The lives of women in feudal China is a topic that has intrigued scholars. Among various aspects, the bathing habits of women have drawn considerable curiosity. Experts have decoded this secret, revealing many astonishing truths.
According to researchers, during the feudal era, women placed great importance on bathing. This habit varied across different dynasties.
Women in feudal China placed great importance on bathing.
In the early Qin Dynasty, women had the habit of washing their hair every three days and bathing every five days.
By the Han Dynasty, the court established specific bathing days known as “Xiu Mu”. According to this regulation, women would bathe every five days to ensure their bodies were clean and fragrant. On this day, women would set aside most of their chores to dedicate time to self-care.
During the Tang Dynasty, the interval for bathing was extended to every ten days.
In the feudal era, bath soaps had not yet been invented, leading people to inadvertently discover a “treasure” used during bathing. This was clay.
People would apply clay all over their bodies to remove dirt. Afterward, they would rinse it off with water. Additionally, ancient people used mud collected from ponds, which was fermented overnight to eliminate impurities, and then used it to wash their faces. They believed this practice would help their facial skin become smooth and bright.
By the Tang Dynasty, women began to use soapberries for bathing. Every October, they would harvest dried soapberry fruits, crush them into powder, mix the soapberry powder with flour and some fragrances, and then shape them into small balls before drying them. These were gradually used by women for their bathing needs.
