IMPERIAL CONSORTS
The ranks of imperial consorts have varied over the course of Chinese history but remained important throughout owing to its importance in management of the inner court and in imperial succession, which ranked heirs according to the prominence of their mothers in addition to their strict birth order. Regardless of the age, however, it is common in English translation to simplify these hierarchy into the three ranks of Empress, consorts, and concubines.
The Ming Dynasty's system was simple with five commonly used Titles:
The Qing Dynasty's system was among one of the simpler systems in Chinese history. There were eight classes:
The tradition of ranking concubines ended as the Qing Dynasty was overthrown. However, 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 is still used, albeit rarely and only in very formal settings, as an honorific title towards another person's wife in China.
The eunuchs and women played extreme political games in the palace. Guan Guei Fei, for instance, was a concubine of the Chenghua emperor during the Ming dynasty who forced all the other concubines who became pregnant to abort. She had influence over several spies, so she succeeded in doing this for years. The Forbidden City was a closed society. There was a vast number of functionaries required to run the place, from the Imperial advisers to the lowest scullions. The city was busy 24/7 catering for the needs of the Imperial court. There was a rigid hierarchy and every resident knew his place, from the Imperial household to the lowest scullion. Plotting and intrigue was common, especially amongst the bored Imperial concubines, who had far too much time on their hands between infrequent visits from the Emperor. These plots were not about overthrowing the Emperor but about improving ones status in the community and disgracing perceived rivals. The occasional coup or purge also made life interesting.
The Ming Dynasty's system was simple with five commonly used Titles:
- Empress (皇后)
- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃)
- Noble Consorts (贵妃)
- Consorts (妃)
- Imperial Concubines (嫔)
The Qing Dynasty's system was among one of the simpler systems in Chinese history. There were eight classes:
- Empress (Chinese: 皇后; pinyin: Huánghòu), only one in the imperial harem.
- Imperial Noble Consort (simplified Chinese: 皇贵妃; traditional Chinese: 皇貴妃; pinyin: Huáng Guìfēi), only one in the imperial harem.
- Noble Consorts (simplified Chinese: 贵妃; traditional Chinese: 貴妃; pinyin: Guìfēi), only two in the imperial harem.
- Consorts (Chinese: 妃; pinyin: Fēi), only four in the imperial harem.
- Imperial Concubines (simplified Chinese: 嫔; traditional Chinese: 嬪; pinyin: Pín), only six in the imperial harem.
- Noble Ladies (simplified Chinese: 贵人; traditional Chinese: 貴人; pinyin: Guìrén), unlimited number in the imperial harem.
- First Class Female Attendant (Chinese: 常在; pinyin: Chángzài), unlimited number in the imperial harem.
- Choice Lady or Second Class Female Attendant (simplified Chinese: 答应; traditional Chinese: 答應; pinyin: Dāyìng), unlimited number in the imperial harem.
- Female Attendant(官女子), unlimited number in the imperial harem, typically granted to female servants who were chosen to be minor concubines.
The tradition of ranking concubines ended as the Qing Dynasty was overthrown. However, 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 is still used, albeit rarely and only in very formal settings, as an honorific title towards another person's wife in China.
The eunuchs and women played extreme political games in the palace. Guan Guei Fei, for instance, was a concubine of the Chenghua emperor during the Ming dynasty who forced all the other concubines who became pregnant to abort. She had influence over several spies, so she succeeded in doing this for years. The Forbidden City was a closed society. There was a vast number of functionaries required to run the place, from the Imperial advisers to the lowest scullions. The city was busy 24/7 catering for the needs of the Imperial court. There was a rigid hierarchy and every resident knew his place, from the Imperial household to the lowest scullion. Plotting and intrigue was common, especially amongst the bored Imperial concubines, who had far too much time on their hands between infrequent visits from the Emperor. These plots were not about overthrowing the Emperor but about improving ones status in the community and disgracing perceived rivals. The occasional coup or purge also made life interesting.