Without a market, fully clothed, and forbidden to leave the palace, where do concubines spend their monthly money?

Sometimes you can't leave the palace for a whole year, and there are no shops in the palace. Many people are curious about what the concubine will use the bonus money for. Knowing this, everyone was surprised.

The Qing Dynasty was the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history. This dynasty lasted nearly 300 years and culminated in the "Kang - Qian prosperity" period with the reign of three talented emperors including Khang Hi, Ung Chinh and Qian Long.

In fact, many historical dramas are made about this dynasty.

Qing emperors had many concubines in their harem. During this dynasty, the hierarchy within the queen was also clearly set out. The number of queens, concubines, nobles... were all specifically regulated.

Accordingly, in the Qing dynasty's harem, there were only one queen, one imperial concubine, two noble concubines, four concubines and six concubines. When these concubines died or made mistakes and were demoted, others could be promoted to replace them. In addition, lower ranks such as nobles and commoners usually have no specific limit in number.

During the Qing Dynasty, concubines in the harem were divided into different ranks. Therefore, this dynasty also has regulations on promotion standards within the palace. If that concubine gave birth to a prince, this could be an important "achievement" for the emperor to promote them. In addition, the family's status also determines the standards for concubines to advance in the harem.

The beauties in the Qing emperor's harem will mostly be selected from the descendants of the Manchurian Bat Ky between the ages of 13 and 17. In addition, Han and Mongolian girls are also selected. bow forward. Being chosen to enter the palace is not easy, but being promoted in a place full of beauties with great families is even more difficult.

The different levels of concubines in the Qing dynasty's harem also determined how each person's income level, dietary standards, number of servants, living environment... were not the same.

For example, in terms of basic income, the queen receives about 1,000 taels of silver per year, and the royal concubine receives 800 taels of silver. In addition, each concubine will receive 600 taels of silver, concubines will receive 300 taels, and concubines will receive 200 taels of silver. For the rest, noble people are allocated 100 taels of silver, people in regular positions receive 50 taels of silver and finally receive 30 taels of silver each year.

Of course, the above is just the basic income of concubines. Because their income is not fixed. If on a major holiday, a concubine's birthday or when a prince is born, the emperor will give additional bonuses to these beauties. The amount of reward depends on the emperor's mood.

With the above amount of money along with bonuses and benefits, the income of the concubines in the palace seems not to be small, but they have to spend a lot. In fact, there is no market in the palace. So, if concubines cannot leave the palace, where do they spend their money every month?

Where do the concubines in the palace spend their money?

According to historical records, the allowances and money given by the emperor were used by the concubines to spend on daily life needs.

First, invest in dressing and beauty.

The biggest and most important thing for concubines every day is waiting for the emperor's favor. Of course, to be noticed by the emperor, these beauties must always dress beautifully and pay attention to their beauty.

In fact, even though they were allocated costumes and jewelry according to rank regulations, not all concubines were satisfied with these items. To impress the emperor, concubines would choose or sew splendid, outstanding outfits for themselves.

At that time, although there were not many major fashion or cosmetic brands, there were also some of the highest quality products. Concubines could spend money on someone to make costumes from high-quality fabrics given by the emperor. In addition, they can also spend money on hiring their own jewelry makers and ordering cosmetics from rare ingredients. Obviously, from buying raw materials to sending workers, money is needed.

Second, spend money on eunuchs and palace maids to listen for information.

In addition to investing in beautification and sewing splendid clothes, concubines in the Qing Dynasty's harem also had to spend a lot of money on bribing servants who were palace maids and eunuchs.

Accordingly, these beauties often sent eunuchs or palace maids to inquire about the emperor's information to find a way to approach him. In particular, they also had to "spend" a lot of money to bribe the emperor's close eunuchs to increase their chances of being favored. These eunuchs may say a few good words for that concubine in front of the emperor when the appropriate opportunity arises.

The concubines also tried to spend a large amount of money to attract high-ranking mandarins in the court to build a solid foundation in the power struggle in the harem and help the family consolidate its position.

Third, spend money to buy items that are not in the palace.

Some concubines in the harem also spend monthly money on eunuchs and palace maids to buy items not found in the palace for entertainment purposes. Although palace utensils are periodically allocated to concubines according to their rank, not everything is available.

Life in the palace is also quite boring with many rules, so some beauties also want to look for new objects outside the folk world to relieve stress. At the same time, these could also be items that attracted the emperor's attention.

Finally, spend a lot of money to reward eunuchs and palace maids

The lives of concubines in the Qing Dynasty harem were not as simple and easy as what people often see in movies. In fact, the monthly expenses they have to pay are very high.

For example, rewarding eunuchs and attendants on holidays and Tet is very expensive. If concubines reward too little money, they will be considered stingy by the servants, and these people will not work conscientiously and loyally. On the contrary, if the reward is too much, the beauties cannot manage because life in the palace requires a lot of spending.

Furthermore, on holidays, Tet, or birthdays of harem leaders such as the queen mother, empress, especially the emperor, concubines also have to spend a lot of money to prepare gifts. slag, to increase advancement opportunities.

Ly Lien Anh: Who is the eunuch who was favored by Empress Dowager Cixi and repeatedly broke the rules? JLO16:35:39 17/09/2023When she was alive, Empress Dowager Cixi broke the Qing Dynasty's laws many times because of Ly Lien Anh. She made him a second-class eunuch general. At the same time, he was also the first person to call Empress Dowager Cixi the Old Buddha.