Have you ever wondered what the actual life of those palace harems that have been rendered brilliant by countless TV dramas is actually like in the long river of history, the life of the harem is not as luxurious and glamorous as we imagined. Especially in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, as the last emperor, Pu Yi lived in his harem? Today, we will uncover that dusty history through Li Yuqin's eyes. Is it resplendent or is there something else hidden? Are you ready, walk with me into that unknown past.
After the Spring Festival in 1995, I had the privilege of going to Jilin City to shoot rime and visited Changchun along the way. The main road of Changchun is as straight as a ruler, which makes people admire. But when our footsteps entered the "Puppet Manchurian Emperor's Palace", the inner amazement turned to sighing. The "emperor" and "empress" rooms there are small, dark, and damp, which are very different from the descriptions in the TV series. That kind of living conditions, put it now, are only in the middle of the range. This can't help but make people reflect, how different are the gorgeous scenes in those TV series from the real history?
Speaking of Pu Yi, many people's first impression may still be on his image as an emperor. But in fact, judging from the memories of his fourth wife, that is, the Fugui Li Yuqin, the life in the harem is far from as beautiful as imagined. Li Yuqin mentioned in "My Life in the Palace" that her marriage with Pu Yi exists in name only, the name of husband and wife, but there is no reality of husband and wife. In the palace, she didn't even dare to turn over beside Pu Yi, which shows how difficult it is to live a life of repression and bondage.
The harem hierarchy of the Qing Dynasty was strict, and the queen was at the top of it, and Li Yuqin, as a nobleman, was actually just one of the many women in the harem. In that hierarchical system, the status of nobles was not high. It is understood that by the late Qing Dynasty, the prosperity of the imperial palace was declining, and the lives of many palace ladies and nobles were not as luxurious as the outside world imagined. Li Yuqin's daily life, although it is stronger than ordinary people, is limited to four or five dishes, and occasionally she can enjoy delicacies such as sea cucumber and bird's nest.
Regarding Pu Yi's diet, judging from his own recollections, although it is quite rich, it can no longer be compared with the prosperous times of Qianlong and Cixi. He mentioned that the whole family's monthly meat consumption reached nearly 4,000 catties, which seemed huge, but compared to the situation at that time, this was the limit. And ordinary people, sometimes even the acorn noodle nest head is difficult to eat.
Pu Yi himself also has his own views on the women of the harem. He mentioned in "The First Half of My Life" that compared with his three wives, his feelings for Li Yuqin are weak, but they are also helpless. In that era, the emperor's marriages were often involuntary and more of a political and family marriage. Even Pu Yi himself once lamented that although the emperor was high, in the world of marriage and emotion, he was just a pawn at the mercy of others.
After Li Yuqin entered the palace, Pu Yi held a "canonization" ceremony for her, which was a great honor for the nobles at that time. Behind this glory is endless loneliness and helplessness. Li Yuqin's life in the palace was lonely most of the time. In her memoirs, she wrote that women in the palace, especially those of lower status, often faced ostracism and neglect from high-ranking harem members. This internal hierarchical struggle made life in the palace even more depressing.
And for ordinary people, life in the palace is full of mystery, and they often peek into this closed world through various channels, such as TV series, movies, etc. These media often present embellished versions that are quite different from the real historical situation. For example, TV dramas often depict the luxurious life and romantic emotions of the emperor and the beauties of the harem, but in reality, these are the products of artistic processing.
With the development of history, the understanding of the life of the palace has gradually taken root in the hearts of the people. From Pu Yi's failure and repentance, we can see that whether it is the emperor or the women in the harem, their lives are not as carefree as the outside world imagines. Rather, it is full of unknown pain and struggle. This re-recognition of history has also given us a deeper understanding and respect for traditional culture and history.
Through Li Yuqin's eyes, we see a harem world that is different from the traditional impression. It is a world of political calculations, emotional repression, and social class struggles. History is complex, it is not only the splendid palaces and the emperors on the high, but also the joys, sorrows and sorrows of countless people living in it. Today, we look back on the past, not only to commemorate those glorious moments, but also to remember the pain and struggle behind the glory. Hopefully, this article will give you more thought and understanding of history.