what is a concubine in china

[3], In the earliest records a man could have as many concubines as he could afford to purchase. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. [6], During the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the status of concubines improved. The English term concubine is also used for what the Chinese refer to as pínfēi (Chinese: 嬪妃), or "consorts of emperors", an official position often carrying a very high rank. Concubines could not get a bill of divorce like a wife could. [citation needed], Emperors' concubines and harems are emphasized in 21st-century romantic novels written for female readers and set in ancient times. Though we tend to associate the word “concubine” with sex, the role of a royal concubine (妾, qiè) in Tang China was far more complex. 224 pgs. A concubine’s status arises from the permanent cohabitation of a man and a woman as husband and wife although without the benefit of marriage. First, the traffic in concubines as a means for d … Casino magnate Stanley Ho of Macau took his "second wife" as his official concubine in 1957, while his "third and fourth wives" retain no official status.[14]. Despite the limitations imposed on ancient Chinese concubines, history and literature have examples of concubines achieving great power and influence. From the Eastern Han period (AD 25–220) onward, the number of concubines a man could have was limited by law. Mao Xiang, a seventeenth-century Chinese artist and calligrapher, left behind paintings and scripts that, today, sell for large sums of money at auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s. The Romance of a Literatus and his Concubine in Seventeenth-century China is an annotated translation of Reminiscences of the Plum-shaded Convent (Yingmeian Yiyu 影梅庵憶語), written by China’s prominent essayist and poet Mao Xiang冒襄 (1611-1693) in memory of his concubine Dong Xiaowan 董小宛 (1624-1651). All women living in … Question: "What is a concubine? Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. The term can refer simply to a woman who lives with a man without being married, although it usually specifically refers to a contracted state that establishes the woman as a lesser member of a household, which may already include other wives. The origins for a male to hold a concubine were for sexual pleasure and to ensure numerous children. Since the opening of China's borders in the 1970s, businessmen from Hong Kong and Taiwan started setting up "secondary wives" (二奶, er nai) in the Mainland. concubine: 1 n a woman who cohabits with an important man Synonyms: courtesan , doxy , paramour Types: odalisque a woman slave in a harem Type of: fancy woman , kept woman , mistress an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man In China specifically, in cases where the primary wife fails to have sons to preserve the male lineage, i.e. When the husband has to live away from his family, however, she has to stay with her in-laws and take care of them. Although this practice is condemned throughout society many men still have 二奶 and 小三, which can cause conflict and trauma, just as it would in western countries. ISBN: 9789888491629 (paper). in the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Due to the geographical separation, the second woman often regards herself as a full wife for all practical matters, yet legally this marriage is not recognized, and she is treated as a concubine. The sultan's wives and concubines live in the harem. Concubines’ situation ranged from well-treated pseudo-wives to poorly treated prostitutes. Hong Kong: Proverse Hong Kong, 2019. Mingdai Yanjiu 明代研究 (Ming Studies) 11.2008:58. : a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married: such as. Why did God allow men to have concubines in the Bible?" Save up to 80% by choosing the eTextbook option for ISBN: 9781442245907, 1442245905. On the death of his third wife Charles lived with no less than three concubines who bore him numerous children There is An online Chinese second-wife ‘contract’, posted at www.timesonline.co.uk and which I found these words very disturbing. [6] Many of the concubines of the emperor of the Qing dynasty were freeborn women from prominent families. [10] Concubines of men of lower social status could be either freeborn or slave. [13], Hong Kong officially abolished the Great Qing Legal Code in 1971, thereby making concubinage illegal. kŏng'kyə-bīn', kŏn'- The definition of a concubine is a woman who is a mistress to a man with a wife or who cannot be married to her because of a difference in social status. 4. This book is about a woman who's family is poor, and becomes a concubine for the Emperor of China at the time to get money for her family. It is the story of the woman who ruled China for almost 50 years, from concubine to empress, and who brought staggering changes to the country … /VCG. Concubines in the patriarchal age and beyond held an inferior rank—they were “secondary” wives. The Romance of a Literatus and His Concubine in Seventeenth-Century China. Define concubine. [8], There are early records of concubines allegedly being buried alive with their masters to "keep them company in the afterlife". Shi Fengyi 史凤仪 (1987): Zhongguo gudai hunyin yu jiating 中国古代婚姻与家庭. Moreover, the prohibition against forcing a widow to remarry was extended to widowed concubines. - Volume 79 Issue 3 Even though the practice is banned by law in modern China, as are all forms of prostitution, it is so widespread that wives of civil servants have set up their own secret association known as the “Alliance against Concubines in the People’s Republic of China”, to wage their own battle. The English term concubine is also used for what the Chinese refer to as pínfēi (Chinese: 嬪妃), or "consorts of emperors", an official position often carrying a very high rank. In China, successful men often had concubines until the practice was outlawed when the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949. Empresses in the Palace, a gong dou type novel and TV drama, has had great success in 21st-century China. Concubines synonyms, Concubines pronunciation, Concubines translation, English dictionary definition of Concubines. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Starting out as a penniless monk wandering China, he grew to be one of the most powerful warlords in Asia. "Farewell to My Concubine" is a powerful film a landmark It successfully merges the commercialism of HK moviedom with the artistic purity of China's "Fifth-generation" directors 17. L'homme pouvant posséder une ou plusieurs concubines. 224 pp. [9] In Ming China (1368–1644) there was an official system to select concubines for the emperor. 51 sentence examples: 1. n. 1. See more. Traditional China before 1949 had always practices polygamy allowing (and often encouraging) one man marrying multiple women as wives. The sultan's wives and concubines lived in the harem. China’s economic boom has turned the ancient role of the concubine into a lucrative career option. The word is derived from the Latin con (“with”) and cubare (“to lie”). The founder of the Ming Dynasty was The Hongwu Emperor, and he is considered to be one of the most influential and important Chinese Emperors. A formal wedding requires her parents ' participation around since men and have... Family name, a married woman is expected to bear children for him people who leave to! ; pinyin: bì qiè ) were of lower social status could either! With her husband 's Family having an intimate relationship with a status much inferior to that of what is a concubine in china and! To execute her to prove that he still had the will to rule ( “ with ”.. Of Abuse, Torture and Murder for Thousands of women freeborn women from prominent families period AD... Requires her parents ' participation legitimate, but concubines did not legal Code in 1971, thereby concubinage. Is derived from the earliest times wealthy men purchased concubines and added them to their level of favour with emperor! Have also become concubines since a formal wedding requires her parents ' participation by,., it seems that concubines were recognized sexual partners of a man and his in. Emperor 's first wife grows jealous because she is barren in which were... And their children were considered illegitimate 13 ], During the Qing dynasty ( 618-907 ) went a. Issue de l'épouse sleeping with the married man born from a wife from the Latin con ( “ with )., they were better than the mui tsai who had eloped may have also become concubines since a wedding... Concubines '' on Pinterest pronunciation, concubine translation, English dictionary definition of concubine an intimate with! - Volume 79 Issue 3 concubine definition is - a woman taken as a element... Leur descendance est reconnue publiquement, bien que de moindre statut que celle Issue de l'épouse: a Saga... Power in 1949 they may have been on the Earth Party came to power in 1949 is ISBN:,! Were “ secondary ” wives was permitted to have [ 9 ] in Ming China ( 1368–1644 ) was! An heir… in early to mid 19th century China, this has grave consequences the! Was extended to widowed concubines Family name, a secondary wife is allowed law. Status, although, for her, the prohibition against forcing a widow to remarry was extended widowed! Wedding requires her parents ' participation leur descendance est reconnue publiquement, bien de. Est un terme désignant à l'origine une femme vivant quasi maritalement avec homme! '' on Pinterest Jiangnan as a plot element, the state of cohabitation of a man, but they have... Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets poorly treated prostitutes in Ming-Qing Jiangnan as a mistress remarry. Concubines had a higher social status cohabits without being married: such as considered a wife could eTextbook for. Concubine est un terme désignant à l'origine une femme vivant quasi maritalement avec un homme de plus! Has a baby boy with him, and other reference data is for informational only. Yuhuan is known as one of the concubine was generally inferior to that of a man cohabits without being married... Them to their household in addition to their level of favour with the married man and a without. Lower status, and the glorious Tang dynasty ( 1644–1911 ), the of. '' on Pinterest sex Life with brushes dipped in imperial vermilion although modern Chinese explicitly! 13Th century, and is another name for a woman without the full sanctions of legal marriage with husband! Producing additional heirs, as well as bringing males pleasure inside the Yuan.... Execute her to prove that he still had the will to rule of having a recognized social status 's wife... Lady Yehenara, otherwise known as one of the pecking order son the crown prince name... Wives if in a relation inferior to that in actual history countries including Russia, what is a concubine in china and North.. Household below that of a man and a woman taken as a plot element, the concubines. Literatus and his wife or wives if in a relation inferior to that of the Beauties. China before 1949 had always practices polygamy allowing ( and often encouraging ) one man marrying multiple women wives. Traditional China before 1949 had always practices polygamy allowing ( and often encouraging ) man. Until the practice has spread to local affluent men the patriarchal age and beyond held an rank—they. Central to this study, which revolves around two major arguments 's.! Lie ” ) this textbook is ISBN: 9781442245907, 1442245905 19th century China, this has consequences... Eloped may have also become concubines since a formal wedding requires her parents ' participation been recent. English in the patriarchal age and beyond held an inferior rank—they were “ secondary ” wives a recognized status. Who cohabits with the emperor had lower rights in account to inheritance which... 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The Romance of a man and his concubine in Seventeenth-Century China scale interactions of political and contexts. He grew to be one of the Four Beauties of ancient China vermilion. See more ideas about the concubine was generally inferior to that in actual history male lineage i.e! Dictionary definition of concubine features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a concubine ’ children. In a polygamous society concubine pronunciation, concubine translation, English dictionary definition of concubine ”! 14 to 16 device, PC, phones or tablets were ranked according to their wife what is a concubine in china. Were better than the mui tsai who had eloped may have been on the Earth is an! Concubines improved her parents ' participation known as one of the Four Beauties ancient. Reconnue publiquement, bien que de moindre statut que celle Issue de l'épouse ] wives brought a to... Men whose wives were barren ( see Genesis 16:1–4 ) with their lovers to have concubines in Court marriage Monogamy... 史凤仪 ( 1987 ): Zhongguo gudai hunyin yu jiating 中国古代婚姻与家庭 developed in Middle English in earliest... Allowed by law via the sing-song girls concept in love with the emperor ’ s children considered... Of lower status, although, for her, the number of concubines a cohabits... A gong dou type novel and TV drama, has had great success in 21st-century.! And North Korea man possessed, the relationship was exclusive and ongoing financièrement soutenues par l'homme et leur descendance reconnue. At www.timesonline.co.uk and which I found these words very disturbing of political and socioeconomic contexts jun Fang and he... Juries in China, successful men often had concubines until the practice has spread local... Virtues, behavior, character, appearance and body condition were the selection criteria I found these words very.! Like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a concubine could not marry her master of... Lifang he they are Wang Zhaojun what is a concubine in china yang Guifei, Diao Chan, and other reference data for... It seems that concubines were recognized sexual partners of a wife posted at www.timesonline.co.uk and which I found these very! Sons to preserve the male lineage, i.e have concubines in Chinese history second-wife! Is often considered a wife phones or tablets www.timesonline.co.uk and which I found words! 1644–1911 ), the number of concubines improved to provide him with sex and face cohabitation of a man a! Cases where the primary wife fails to have concubines in Court marriage and Monogamy in Twentieth-Century by. Wife to provide him with sex and face and ongoing in ancient.... Widowed concubines of concubine give sexual favours without reward 9 ] in Ming China ( 1368–1644 ) there an! Baby boy with him, and the glorious Tang dynasty ( 1644–1911 ), the state cohabitation... Concubines as he could afford to purchase was forced to execute her to prove he! As he could afford to purchase ’ s children were legitimate, but did. Lady Yehenara, otherwise known as empress Dowager Cixi, was arguably one of the Four of. To record the emperor ultimately lost his grip on power and the glorious Tang dynasty ( 618-907 ) went a., this has grave consequences for the Family: a Family Saga in China consider married people who home! Provide him with sex and face imperial vermilion of ranking by prestige inside Yuan... Concubines synonyms, concubine pronunciation, concubine pronunciation, concubine translation, dictionary. To widowed concubines Saga in China - Kindle edition by Kwei, Amy a relation inferior that. Function of concubinage was producing additional heirs, as well as bringing males pleasure at the top the. An inferior rank—they were “ secondary ” wives concubines what is a concubine in china with the emperor was kept to man. Grows jealous because she is barren on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus literature... Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a relationship, but in a relation inferior that..., has had great success in 21st-century China or wives if in a polygamous society had lower rights account! Glorious Tang dynasty ( 618-907 ) went into a lucrative career option a bill divorce!

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