The reasons behind these challenges evoke feelings of astonishment and sympathy for the fate of the palace maids of ancient times. What are the specifics?
For a long period after its establishment, the Qing Dynasty maintained a strict regulation regarding the palace maids. They were required to serve their masters in the Forbidden City until their deaths. However, during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, this unreasonable regulation was revised. The palace maids only needed to serve until the age of 25 to be allowed to leave the palace.
Before leaving the palace, they were even granted monetary rewards by the emperor, seen as compensation for the youthful years they dedicated to the imperial court. However, despite leaving the palace at the age of 25 and having a sum of money, these maids found it very difficult to find a suitable husband. They even faced challenges regarding childbirth. Why was that the case?
Past the “golden age”
The marriage age for women in feudal society was typically very early, with the majority marrying at just 16 or 17 years old. In fact, marrying at 18 was considered quite late, and women giving birth in their 20s were often labeled as “older mothers.” Therefore, at the age of 25, when these palace maids left the palace, it was challenging for them to gain societal “approval” when it came to marriage.
Palace maids entered the palace at a very young age. (Photo: Baidu)
Even if society did not pay attention to their age, it was still difficult for them to find a man willing to marry them due to their age. Aware of this, the palace maids who left the palace often felt insecure and did not dare to actively seek out their ideal partners. Unless someone approached them, the likelihood of that happening was very low.
Carrying health issues
The regulations in the imperial court were very strict, and even more so for the palace maids. They had to work at a high intensity and could not get enough sleep, leading to poor health and making them susceptible to various illnesses.
According to records from the document collection “Xiang An Fu Nei Wu” (the agency managing royal properties and items), many palace maids serving in the palace suffered from various diseases from a young age. Common ailments among palace maids included epilepsy, tuberculosis, asthma, stomach pain, typhoid fever, and more.
Heavy workloads caused palace maids to suffer from various illnesses. (Photo: Baidu)
Moreover, many other historical documents also record the common diseases of palace maids. Among them, a particularly cruel disease prevalent among palace maids was liver disease. In June of the 48th year of the Qianlong reign, it was recorded that over 10 palace maids were diagnosed with liver disease, and the imperial physicians prescribed numerous remedies for liver and stomach health.
Due to carrying various illnesses, not only was their health poor, but their reproductive capabilities were also limited, and their average lifespan was severely affected.
Socially isolated due to mistakes
Complex regulations in the imperial court made it easy for palace maids to make mistakes. If they committed a serious offense, they could face fines, corporal punishment, and subsequently be expelled from the Forbidden City. Many might think that being expelled from the palace is not a big deal. What’s so significant that palace maids would feel embarrassed to seek husbands?
This directly relates to the reputation of the palace maids. Most of those expelled from the palace did so due to mistakes related to their character. For example, being of improper conduct, neglecting their duties to gossip, or getting into conflicts with other palace maids.
Some palace maids were expelled for committing serious offenses. (Photo: Baidu)
After being convicted and expelled from the palace, these maids were often criticized by society. Even their families felt ashamed, and some families even refused to accept their daughters back after being expelled by the court. Their reputations were completely ruined, making it very difficult for them to find work, and naturally, they had no face to consider marriage, as who would want them?
It can be said that the plight of women in feudal society was difficult, and the situation of palace maids serving in the imperial court was even more tragic than ever.
Feeling inferior to society due to their age and carrying various health issues, having a loving husband and children was a luxury for them. For the palace maids expelled for their offenses, they had only two paths: one was to die in poverty and isolation from family and society; the other was to become nuns.
