In those days, women were already inferior, and maids were at the bottom of this vast system of inequality. They are sold to wealthy families only for the needs of their masters, but without their own rights and freedoms. They cannot assert their will, either in domestic chores or in response to the orders and oppression of their masters.
The brutal nature of this life was evident in Qing Dynasty statutes, where the lives and dignity of the maids were entirely subject to the wishes of their masters. Different dynasties and dynasties have established various punishment regulations for the disobedience of maids. The laws of the Qing Dynasty were particularly strict, stipulating that maids must not betray their masters. If a maid insults her master, she is hanged and executed according to the law. Even if you injure your owner, regardless of the severity of your injury, you will be beheaded, and killing your owner is a ruthless end.
However, despite the great difficulties faced by the maids, they are not without hope. Some maids were able to gain some power and status under the favor of their masters, and even became confidants of their masters. This situation, while uncommon, shows that even in those oppressive times, there was an opportunity to fight for a better life for oneself.
Not only that, in addition to the maids mentioned in this article, there are also some special maids in history, such as the legendary "Beauty Ding". This kind of ding is made from women's body tissues and secretions, and is used to refine various medicines, a product of an ancient atrial technique. Since the Ming Dynasty, many dignitaries and nobles have used the bodies of handmaids to make medicines, hoping to obtain the effect of immortality. According to the ancient book "Night Rain and Autumn Lantern Record", it is recorded that stuffing black dates into a woman's vagina can moisturize the body and is said to prolong life. A similar description appears in the famous novel "White Deer Plain".
These historical details and tragic fate reveal the fate of the maids, who were sold and punished, unable to control their own destiny. The world is full of tragedies of women of different classes, just like the fate of the maids in "Dream of Red Mansions".
During the Ming Dynasty, only one or two pieces of silver were equivalent to 660 yuan today, while the value of a maid fluctuated between 2,000 and more than 10,000. By reinterpreting this history, we can better understand the lives of the maids and the experiences of women in that era. This history will forever be etched in the memory of mankind and is a reflection on our past culture.
During the Ming Dynasty, only one or two pieces of silver were equivalent to 660 yuan today, while the value of a maid fluctuated between 2,000 and more than 10,000. This history tells us that the life of the maids is not a romantic fairy tale, but full of hardships and misfortunes. They were vulnerable in the social fabric of the era, often forced to endure oppression and abuse by their masters.
By gaining a deeper understanding of this history, we can better understand and care for those at the bottom of society and pursue a fairer and more equal future. We look back on that history today not only to understand the past, but also to remember the silent victims, so that we can cherish the equality and freedom of the present. The stories of the maids are part of history, and their tenacity and courage deserve to be remembered forever.
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