Castrated Power Eunuchs in the Qing Court | Read Chinese

Eunuchs are compelling figures in Chinese history, often portrayed as villains in stories and dramas. Their unique position lies in the paradox of wielding influence at the heart of power, while simultaneously being relegated to the status of servants within the palace and marginalised by society due to their physical deformities. Far from being ideal servants, eunuchs were a continual source of anxiety for the Qing Emperors, haunted by memories of the Ming Dynasty, when certain eunuchs held unprecedented power. While there are successful efforts to curtail their influence, some eunuchs still managed to amass significant political clout and live lavish lifestyles. Through the stories of powerful figures like Li Lianying and the last eunuch, Sun Yaoting, this discussion will explore the lives and roles of eunuchs during the Qing Dynasty, examining the fascinating double life they led—one spent in the emperor’s court by day, and the other within the eunuch community itself.

Speaker: Heng Kang Wei (Committee member, Qing History Society)
This session is conducted in English. 
Qing History Reading Club is one of NLB's many LearnX Communities that connect like-minded people to create a modern kampong of communal learning. These communities cover a wide range of topics and can be found in libraries all over the island.