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Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
preface
In ancient times, concubines existed not only to pass on the lineage, but they also had another important role, which was particularly important in the society of the time.
However, with the change of times, this role has gradually been despised by modern society and has become a taboo that men avoid talking about.
What was it that made men in ancient times dependent on concubines? And why is this phenomenon condemned in modern society?
Ups and downs of honor and disgrace: the origin and evolution of the concubine system
The origins of the concubine system can be traced back to ancient times. In the process of the transition from clan society to class society, with the establishment of private ownership and patriarchy, the concubine system gradually took shape.
Originally, the identity of the concubine was a dowry maid, and she was called "Concubine Teng". Their main duty is to take care of the daily life of the wife and to have sex with the husband in place of the wife if necessary.
Over time, the concubine system took on different characteristics in different dynasties. Taking the Spring and Autumn Period as an example, Qi Linggong once expressed the desire to have three wives at the same time, which is considered to be the prototype of the concept of "three wives and four concubines".
By the Han Dynasty, the concubine system was further developed. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Liu Che successively set up three empresses, namely Chen Ajiao, Wei Zifu and Madame Li, which is also regarded as the origin of the concept of "three wives".
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the concubine system was more common. The Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi was famous for his frequent replacement of young concubines. He often bought beautiful women as concubines, and if they failed to have children within a few years, he would dismiss them or give them to others and buy new concubines.
This kind of behavior was not uncommon in high society at the time, reflecting the fact that the concubine was seen by some people as just an "object" that could be disposed of at will.
By the Ming and Qing dynasties, the concubine system was more complicated. In addition to the traditional role of concubines, there is also the special existence of "flat wife". Take Li Zongren during the Qing Dynasty, for example, when he was 35 years old, he married his second wife, Guo Dejie, and lived with him for 24 years.
Guo Dejie is a typical "flat wife", mainly responsible for social affairs, while Li Zongren's first wife Li Xiuwen stayed in her hometown and only maintained a nominal husband and wife relationship.
Involuntarily: The Origin and Situation of the Concubine Room
The sources of concubinage are varied, but most are associated with poverty and power trading. In order to alleviate the financial burden, some poor families had to sell their daughters to rich and noble families as concubines. These women have been lifted out of poverty, but they have lost their freedom and become appendages of others.
Another common situation is that some people will give their daughters or concubines to each other in order to curry favor with their superiors or to form political alliances.
During the Qin Dynasty, Lü Buwei gave his concubine Zhao Ji to Qin Shi Huang's father Ying Yiren, which not only helped Lü Buwei get acquainted with the future King of Qin, but also indirectly contributed to the birth of Qin Shi Huang.
However, no matter how they became concubines, the situation of these women was extremely difficult. They have no status in the family, and they must obey not only the man's orders, but also the wishes of his wife.
The wife has the right to decide whether the concubines will stay or not, and can even sell them or give them away. The only way for concubines to survive is to learn to observe words and looks, and carefully maintain their status.
Tool life: the dual duty of the concubine
Concubinage had two main responsibilities in ancient societies: lineage and social tools. Inheritance is the most basic and important duty of the concubine family. In ancient times, the prosperity of a family was often determined by the number of offspring.
Although the wife has a noble status, after all, there is only one person, which cannot meet the needs of the big family for prosperity. Therefore, the burden of childbirth falls on the shoulders of the concubines. However, although the children born in the concubine are the blood of the male owner, they can only be "concubines and concubines", and their status is far inferior to that of concubines.
What is even more poignant is that these children cannot even call their birth mother "mother", but must call the only wife in the family their mother. This arrangement undoubtedly brought huge psychological pressure and emotional trauma to the concubines.
In addition to passing on the lineage, concubines were also seen as social tools and gifts. Dignitaries often gave their concubines to friends or superiors as a sign of goodwill or for profit. This kind of behavior is undoubtedly immoral in modern society, but it was commonplace in ancient times.
For example, Cao Zhang in the Tang Dynasty once exchanged beautiful concubines for precious horses. Su Shi, a writer in the Song Dynasty, was also forced to exchange his concubine for the horses he needed on the road due to poverty. These examples fully illustrate that in the eyes of the ancients, the status of a concubine was even inferior to that of a good horse.
There is a world of difference between a wife and a concubine
In ancient societies, the status of the wife and the concubine was very different. Husbands and wives usually come from families that are close to their husbands, and their marriages are often an alliance between the two families.
When the wife enters the door, a grand wedding is held, including ceremonies such as "three books and six appointments" and "ten miles of red makeup", symbolizing her status as the mistress of the family.
The wife has supreme power in the family, and is in charge of the family's finances and personnel arrangements. They have the right to decide whether the concubines stay or not, and can even dispose of the concubines at will.
The children born to the wife are called the sons and daughters and are the first in line of family succession. In contrast, the status of the concubine is negligible. They usually only enter in a small sedan chair, and they cannot enter through the main entrance, but only through the side door.
The concubine does not have any say in the family, and must obey the arrangements of the wife and the man. Even if he is favored by the male owner, he does not dare to compete with his wife, because doing so will only lead to a more severe punishment.
The inner world of the concubine
Although the concubines seem obedient and gentle on the surface, their inner world is full of contradictions and struggles.
On the one hand, they are eager to be favored by the male host, hoping to improve their situation; On the other hand, they had to be constantly wary of the suspicion of their wives and the competition of other concubines.
Many concubines are burdened with a heavy psychological burden. They are forced to leave their families of origin, lose their freedom, and become appendages of others.
What is even more distressing is that even if they give birth to children, they are unable to raise their own children as mothers. All these factors led many concubines to fall into deep depression and despair. However, there are also some concubines who find a way to realize their self-worth in this difficult situation.
Some concubines enrich their spiritual world by learning poetry and songs, while others gain inner solace by helping other disadvantaged groups. The stories of these concubines, although little known, are a vivid portrayal of the tenacity and perseverance of ancient women.
epilogue
Throughout the development of the ancient concubine system, we can't help but sigh at the vicissitudes of history and the complexity of human nature.
The concubines are not only a tool for inheritance, but also a bargaining chip for interpersonal exchanges, and their fate reflects the hierarchical system and patriarchal ideology of ancient society.
Today, we should cherish the hard-won gender equality and work together to build a fairer and freer society. #长文创作激励计划#
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