Revealing the truth about "brothel girls" in the Qing Dynasty, why are they completely different from the movies?

Unlike today, the living environment and freedom of brothel women in the past were limited in many ways. Most of them were born into poverty, or were forced into "brothels" due to incidents.

In ancient Chinese feudal society, women's status was relatively low. They were often pressured by their families and society, and were not free to decide their own destiny. This was clearly reflected in movies and the image of "brothel" girls also appeared accordingly.

Illustration photo.

When watching, many people often wonder, what did the "brothel girls" of the Qing Dynasty really look like? And the answer is don't be fooled by the TV series, because the series of real photos below of the girls in the "brothel" simply overturn three public views.

Describe the lives of women in different classes

In the "brothels" of the Qing Dynasty, women were classified according to their beauty and talent. We can also look at the actual living conditions of women at different levels. A person with outstanding appearance and good fortune served high-ranking officials and nobles. If lucky, one of them could "redeem" her and live a comfortable life.

These women dressed more elegantly and occasionally paired it with some gold and silver jewelry. They were quiet and dignified, with a bit of extravagance in their gestures. It was just that there was often a trace of sadness in their eyes, perhaps because they were not reconciled to their own fate.

After being selected for the highest class, they still need to undergo various training and learn to sing and play instruments to please the guests. The training is extremely strict and must demonstrate elegant posture in every way possible. Occasionally, if a look or a mouth corner is not up to standard, they will be scolded.

When facing customers, the beauties in the "brothel" also have to keep smiling and hide the discomfort in their hearts. Many dignitaries have mood swings and must always be on guard. If they are not careful, they can fall out of favor and be replaced by someone else. Therefore, their lives seem happy but they are also under great pressure.

Women of the middle and lower classes were not so lucky. They dressed simply, even the fabrics were not uniform. This was the best they could afford. It was obvious from their slightly withered complexions that long-term malnutrition had drained their vitality. However, they did not dare to complain too much and could only watch themselves grow old.

Women of this class can hardly find some ordinary people as customers, the price is low, can only make a living. The inferior women even have difficulty finding a way to make a living, and their customers are often low-class pawnbrokers or peddlers.

However, they still had to receive these guests because it related to whether they could eat or not every day. One can imagine how difficult their lives were. But in that era, there was no way out for women, they could only endure silently, hoping that one day their fate would change.

The Philosophy Behind Different Fates

What is even more sad is that they have lost the most basic dignity. However, while sympathizing with them, one must also understand their survival psychology. It is human nature to want to live. In the face of despair, they will also think about the meaning of life.

Perhaps, some women will secretly complain, thinking that their lives are miserable. This is understandable, injustice makes them lose faith in the world. However, other women, despite their despair, still have hope. Because they realize that life itself is also a kind of value.

No matter how bleak life is, they still have to live on. In order to save some money for the future, they will try their best to save money on food and expenses. Even if they don't have enough clothes to wear, they will save a little. This is the only hope they have left.

Money is especially important when one has nothing, and saving even a little more can bring security for the future. The humble and tenacious will to survive of these women truly contains the greatness of human nature. It is because of not giving up that people can stand tall in adversity and eventually move towards the light.

History Enlightenment

When we look back at history, we see that many things that seem absurd actually have their specific time context. At first, when they first entered the brothel, the women had a high status, but later they were pushed to the bottom of society, which is the tragedy of the time. But on a personal level, they were also trying to survive, which is the greatness of human nature.

In today's society, men and women are equal, so we should not laugh at history but instead be grateful for the reality. Always remind ourselves not to repeat the same mistakes, we must continue to work hard to create a truly fair and equal world for future generations.

Looking back at the past, do not be too hasty in judging, but think from a historical perspective. Because behind every event is the helplessness and hardship of that era. History should be viewed with understanding and empathy, not criticism or denial.

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