Imperial Chinese harem system

There exists a class of consorts called Ying (媵; yìng) during early historical times in China. These were people who came along with brides as a form of dowry. It could be the female cousin or sister of the bride, or people from other countries (not necessarily from another race).

Worth noting is the fact that during the Shang dynasty, there were times where two empresses reigned at the same period.

The Rites of Zhou contains great details of an imperial consort ranking system. However, as the Rites of Zhou is considered by modern scholars to be merely a fictitious constitution for a utopian society, the system listed in that work of literature cannot be taken word for word. Rather, it offers a rough glimpse into the inner harem during the time.

Under the Qin dynasty, from the reign of King Huiwen:

1. Queen (王后; wáng hòu), which became Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) from the reign of Qin Shi Huang
2. Madam (夫人; fū rén)
3. Beauty (美人; měi rén)
4. Gentlewoman, Spouse (良人; liáng rén)
5. Learned Lady (八子; bā zi)
6. Harmonious Lady (七子; qī zi)
7. Senior Waiting Lady (長使; zhǎng shǐ)
8. Junior Waiting Lady (少使; shǎo shǐ)

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei used the following system:

During the Jin dynasty, the ranks were as follows:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 3 Madames (夫人; fū rén)
   1. Noble Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín)
   2. Madame (夫人; fū rén)
   3. Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
3. 9 Concubines (嬪; pín)
   1. Pure [Princess] Consort (淑妃; shū fēi)
   2. Lady of Virtuous Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn)
   3. She of Virtuous Ceremony (淑儀; shū yí)
   4. She of Splendid Cultivation (修華; xiū huá)
   5. She of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
   6. She of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí)
   7. She of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
   8. She of Splendid Countenance (容華; róng huá)
   9. She of Sufficient Splendidness (充華; chōng huá)
4. Beauty (美人; měi rén)
5. Talented Lady (才人; cái rén)
6. Lady of Mediocre Talents (中才人; zhōng cái rén)

In the beginning of the Sui dynasty, there existed a simple system of rankings for imperial consorts:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 4(?) Concubine (嬪; pín)
3. 9 Hereditary Consorts (世婦; shì fù)
4. 38 Ladies of His Majesty (禦女; yù nǚ)

There also existed a system of Female Palace Officers (女官; nǚ guān) to manage ceremonial affairs in the harem. The system was based on similar systems in the past.

After the death of Empress Dugu, Emperor Wen expanded the ranks of the consorts to the following:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 3 Noble Ladies (貴人; guì rén)
3. 9 Concubines (嬪; pín)
4. 27 Hereditary Consorts (世婦; shì fù)
5. 81 Ladies of His Majesty (禦女; yù nǚ)

During the reign of Emperor Yang, the ranking system was expanded yet again, based on systems in the past, to the following:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 3 Consorts (夫人; fū rén)
   1. Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
   2. Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi)
   3. Virtuous Consort (德妃; dé fēi)
3. 9 Imperial Concubines (嬪; pín)
   1. Lady of Conducive Wellness (順儀; shùn yí)
   2. Lady of Supportive Wellness (順容; shùn róng)
   3. Lady of Splendid Wellness (順華; shùn huá)
   4. Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí)
   5. Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
   6. Lady of Cultivated Splendidness (修華; xiū huá)
   7. Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī)
   8. Lady of Complete Countenance (充容; chōng róng)
   9. Lady of Complete Splendidness (充華; chōng huá)
4. 12 Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
5. 15 Hereditary Consorts(世婦; shì fù)
   1. Beauty (美人; měi rén)
   2. Talented Lady (才人; cái rén)
6. 24 Ladies of Treasure (寶林; bǎolín)
7. 24 Ladies of His Majesty (禦女; yù nǚ)
8. 37 Ladies of Elegance (採女; cǎi nǚ)

Wu Zetian, better known as Heavenly Empress Wu Zetian, was a consort of the Emperor Gaozong of Tang

Imperial consorts of Tang dynasty China are organized in eight or nine ranks, in addition to the empress. They are also called the "inner officials" (內官), as opposed to "palace officials" (宮官), the bureaucracy.

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 4 Madams (夫人; fū rén)
   1. Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
   2. Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi)
   3. Virtuous Consort (德妃; dé fēi)
   4. Worthy Consort (賢妃; xián fēi)
3. 9 Concubines (嬪; pín)
   1. Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
   2. Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng)
   3. Lady of Bright Beauty (昭媛; zhāo yuàn)
   4. Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí)
   5. Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
   6. Lady of Cultivated Beauty (修媛; xiū yuàn)
   7. Lady of Complete Deportment (充儀; chōng yí)
   8. Lady of Complete Countenance (充容; chōng róng)
   9. Lady of Complete Beauty (充媛; chōng yuàn)
4. 9 Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
5. 9 Beauty (美人; měi rén)
6. 9 Lady of Talent (才人; cái rén)
7. 27 Lady of Treasure / Lady of Precious Bevy (寶林; bǎo lín)
8. 27 Lady of His Majesty (禦女; yù nǚ)
9. 27 Selected Lady (採女; cǎi nǚ)

During the reign of Gaozong:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 4 Madams (夫人; fū rén)
   1. Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
   2. Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi)
   3. Virtuous Consort (德妃; dé fēi)
   4. Worthy Consort (賢妃; xián fēi)
3. 9 Concubines (嬪; pín)
   1. Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
   2. Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng)
   3. Lady of Bright Beauty (昭媛; zhāo yuàn)
   4. Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí)
   5. Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
   6. Lady of Cultivated Beauty (修媛; xiū yuàn)
   7. Lady of Complete Deportment (充儀; chōng yí)
   8. Lady of Complete Countenance (充容; chōng róng)
   9. Lady of Complete Beauty (充媛; chōng yuàn)
4. 9 Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
5. 9 Beauties (美人; měi rén)
6. 9 Lady of Talent (才人; cái rén)

In 662, the titles were temporarily changed to be devoid of feminine and superficial quality. This seemingly feminist change was reverted in the twelfth month of 670. The rationales were not explained in official records in both instances. However, some scholars have speculated it to be the suggestion of Empress Wu to her husband.[4]

During the reign of Xuanzong:

1. 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. 1 Consort of Conferred Kindness (惠妃; huì fēi), 1 Magnificent Consort (麗妃; lì fēi), 1 Splendid Consort (華妃; huá fēi)
3. 6 Ladies of Ceremony (儀; yí)
   1. Lady of Pure Ceremony (淑儀; shū yí)
   2. Lady of Virtuous Ceremony (德儀; dé yí)
   3. Lady of Worthy Ceremony (賢儀; xián yí)
   4. Lady of Conducive Ceremony (順儀; shùn yí)
   5. Lady of Graceful Ceremony (婉儀; wǎn yí)
   6. Lady of Fragrant Ceremony (芳儀; fāng yí)
4. 4 Beauties (美人; měi rén)
5. 7 Talented Ladies (才人; cái rén)

The principal wife of the Crown Prince is called Crown Princess Consort (太子妃; tài zǐ fēi), which is held by only one person at any given time. There are 5 other ranks of consorts:

1. 2 Ladies of Excellence (良娣; liáng dì)
2. 6 Filial Ladies of Excellence (良嬡; liang ai)
3. 10 Ladies of Inherent Excellence (承徽; chéng huī)
4. 16 Ladies of Clear Instruction (昭訓; zhāo xùn)
5. 24 Ladies of Decorous Service (奉儀; fèng yí)

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, governments were replaced frequently, and as a result, it is difficult for modern scholars to derive any solid information on ranking systems during these times.

However, it is known that the Later Tang used the following system:

1. Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng)
2. Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
3. Lady of Bright Beauty (昭媛; zhāo yuàn)
4. (出使; chū shǐ)
5. (禦正; yù zhèng)
6. True Servant (侍眞; shì zhēn)
7. Lady of Honorable Talent (懿才; yì cái)
8. (咸一; xián yī)
9. Precious Flower (瑤芳; yáo fāng)
10. Lady of Honorable Moral (懿德; yì dé)
11. (宣一; xuān yī)

Whether there were any limits to the holders of these titles are unknown.

The Yuan dynasty ranking system was at its simplest, and only consisted of Empress, Consort, and Concubine. No limits were set on the number of people who could enjoy the title, except that only one empress could exist at a time.

Although the number of ranks were few, there existed a subsystem of ranking by prestige inside the Yuan harem. The tent (Chinese: 宮帳, translated term from Mongolian: 斡兒垜) that a consort lives in often determines their status. These tents often contain multiple Empresses, Consorts, and Concubines. In the many tents that existed, the first Empress of the first tent is considered to be the most prestigious consort.

As with all parts of the Mongol Empire, Goryeo provided palace women to the Yuan dynasty.[6] Korean concubines were procured by the Khan.[7] One of them was Empress Gi, who, through her political command and incorporation of Korean females and eunuchs in the court, spread Korean clothing, food, and lifestyle in the capital.[8] Empress Gi intervened in Goryeo and her family contended with the Goryeo royal family; her family was purged by Gongmin of Goryeo, and Gi retaliated with a failed Yuan invasion of Korea in 1364.[9][10] The entry of Korean women into the Yuan court was reciprocated by the entry of Yuan princesses into the Goryeo court, beginning with the marriage of Chungnyeol of Goryeo and a daughter of Kublai Khan; in total, 9 princesses of the Yuan imperial court married into the Goryeo royal family.[11]

Imperial marriages between the imperial clan of the Yuan existed between certain states and tribes. These included the Onggirat tribe, Idug-qut's Uighur tribe, the Oirat tribe, and the Goryeo royal family.[12][13]

The Emperor Gong of Song surrendered to the Yuan dynasty in 1276 and was married off to a Yuan princess of the imperial Borjigin family. Zhao Xian had one son with the Yuan princess, Zhao Wanpu. Zhao Xian's son Zhao Wanpu was kept alive by the Yuan court because of his mother's imperial Borjigin ancestry even after the Emperor Gong of Song was ordered to be killed by Gegeen Khan. Zhao Wanpu was only moved and exiled. The outbreak of the Song loyalist Red Turban Rebellion in Henan led to a recommendation that Zhao Wanpu should be transferred somewhere else by an Imperial Censor in 1352. The Yuan did not want the Chinese rebels to get their hands on Zhao Wanpu so no one was permitted to see him and Zhao Wanpu's family and himself were exiled to Shazhou near the border by the Yuan Emperor. Paul Pelliot and John Andrew Boyle commented on Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's chapter The Successors of Genghis Khan in his work Jami' al-tawarikh, identified references by Rashid al-Din to Zhao Xian in his book where he mentions a Chinese ruler who was an "emir" and son-in-law to the Qan (Khan) after being removed from his throne by the Mongols and he is also called "Monarch of Song", or Suju (宋主 Songzhu) in the book.[14]

Empress Sun, better known as Empress Xiaogongzhang was an empress consort of the Xuande Emperor

The Ming dynasty system was simple with five commonly used titles:

1. Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃; huáng guì fēi)
3. Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
4. Consort (妃; fēi)
5. Concubine (嬪; pín)

Other known titles including:[15]

1. Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
2. Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
3. Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng)
4. Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
5. Beauty (美人; měi rén)

For the Crown Prince:

1. Crown Princess (太子妃; tài zǐ fēi)
2. Talented Lady (才人; cái rén)
3. Lady of Selected Service (選侍; xuǎn shì)
4. Lady of Gentleness (淑女; shū nǚ)

Human tribute, including servants, eunuchs, and virgin girls came from: China's various ethnic tribes, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam,[16][17] Cambodia, Central Asia, Siam, Champa, and Okinawa.[18]

Joseon sent a total of 114 women to the Ming dynasty, consisting of 16 virgin girls (accompanied by 48 female servants), 42 cooks (執饌女), and 8 musical performers (歌舞女).[19][20] The women were sent to the Yongle and Xuande emperors in a total of 7 missions between 1408 and 1433.[20] Xuande was the last Ming emperor to receive human tribute from Korea;[21] with his death in 1435, 53 Korean women were repatriated.[22] There was much speculation that the Yongle Emperor's real mother was a Korean[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] or Mongolian[32] concubine.[33][34][35] Relations between Ming China and Joseon Korea improved dramatically and became much more amicable and mutually profitable during Yongle's reign.[27] Yongle and Xuande were said to have a penchant for Korean cuisine and women.[27][36][37]

Central Asian women were provided to the Zhengde Emperor by a Muslim guard and Sayyid Hussein from Hami.[38] The guard was Yu Yung and the women were Uighur.[39] It is unknown who really was behind the anti-pig slaughter edict.[40] The speculation of him becoming a Muslim is remembered alongside his excessive and debauched behavior along with his concubines of foreign origin.[41] Muslim Central Asian girls were favored by Zhengde like how Korean girls were favored by Xuande.[42] A Uighur concubine was kept by Zhengde.[43] Foreign origin Uighur and Mongol women were favored by the Zhengde emperor.[44]

Imperial Noble Consort Keshun, better known as Consort Zhen or popularly as the Pearl Concubine, was a consort of the Guangxu Emperor

The Qing dynasty system was one of the simplest systems in Chinese history. Officially, there were eight classes:

1. Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
2. Imperial Noble Consort (皇貴妃; huáng guì fēi)
3. Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi)
4. Consort (妃; fēi)
5. Imperial Concubine (嬪; pín)
6. Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
7. First Class Attendant (常在; cháng zài)
8. Second Class Attendant (答應; dā yìng)

"Lady-in-waiting" (官女子; guān nǘ zǐ) was typically used to refer to all the women working in the palace. It was not part of the official ranking.

The system was solid, but the number of imperial consorts an emperor actually had during the Qing dynasty is subject to wild variations. The Kangxi Emperor (r. 1661–1722) holds the record for having the most imperial consorts with 79, while the Guangxu Emperor (r. 1875–1908) holds the record for having the fewest, with one empress and two consorts—a total of just three imperial consorts.

There were limits placed on how many imperial consorts could hold the ranks of "Imperial Concubine", and above. An emperor could have 1 empress, 1 imperial noble consort, 2 noble consorts, 4 consorts and 6 imperial concubines at a time.

A woman who had attained the rank of "Imperial Concubine" and above would be given a residence in the main section of a palace in the Forbidden City, and when being addressed by lower ranked imperial consorts and servants, she would have to be called "Your Highness" (娘娘; níang níang). All people were expected to use deprecating self-titles when addressing higher ranked people and imperial consorts were no different.

The empress was the only legal wife of the emperor, while his other women were considered concubines. When a prince ascended to the throne, he was allowed to posthumously promote his late wives into the ranks. A primary consort would be honored as empress, while secondary consorts and mistresses could be elevated to any of the seven other ranks (from second attendant to imperial noble consort).

An emperor would be careful when promoting a concubine to the rank of "Imperial Noble Consort" because this rank was considered a deputy empress (副后; fù hòu). As such, the promotions mostly happened when an imperial consort (usually a noble consort) was hopelessly ill and the emperor wanted to console her, or when the empress was dead and someone else was needed to manage the inner court.

An empress who lived well into the reigns of two emperors would become empress dowager (皇太后; huáng tài hòu). If her husband's son (but not her own) took the throne, she would be known as "Imperial Mother, Empress Dowager" (母后皇太后; mŭ hòu huáng tài hòu). In the cases when the emperor's birth mother was an imperial consort who never served as empress during her husband's reign, she would also become an empress dowager and would be known as "Sage Mother, Empress Dowager" (聖母皇太后; shèng mŭ huáng tài hòu), as well as being posthumously honored as empress. An empress dowager who lived through the reigns of at least three subsequent emperors would be called "Grand Empress Dowager" (太皇太后; tài huáng tài hòu).

The other imperial consorts of the former emperor would be addressed as "Dowager" (太; tài) according to their rank. For example, an imperial concubine would be called "Dowager Imperial Concubine" (太嬪; tài pín), a noble consort would be called "Dowager Noble Consort" (貴太妃; guì tài fēi) and an imperial noble consort would be called "Dowager Imperial Noble Consort" (皇貴太妃; huáng guì tài fēi). The empress and imperial consorts were expected to pay respect to the elders who held the position of "Dowager Consort" (太妃; tài fēi) and above. However, the former emperor's low-ranked concubines would simply be referred to as "palace woman of the late emperor" (先帝宮女; xiāndì gōngnü).

The tradition of ranking imperial women ended when the Qing dynasty was overthrown, but the practice of giving rank to people who "unofficially" (lives with, but never marry) have more than one wife is still widespread. In addition, the term "Madame" (夫人; fū rén) is still used, albeit rarely and only in very formal settings, as an honorific title towards another person's wife in China.

After the Second Manchu invasion of Korea, the Joseon Kingdom was forced to give several women as concubines to the Qing's Prince Regent Dorgon.[45][46][47][48] In 1650, Dorgon married the Korean Princess Uisun, a distant relative of the king, who was adopted and given the title of "Royal Princess" (公主; gōngzhŭ) so she can be married off to Dorgon. The Joseon court revoked Princess Uisun's title and royal privileges after Dorgon died.[49][50] It is said that Dorgon married two Korean princesses at Lianshan,[51] however, there is no evidence of him marrying any other Joseon princess besides Princess Uisun in Joseon records and it is extremely unlikely as Dorgon died in December 1650, only few months after his marriage to Princess Uisun.

• Harem