princesses
The princesses ( 公主) where the legitimate daughters of the Emperor. They could be either the daughters of the Empress or the daughters of one of the Royal Concubines. But officially they were all considerate daughters of the Empress, who would be their adoptive mother, play the role of educator and decide their future.
The Emperor's children were often referred to by their order of birth, e.g., Eldest Princess, Second Princess, Third Princess, Forth Princess etc. They would live in the Forbidden City until they would get married, after that moment it would become difficult to enter again in the Palace, if not in particular days of the year, in which they were granted the permission to enter to visit their mothers, given the prior permission of their husbands.
The marriage policy was very strict, they had no possibility to choose their future husband. Their marriages were considered as means to bind political alliances. Sometimes they were forced to marry foreign Princes or Kings, in order to maintain good foreign relations and assure the peace. In the Qing Dynasty many princesses were given as brides to the Mongolian tribes.
But as Royal Princesses they had the right to be married as Principal Wife, not as Concubine.
The Emperor's children were often referred to by their order of birth, e.g., Eldest Princess, Second Princess, Third Princess, Forth Princess etc. They would live in the Forbidden City until they would get married, after that moment it would become difficult to enter again in the Palace, if not in particular days of the year, in which they were granted the permission to enter to visit their mothers, given the prior permission of their husbands.
The marriage policy was very strict, they had no possibility to choose their future husband. Their marriages were considered as means to bind political alliances. Sometimes they were forced to marry foreign Princes or Kings, in order to maintain good foreign relations and assure the peace. In the Qing Dynasty many princesses were given as brides to the Mongolian tribes.
But as Royal Princesses they had the right to be married as Principal Wife, not as Concubine.