Even personal hygiene was a challenge for the eunuchs and palace maids, who had to find ways to maintain their body fragrance…
Eunuchs and palace maids were dedicated servants for the royal family members. Most of their lives revolved around their masters, and even personal hygiene needed to be managed carefully.
Historical records reveal many unique aspects of the personal hygiene practices of palace maids and eunuchs.
Eunuchs of the Nguyen Dynasty. (Photo: Zing).
Eunuchs Compete for Baths and Use Scented Pouches to Mask Odors
Due to the absence of necessary physical attributes, eunuchs faced significant challenges in managing their hygiene. They struggled to control their hygiene needs like ordinary people, often resorting to “resolving” issues in various places within the palace.
They had to find every possible way to bathe and scent their bodies to avoid punishment from their masters for unpleasant odors.
Images of palace maids and eunuchs from the Nguyen Dynasty. (Photo: Zing).
In ancient times, eunuchs shared a communal bath known as “Hỗn Đường Tư”. Each day, this facility opened from 4 to 5 PM. During this period, eunuchs had to bathe quickly, as missing this window meant waiting until the next day.
Some eunuchs could not leave their posts to attend to their masters, resulting in extended periods without bathing. Instead, they relied on scented powders or flower pouches to mask body odors.
Moreover, in the cleaning process, those of higher rank enjoyed greater privileges, such as having private baths and being attended by lower-ranking eunuchs who would provide hot water and towels…
Depending on rank, eunuchs had different privileges at Hỗn Đường Tư. (Illustrative photo: Kknews).
Palace Maids Used Flowers for Fragrance and Had to Wear Straw Belts During Menstruation
Similar to eunuchs, palace maids also had a private space for bathing and hygiene. However, these spaces were divided into separate rooms. Additionally, they had the special privilege of adding flower petals into their baths to enhance their body’s fragrance.
Furthermore, palace maids faced challenges during their menstrual cycles. They typically used a straw belt or a sanitary belt made from soft fabric lined with ash and grass to absorb moisture. However, due to the nature of their duties, the frequency of changing these belts and attending to personal hygiene was understandably not as regular as today.
An image of a straw belt used by palace maids in ancient times. (Photo: Kknews).
Many Eunuchs and Palace Maids Used Personal Hygiene Time for Romance
Whether eunuchs or palace maids, both often felt lonely in the quiet palace environment. Therefore, they took advantage of every moment they could to meet and befriend those at their level.
For instance, during personal hygiene routines, they could freely do as they wished. This led to many romantic entanglements between palace maids and eunuchs, palace maids with each other, and even eunuchs with other eunuchs.
The lives of those who dedicated most of their time to serving their masters, like eunuchs and palace maids, were indeed challenging and arduous. Even their personal hygiene time was incredibly precious to them.
- Palace maids had to hold water while serving Empress Dowager Cixi in the restroom: When the reason is revealed, everyone feels disgusted!
- The horrifying secret in the tomb of the most “monstrous” eunuch in China
- Why wasn’t the emperor worried about sending male doctors to the harem to examine the health of the concubines?
