Ultimate Harem

During the Tang Dynasty (c.618-907), China's golden age,

Where art, culture and prosperity reach their limits.

There was an emperor who was very famous for his extreme.

That was Emperor Xuanzong (or Tang Xuanzong, reign 712-756).

This man doesn't just rule the country well.

But also famous for that personal life...Uh.....More spectacular than number

Because he has as many as 40,000 pine in the palace!

Yeah, yeah. Forty thousand people. No typo! 😅

Why is there so much pine?

The Tang Dynasty was an era when China was very open.

Both culturally and administratively, the emperor was supreme.

And having a lot of pine isn't just about love.

Or personal passion, but a symbol of power.

And wealth too. Having a large harem shows that

The emperor had enough resources to take care of so many people.

It's also a political approach.

Because of the admission of women from noble or aristocratic families.

Become a pine, help build alliances with big families.

Stabilize the emperor's power base.

But is this 40,000 too many? Imagine

If it's a small town, this is the whole city! 😲

These pines aren't just "sitting pretty" in the palace.

But also the queen, the singer, the dancer, the maid.

And women chosen from all over the country to serve in the royal court.

It's called Xuanzong's palace, like a small town with only women.

What's life like in a harem?

Being a pine in Xuanzong's palace doesn't mean everyone

To meet the Emperor or be "close" to him.

Because of this large number, Xuanzong won't have time to meet everyone.

The harem in the Tang period had a rigid management system.

Like any big organization, there's a clear hierarchy:

Empress: The highest position. There's only one person.

A very powerful "mistress."

Consorts: Divided into several levels

Such as the influential Noble Consorts in the palace.

Minor and vesting concubines:

This group includes people who perform functions such as singing and dancing.

Take care of the palace or even be a poet writer.

(During the Tang period, women were very highly educated)

Handmaids and servants: This group is the majority.

That doesn't stand a close chance, Emperor.

But doing support work in the palace

Life in the harem is like being in a small society.

There is competition, envy and politics in the dramatic palace!

Some women try to climb with beauty. Intelligence.

Or building relationships with powerful people in the palace.

Some use skills such as writing poetry or playing music.

To keep the emperor interested.

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