The Stories Behind the Selection of Imperial Concubines in the Ming Dynasty

The selection of concubines was subject to strict rules and etiquettes. Especially when it came to the emperor's marital affairs, it was a matter of great solemnity. The selection and enfeefment of the emperor's concubines were strictly regulated by rituals and laws. In ancient China, in most dynasties, empresses usually came from noble and powerful families, with strong family political forces behind them. However, there was a special dynasty in which most of the women who became empresses or concubines were from ordinary people and had no political background. This system not only broke the monopoly of the nobility on the harem, but also opened the door to the imperial palace for common women, giving countless ordinary families the hope of changing their fates. This dynasty was the Ming Dynasty, the last Han-dominated dynasty in ancient China. Today, let's explore the fascinating and astonishing concubine selection rules in ancient China. In the Ming Dynasty, when the imperial family needed to select concubines, the court would first issue an imperial edict. The edict clearly specified the age range for the selection. Generally, women between the ages of 13 and 16 were eligible. Women of this age were in their prime, with their bodies fully developed. They were not only at the optimal age for childbearing but also easy to be trained in Some parents even raised their daughters according to the standards of concubines from a young age. The imperial edict also detailed the geographical scope of the selection, usually covering several different provinces simultaneously to expand the pool of candidates and ensure that the most outstanding women could be selected. When local governments received the imperial edict, they immediately started making preparations. They first organized people to widely publicize the news within their jurisdiction by posting notices to let the common people know about the concubine selection. At the same time, the government would create a register of eligible women and required families that met the criteria to report the information of their daughters, including name, age, place of origin, and family background. However, women from merchant families and medical families were not eligible to participate. Moreover, the concubine selection in the Ming Dynasty was mandatory for ordinary families. Beautiful women who reached the appropriate age had to participate in the selection and could not get married privately. This was somewhat similar to the conscription system. If a family evaded the selection on purpose, the whole family would be severely punished. The first round selection was carried out by local officials. They screened the registered women according to the national standards, and the number of candidates in the round selection was at least several thousand. The primary criterion in the first round selection was appearance. Women were required to have a dignified and beautiful appearance, with well proportioned facial features and fair and delicate skin. In the ancient Chinese concept, a woman's appearance not only represented her personal image, but also was related to the dignity and prestige of the imperial family. At the same time, investigations into family background and moral character were also essential. Officials would carefully inquire about the origin of the woman's family, whether it had a clean record, and whether there were any criminal records. They would also ask neighbors about the woman's moral character, such as whether she was filial to her parents, gentle, kind, and hard-working. The imperial family hoped that the selected women would not only be excellent themselves, but also come from families with good family traditions to avoid negative impacts on the imperial family due to the misbehavior of their relatives. After this round of screening, most of the women who did not meet the requirements would be eliminated, and only a few outstanding ones could enter the next round. The women who passed the first round selection would be arranged to enter the capital at the expense of the court. They would be housed in special places and managed by eunuchs and palace maids sent from the palace. At this stage, every move of these women was strictly supervised. This was not only to ensure their safety but also to observe their performance in group life to see if they could adapt to the rules and environment of the palace. The first step in the second round selection was the initial screening of body shapes. The candidates needed to stand in rows of 100 according to their ages. Eunuchs would select one by one, and those with unsuitable body proportions would be eliminated on the spot. At the same time, to prevent the emperor from being overly indulged in beauty, sometimes women who were too beautiful would also be eliminated. About 1,000 people would be eliminated in this round. In the second step, eunuchs would check the women's facial features, hair, skin, and body shapes. Any woman with an unqualified item would be eliminated. They would also assess the women's voices. Those who spoke unclearly or had rough voices would be removed. About 2,000 people would be screened out in this round. The third step was to measure the women's bust, waist, hips, hands, and feet. Women with thick arms, short wrists, large toes, or unattractive hand shapes would be eliminated. Eunuchs would also evaluate the women's walking postures. Those with bow legs, knock, knees, or unsteady walking postures would be directly disqualified. After these three rounds of selection, about 1,000 people remained. The fourth step was the physical examination. The remaining 1,000 or so women would be led into a private room by senior palace maids for a nude examination. They would check the breasts, smell the armpits for body odor, and also examine the private parts of the women to determine if they were virgins. In addition, the amount of armpit hair and the presence of hemorrhoids were also key inspection items. There should be no scars on the body, and the skin had to be smooth and delicate. Eventually, 70% of them would be eliminated, leaving 30%, that is, about 300 people. The assessment of deportment was also an important part of the second round selection. Women had to learn and demonstrate palace etiquette. For example, when walking, their postures should be dignified and elegant, with steps of moderate size, neither too fast nor too slow. When saluting, the movements should be standardized and gentle. When speaking, the tone should be gentle and appropriate, with voices neither too loud nor too soft. The imperial family hoped that the emperor's concubines could show the imperial demeanor on all occasions and set an example for women across the country. After the strict screening in the second round selection, the remaining women were the cream of the crop. They would face the final test. The last round of selection was held in the imperial palace, usually presided over by the emperor, with the empress dowager, the empress, important concubines in the harem, and palace ladies participating in the review. The women who passed the second round selection would be gathered and wait outside the palace hall. They would be led into the hall one by one by eunuchs. At this time, the women, dressed in their best clothes, would become nervous, with their hearts pounding, because the outcome of this round would determine their fates. The emperor or other reviewers would ask the candidates questions. The questions covered their understanding of palace etiquette, their views on harem relationships, and their concepts of family and country. Through these questions, the reviewers could examine the women's logical thinking, language expression ability, moral cultivation, and coping ability to determine whether they had the qualities to be the emperor's wives and concubines. In addition, the second round selection also examined the women's cultural levels and artistic talents. It was hoped that they could read and write, and have some knowledge of poetry, songs, and the arts of playing chess, painting, and calligraphy. Through simple cultural tests and talent demonstrations, women with certain cultural accomplishments and artistic abilities were selected so that they could better accompany the emperor and enrich the palace life. During this process, all parties would exchange opinions and have discussions, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of different women. After several rounds of discussions and screenings, the final list of selected candidates was determined. After the list was determined, the Ministry of Rights would start preparing for the enfiefment ceremony. The selected women would be arranged in a special palace, and palace maids would prepare enfiefment costumes and jewelry for them. On the day of the enfiefment, the women would wear magnificent gowns and phoenix coronets. Amidst the sound of music, they would receive the imperial edicts and seals issued by the emperor one by one. If a woman was fortunate enough to be crowned as the empress, the enfiefment ceremony would be even more grand. Other concubines would have enfiefment ceremonies of corresponding specifications according to their ranks. The concubine selection in the Ming Dynasty had a huge impact on the fates of women and their families. The selected women would rise from commoners to the emperor's wives and concubines, experiencing a dramatic change in their social status. Their families would also gain prosperity and wealth. Some family members would be granted official positions, and some would receive generous rewards, leading to a significant improvement in the family's social status. However, this also meant that they had to leave their families and enter the deep palace, losing their freedom and spending their entire lives in the palace, subject to its rules and intrigues. Those women who were not selected would be escorted back to their hometowns by the government three days later. The court would provide a certain amount of compensation, usually about 100 tales of silver, as a reward for their participation in the selection. Then, the government would be responsible for escorting them home to ensure their safety. Although they did not enter the palace, they received attention from society because of their participation in the selection. In the social concept of that time, participating in the concubine selection was considered an honor, and these women were often more popular in the marriage market. Many families were willing to marry them. Well, that's all for today's program. What other aspects of the harem are you interested in? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. See you in the next program.