The last concubine of Empress Dowager Tu Xi reveals the truth about life in the harem

Since the "True Story Harem" created a fever, followed by "Dien Hy Cong Luoc" or "The Story of the Harem", the topic of the Qing Dynasty palace has become a cultural phenomenon that has been talked about endlessly.

The power struggles between concubines are often portrayed as the center of tragedy, but few people know that even the seemingly faint female concubine class has to live in an unbelievably harsh framework.

According to Ha Dung Nhi, the last palace maid who ever served Empress Dowager Tu Xi, life in the palace was not only harsh in terms of etiquette but also strict from eating to sleeping. She admitted that for many years in the harem, she had never had a full meal. The courtesans are only allowed to eat in moderation, about 70-80% of the diet, to avoid the body producing "uncontrollable" situations when serving the master, such as burping or going to the toilet for too long. Cold or diluted food is also restricted, because any expression of disrespect, even if unintentional, can be attributed to grave error.

Not only is the bite controlled, even sleep has strict rules. The palace maiden is not allowed to lie on her back or spread her legs on the bed, because this position is considered disrespectful to the "divine palace". They had to lie on their sides, one hand on their legs, the other on the bed. Lying on your stomach or face down is also strictly prohibited. These seemingly small details show the suffocating and harshly disciplined life of this class.

Interestingly, in many historical films, the audience often sees the scene of the concubine or the queen slapping the female concubine in the face to teach. However, history shows that this is completely forbidden. Only eunuchs have the right to act like that. Because, "the face is a woman's greatest asset", hitting her in the face is considered the ultimate humiliation. Ha Dung Nhi also said that, only once in the Tu Xi harem, Queen Long Du once slapped Trinh Phi on the order of the Queen Mother, and this incident became an indelible humiliation.

In Qing Dynasty folklore, harsh words such as Hua Fei's famous quote in "True Story" actually did not exist. The ancients believed that the subjects were all "dragons and fairies", a family, so vulgar cursing was considered a violation of morality. This detail shows a considerable gap between fictional art and historical life.

In addition to strict regulations, the Qing Dynasty harem was also associated with harsh punishments. On the screen, the audience can see the scene of the female concubine or concubine having to suffer "cat punishment", whipping, or stepping through the "red lotus". In fact, history books record many punishments that are even more brutal, even related to the "castration" of women by barbaric methods. Although uncommon, their existence reflects the harsh dark side of feudal history.

The image of courtesans in movies such as Wei Anh Lac or A Nuoc is built with many calculations and intrigues, turning them into central characters in court tragedy. But looking back at the accounts of those who used to live in that harsh place, the truth is harsh: it is a life of deprivation, constraint, controlled to every small act. They came from Ba Qi, had a higher position than the common people, but in exchange they were a young man imprisoned in the middle of a cold city wall, where even sleep did not belong to them.

The secrets of the Qing Dynasty harem, revealed from the accounts of the last witnesses, not only supplement the historical material, but also explain why the theme of the palace always attracts viewers: because behind the splendor of the golden palace is the tragic life of people who are tied up in ritual and power.

Empress Dowager Cixi's bed was carved by Westerners, the content is shocking! Đình Như17:36:57 20/05/2025Cixi staged three coups after the death of Emperor Xianfeng and eventually took control of the country herself. Although she did not claim the title of emperor, she held real power for decades.