Imperial Concubines in the Wend Wall.

When asked to describe the inner imperial court at Hanshu most laymen (especially the men) tend to imagine a world of decadent luxury. Vast exquisite gardens filled with nubile young women lying around in various states of undress, ready to attend to the Emperor's every need. All guarded by eunuchs who, due to the unfortunate fate of their reproductive organs have ceased taking an interest in the carnal affairs.   This image, while it makes for entertaining fiction, is little more than a fantasy. Dreamed up by Dreamers who are both fascinated and revolted by the ‘eastern despotism’. While they publicly abhor the subjugation of the common people of the The Wend Wall . The continual return to topics of concubines and harems would seem to reveal a certain envy of the emperor’s privileges among a certain class of Apex citizens. But I digress.   The Imperial Court is not some pleasure park of the emperor’s design. It is the administrative nexus of a great empire, and the institution of Imperial Concubinage reflects this. While there are indeed vast parks, these are not filled with women clamoring for the emperor’s attentions. These are instead used primarily by men of advanced age. They serve as convenient meeting places for ministers, assistant ministers, and officials and bureaucrats of various ranks as they attempt to coordinate policy and government action. No easy tasks, for reason outlined in the previous chapters. Women are seldom allowed here, and if they are, they will be covered up diligently, so as not to disturb the gentlemen at work.   Tradition in the Wend Wall hold that women must not interfere in politics. Men and women should operate in separate spheres of influence. Men are the politicians, administrators and soldiers. Thus, matters of state are theirs. Feminine influence here would only weaken the body of the nation. Women on the other hand are dominant in the home, in the care and education of children. Even the emperor makes sure to abide by these traditions. By fostering the image of the ideal Wend Wall man he inspires much loyalty among his people. Here we will come to the role of the Imperial Concubines. These women should perhaps more accurately be called the Imperial wives and wives-in-waiting.   As previously described the Emperor prefers to staff many influential positions with his own relatives. However, as the emperor only trusts close family, and because his children are not immortal like himself this requires the continual production of children of the Imperial House. This is the primary roles of the Wives of the Emperor (Huángdì zhī qī). Due to the sheer number of children required to staff the necessary positions, and infant mortality rate even among the children of a (so-called) god the Emperor has a need for 6 – 10 children each year. Needless to say a single woman is unable to provide for this need, and so multiple are required.   The women who become the wives of the Emperor tends to be drawn from the most prestigious families of the Wend Wall. It is normal that the best graduates from the various schools for young women in the Wend Wall apply to join the Imperial Nursery (Huángjiā miáopǔ) in the capital. This is where the royal children are raised and educated. The most promising of these young women are then placed on the so-called List of Eligible Wives. Whenever there is a need for additional Imperial wives the candidates are introduced to the Emperor, who makes his choice of whom to marry from among them.   Imperial wives are people of great but difficult to perceive influence. They have full authority over their children until they reach the age of maturity. This gives them the ability to shape the next generation of statesmen in the Wend Wall. They also put together the list of eligible wives and can vet their successors according to their own interests. They have direct access to the Emperor, a valuable power in an absolute monarchy. Additionally, they are accorded much respect from the people of the Wend Wall as they are seen to be the wives of a divine figure, and the mother of semi-divine Imperial children. Although they are strictly forbidden from interfering in politics they are nevertheless feared and courted in equal measure by the ministers and officials of the realm due to their close relationship to the highest authority.