The Role of Chinese Imperial Eunuchs

Since ancient civilisation starts to take shape, eunuchs have been influencing and moulding China’s civilisation which rose and fell; dynasty were built, and they collapsed and that virtually nothing is left of them at the present time except ruins and scattered remains. Down through china’s dynastic past, although they are seen as structuring domestic and foreign affairs, it is not always a positive sign rather in historical books they are assumed to be power seizer, devious, manipulative and utterly damaging. This class of testicle-less men are considered to be one of the most influential in the pinnacle of Chinese culture and power. With this, it indicates how deeply rooted is such barbaric clan is assimilated in Chinese way of life that allowed emasculated males to serve the imperial ruling class.

Due to the vast historical significance of eunuchism in imperial china, nothing concrete is known or written about them. Who are considered eunuchs? Where does this uncivilised system originated? Why and how are they being emasculated? What was the fundamental use of eunuchs? How does time evolves the function of eunuchs? Last but not the least, what resulted in the rise of this queer class to power in such great cultured and humane society?

According to Chinese historical evidence, eunuchs are being personified as castrated males whose primary purpose is to help out in the household of the imperial family. There are relatively three types of imperial eunuchs – young, middle and senior in accordance to their age and seniority. The earliest mentioning of Chinese Imperial eunuch is ascertain during the Zhou Dynasty as written in oracle records. However this is debatable that sinologist found ancient artefacts that depicts Shang’s ruling class also uses eunuchs in their daily administrative and well being services which depicts such brilliant social class and somewhat philistine culture. In addition to that, castration during those times was seen as capital punishment. As results these emasculated males fluctuate were often integrate into ruling class as servants.

Originally, these genitals mutilated eunuchs were used as servants doing menial work within the palace compounds. As times passed, eunuchs possessed power and influence to the people and rulers alike. Eunuchs began to dictate emperors, be in charge and manipulate state affairs to their own advantage and caused the fall of some of China’s greatest dynasties. Indeed, some of these Eunuchs’ greed and madness had brought about the whole tragedy of a whole nation.
In the imperial palace, different class of eunuchs have a different set of organizational chart. All these eunuchs are supplied due to four reasons – Compulsion, poverty, choice and punishment.

The compulsions of eunuchs are usually young boys below the age of 10 are often bought over from their parents for the sake of money and the longing for a better and provided life. These young eunuchs are often employed as harem guardian for imperial consorts and concubines. Due to their pureness and free from immortal thoughts, they are assimilated into duties in bedroom and bathroom of the most intimate nature. As such these eunuchs are often favoured, thus making them close companions or pets to these imperial ladies. Eunuchs are seen as a perfect candidate because due to their bodily mutilation, they are considered unlikely candidate to usurp the throne or impregnate any ladies. As they get older, they are often posted to another department outside the ladies abode and replaced by younger eunuchs.
Eunuchs that are supplied due to poverty, choice and punishment are often middle aged. They see being a eunuch is like a dream come true for an honest livelihood free from begging and theft. The prospect of serving the ruling class provides good basis, accommodation, high prestige and a comfortable life for old age. Being a eunuch as a personal choice is often envied and desired by many due to its positive gains. The last reason is punishment, whereby rebellious or oppose individuals are often castrated and were allowed to serve the royal court as testaments and lessons to the people. They are often examined and stringent measures are taken for their truthfulness, personality and making sure they are free from ailments. Proper emasculation process and rigorous training are inculcated before they are absorbs into the palace grounds. They are often employed as outdoor as labour intensive labourers such as gardeners, water carrier, watchmen, chair bearer or some were employed indoor as doing boring and tedious work such as cooking, messenger or in short everything in the palace certainly prevent them from yielding into the residence of palace ladies.

The senior eunuchs are often seen as mentor or chief to the rest of his eunuch’s clan. These eunuchs are experienced, sweet talker and knowledgeable about imperial court politics thus employed as personal assistant, tutor, advisor and spies to the son of heaven and his family. These types of eunuchs are often wielded power and influence to the emperors and getting involved in Chinese political history because they castrated in their early puberty, brought into the palace, immersed in a life of imperial style and train into the way of the court. They are often acts as the ‘middle man’ between the emperors and officials. These eunuchs are often seen as a source for information, counsel and support for the emperors.

Some eunuchs are not entirely stationed in the imperial household, they are often ordered to become eunuch lama to attend spiritual service of the female convicts. Not only that, some were utilized as actors and singers in the ever widely held theatrical events.

Some well known eunuchs such as Sima Qian, Cai lun and Zheng He have contributed to the historical value of Chinese history, paper making and maritime expedition respectively in the Han and Ming dynasties. Some eunuchs have shown great loyalty to the emperor such as Eunuch Gao Lishi of the Tang Dynasty and Gang Bing of the Ming Dynasty. Gao Lishi have shown tremendous effort in helping emperor Xuanzong by removing emperor Xuanzong’s nemesis – the former empress Wei and princess Taiping, daughter of empress Wu Zetian and emperor Gaozong. Gang Bing is most notable in self castration to prevent political conspiracy of him having sexual contact with the concubine and showing upmost loyalty to emperor Yongle. Deeply impressed by his courage and loyalty, he was given a politically powerful position within the palace. Even after his death, he was glorified and an ancestral hall was built in his honour known as the “eunuch’s temple”.

Although most of its loyal and upright eunuchs have brought a greater good to their master, dynastic cycles, and contributes immensely to the society. However these were far and often very few as I will elaborate. In the Chinese history, the institution of eunuchism has brought detrimental effect on its civilization, people and ruling class. Usually those senior eunuchs who have consolidated power and influence in the imperial palace were held responsible for many of the dynasties’ failings. Their constant presence among the ruling class makes them in a position of high restricted and highly confidential information which could be used as personal gains or manipulates inner palace affairs to suit their own needs. As a result of this, many tried to take the opportunities to gain wealth, power and status. In addition to that, they are able to understand temperament of the rulers well enough since they watched them born and grow. Due to the close bond they shared, advices are often take into consideration especially young emperors ascended the throne that prefers fun and games to the state affairs, thus these eunuchs are often manipulating state affairs. Even the most senior officials are powerless against the bad eunuchs. These perpetuate a vicious cycle in the palace environment which can be seen through out china’s dynastic era.

Throughout China’s dynastic cycle from the Zhou to the Qing dynasties are involved with powerful eunuchs who are usurping power, wealth fanatics or just plain dominance. In the early Zhou dynasty, a eunuch named Kuo-Chi manipulates the decree of emperor chin hsien kung by informing the prince about the emperor planned to slay him, thus allowing the prince to escape. In the Qin dynasty, eunuch Zhao Gao colluded with minister Li Ssu in forging the imperial decree resulted in the death of the crown prince, Fu Su and able general, Mien tien. Eunuch Zhao Gao went to absurd extremes in purging and Li Ssu and causes the death of Emperor Er Shi. With that putting the entire empire into disarray and much of its collapse are caused by Eunuch Zhao Gao dubious ways. In the Western Han dynasty, Emperor Wu Ti has a eunuch sorcerer by the named of Luan Ta. Luan Ta was given a lot of prestige, wealth and power however due to the fact that he dare to delude the son of heaven, he was put to death. In the years of later Han dynasty, a eunuch by the named of Zhang Rang who serve emperor ling was a leader who dominated the court with his accomplice; the ten attendants and resulted in the killing of many officials due to different views of how the emperor should govern. Their devious actions lead to unrest and anarchy in the years of the eastern Han and contributing to its downfall. He kills himself by jumping into the river and drowns himself. Even the barbaric northern Wei dynasty, a eunuch called Liu Teng came into the power by betraying others and collaborating with devious officials just to have its aim achieved. With his mastery in flattery and always pleasing Empress dowager Hu, he eradicate empress dowager Hu’s darling who is known as an upright leader Yuan Yi, Prince of Qinghe with the help of Yuan Cha, Prince of Jiangyang. At Sixty years old, he kicked the bucket. After his death, empress dowager Hu once again gained power and commanded that Yuan Cha to commit suicide and ordered Liu Teng’s dead body to be dig up and thrown as a form of disrespect and instructed that his adopted son to be put to be brutality killed. In the golden age of china, another well known eunuch by the named of Li Fuguo appears during the reign of Emperor Suzong. He supported emperor Suzong in ascending the throne by staging the Anshi rebellion. He collaborated with Emperor Suzong’s wife empress Zhang through his good flattery skills. However as he grew powerful and emperor Suzong died, he killed the empress and gain control of the administration. He was removed from power and annihilated during the reign of Emperor’s Daizong. Next in the northern song dynasty, a powerful military eunuch called Tong guan gained power and wealth with the rising of emperor Huizong support. The unavoidable outcome of his mad ambition to form alliance with the Jurchens (later called Manchu) in order to crush the Liao and Jin armies proves fatal. He accelerates the collapse of Song and brought about the rise of the Yuan Dynasty. In the Ming dynasty another famous eunuch in china’s history by the named of Liu Jin gained trust and power after Prince Zhu Houzhao (Emperor Zhengde) that he took care of ascended the throne. He manipulates and misled the emperor resulting in the eradication of 56 upright officials. This caused the Ming dynasty to be in total disarray and corruption. Last but not the least is the Qing Dynasty whereby eunuch Li Lianying accumulated wealth and power during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi. As her favourite eunuchs, he often dominated imperial politics, instigates court official and became an actual leader after the death of Empress Dowager Cixi with emperor Puyi as regent. He died in 1912, leaving behind lots of wealth and known to be a millionaire upon his death.

Although the eunuch system was fundamentally entranced in imperial china’s past, the bad advice given to the son of heaven had not been taught lofty ideals or to consider long term views of the state or the greater good of the community over self. In comparison, officials who were corrupt were worse in testifying the downfall of empires without having eunuchs in it. However we must not put aside the fact that eunuchs did played a vital role in shaping and moulding the shape of china’s ancient civilization.