Palace Eunuchs of Ancient China

First of all, what is an Eunuch? For many this is a strange looking term to visualize but in ancient China many eunuchs held responsible positions inside the walls of the "Forbidden City." Eunuchs were males who were rendered sexually impotent through removal of their genitals in order to serve the emperor of the "Forbidden City". This was considered a great honor and thousands upon thousands of young men and sometimes older men would devote their lives in honor of the emperor. These males would serve as palace menials, harem watch doges and also as spies for the emperor. Many of them served as personal attendants to the emperor and as a result were often in a better position than even the most powerful minister or envoy to the emperor. As personal attendants they were able to exercise influence, curry the emperor favor, and many of them amassed huge amounts of wealth. These castrated servitors represented the epitome of complete servitude to the grand emperor. 

The life of a eunuch in ancient China included a multitude of responsibilities. For example, there was one group of eunuchs that as mentioned earlier watched over the emperor's harem. He basically ensured that the chastity of imperial ladies would not be compromised and this was accomplished by closely guarding over the harem. This was basically done to ensure that there would be a steady flow of heirs to the throne, once the emperor passed away. This was due to the fact that there was a high infant mortality rate for males. By the eunuchs carefully guarding the palace and lurking in the remotest parts of the palace, this was a further guarantee that any child born within the palace walls was sired only by the monarch. Not even relatives of the emperor was allowed in the harem apartments on penalty of death. 

Another strange point of interest about the eunuchs was that they were required to preserve an aura of sacredness and secrecy that surrounded the emperors presence. The Emperor of China was exalted as the recipient of the mystical Mandate of Heaven that justified his right to rule his Chinese subjects. There would be no challenge to his authority and the lowly eunuch who was highly dependent upon the emperor for their lives and daily subsistence were considered cowed enough to be silent witnesses to the emperors private foibles and weaknesses. 

In addition, when the emperor would proceed through the capital city carried in his royal sedan, it was the eunuch who performed this task which was an honor for the eunuch. As the emperor proceeded through the city, eunuchs ensured that bamboo curtains were erected across the streets to shield him from the populace view. One emperor remarked, that they were "creatures docile and loyal as gelded animals".

However, eunuchs who were basically loyal to the emperor were not as naive as one may think. Behind closed doors, many of them would join forces with a scheming empress or concubine in evil plots to do away with the heir apparent where the empress could then with the eunuch assistance place her own son or favorite in line for succession to the throne. As a result of this partnership, and if the plot was successful, the conspiring eunuch was in a better bargaining position which resulted in him usurping enormous authority. Because of this, young rulers found themselves completely under the influence of the eunuchs and these eunuchs were almost impossible to dislodge from power. From one short reign of power to the next, they were firmly in control leading to the emperor fearing his eunuch benefactors. Eunuchs also wielded power over the emperor in the political arena. Had it not been for them, certain Chinese emperors would have been powerless in the face of organized factions seeking control of the throne. 

Even though most of the Eunuchs were employed in household and harem duties, a few were destined to become one of the eighteen Lamaist priests which the palace maintained to attend to the spiritual welfare of the female inmates. Many of these eunuchs could not read or write but still practiced the craft of priesthood and earned a double salary.

Other eunuchs were employed as actors and singers in the palace theatricals. These performers lived outside the palace in the Forbidden City on small salaries but received gratuities from the audiences for their performances. 

Palace eunuchs were also allowed to worship in the temples, to burn incense, practice fasting, and donate money and offerings.These high ranking eunuchs wore ornate robes of brightly embroidered colors whereas the lower ranking eunuchs wore a long grey robe under a shorter dark blue coat and were required to wear official hats and boots when on duty. 

Finally, most of the eunuchs leisure time was spent in gambling among themselves, their greatest source of enjoyment. They were especially affectionate towards women and children and loved pets. Many sold these pets to foreign ladies to supplement their incomes.