride servants” as concubines, meaning secondary wives.
“Bride servants” were the female attendants of the primary wife (the officially recognized wife), who accompanied her to her husband’s home to continue their duties of care. However, if a man found one of these attendants pleasing and trustworthy, he might choose to take her as a concubine, albeit without the formal wedding process of a primary wife. From that point on, “bride servants” would become “bedchamber maidens,” yet despite becoming a concubine, they could not escape the status of being a “bride servant,” which was extremely lowly.
At that time, there was a saying: “It is better to be the wife of a poor man than to be a concubine of a rich man.” This was because being a concubine was seen as a lowly and insignificant existence.
Secondary wives must be wary of the primary wife, and naturally have no voice or status in the household. (Illustrative image).
In feudal China, the primary wife often had little to no status or voice, let alone the concubines. If favored by the husband, a concubine might have a somewhat easier life. However, if not protected by the man, a concubine could even be forced to perform household chores like a servant, rather than enjoying leisure time like the primary wife.
Most concubines came from families of limited means, either from poor families with some beauty who caught the attention of wealthy households and were purchased; or they were maids serving the primary wife.
According to various historical records and folklore, the life of a concubine, aside from having slightly better food than a servant, was quite pitiful. They had to be cautious of the primary wife, and naturally had no voice or status in the household.
However, there was one opportunity for a concubine to improve her situation: giving birth to a son to carry on the family line, competing for priority with the primary wife. Yet, even if they bore children for the family, concubines were generally not allowed much contact with them because they were considered of low status, with their sole duty being to bear children.
In ancient times, if a wealthy household or a formally married wife could not bear children, it was deemed necessary for the man to take a concubine.
Besides providing heirs, concubines served another purpose: they could be given as gifts or even “traded as commodities.” This was viewed as inhumane, degrading women in the societal mindset of the time.
Women of that era were seen as items to be exchanged, with daughters married off like spilled water, no more and no less.
Daughters from wealthy families might have parents who actively sought a good husband for them, or at least ensured that their future in-laws were of decent standing, allowing them to become the primary wife. In contrast, daughters from poor families often faced pressure to marry wealthy men to settle debts, becoming concubines to bear children, or marrying men “of equal social standing” with their own circumstances, living modestly day by day.
Of course, there were many cases of wealthy young masters doting on daughters from poor families; however, the likelihood of such a girl becoming a primary wife was almost nonexistent, and at best, she could be a concubine but live more comfortably.
