Eunuchs

Compiled from Secrets of the Chinese Palace

        Eunuchs were the people of the palace who served the emperor and his family members. They were all men who had been castrated. This was to prevent any acts of promiscuity since the palace was where the empress and numerous concubines lived. The rank of eunuchs was generally low.

        Eunuchs were the servants responsible for all sorts of miscellaneous tasks in the palace, but because of their close proximity to the emperor and other members of the imperial family, they could often win the trust of the imperial family and build their power. Throughout history, there were numerous instances of eunuchs who ran the government, wielded power and even brought down the government.

        For instance, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the eunuchs and the empress’ family struggled for power. This only accelerated the decline of the dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, starting with Emperor Tang Dezong, the eunuchs controlled military and government power, and even influenced the rise and fall of emperors. In the Ming Dynasty, although Emperor Ming Taizu strictly prohibited eunuchs from involvement in the government, there were still many examples of eunuchs who wielded enormous power. Examples include Wang Zhen, Liu Jin and Wei Zhongxian. During the Qing Dynasty, eunuchs were strictly controlled and there was even a department to managed eunuchs. However, during the late Qing dynasty, Li Lianying became powerful through the favour of Empress Dowager Cixi.

        Many eunuchs worked for the good of the country as well, including perhaps the most famous eunuch, Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty who led seven expeditions to Africa, Arabia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Kou Liancai of the Qing Dynasty was another example. He was brave enough to directly criticize Cixi, rebuking her for the social evils of the time. Many eunuchs spent their last years in monasteries. After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, the system of eunuchs also became history.