With the Empress Dowager of China · Chapter
V: The Young Empress and Ladies of the Court explained
This chapter introduces the young Empress, the secondary wife, and the various ladies of the court, detailing their relationships, appearances, and roles.
What happens
This chapter introduces the young Empress, the secondary wife, and the various ladies of the court, detailing their relationships, appearances, and roles. It also explains the system of maids and tiring-women, the customs regarding widows and adoption, and the strict proprieties observed in the palace.
Themes in this chapter
Gender and Women's Roles
The chapter details the roles of women in the palace, including the Empress, secondary wife, princesses, and maids, highlighting their duties, restrictions, and the customs of widowhood and adoption.
Cultural Identity and Tradition
The chapter emphasizes traditional Chinese customs such as arranged marriages, adoption, widow chastity, and the strict proprieties that govern court life.
Loyalty and Patronage
The Empress Dowager's loyalty to the woman who nursed her back to health, and the patronage system of selecting maids and rewarding service, illustrate the bonds of loyalty and favor in the court.
Characters to notice
- Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi
Mentioned as the reigning Empress Dowager, aunt of the young Empress, and the one who selected the secondary wife. Also noted for her kindness to the nurse who saved her life.
- Katherine A. Carl
The author and observer, who learns about the court ladies and their relationships from Sih-Gerga.
- Emperor Kwang-Hsu
Mentioned as the young Emperor, cousin and husband of the young Empress, and having only two wives.
- Sih-Gerga
First Lady of the Empress Dowager, a beautiful widow of twenty-four, daughter of Prince Ching, who explains the relationships among the ladies.
- Prince Ching
Mentioned as the father of Sih-Gerga and the Prime Minister.
- Young Empress Ye-Ho-Na-Lah
The young Empress, first Lady of the Court, daughter of Duke Chow, cousin of the Emperor, described as charming and dignified.
Key passages
“The young Empress, the first Lady of the Court after Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, was, to me, a charming character.”
The author found the young Empress, who held the highest rank among the court ladies after the Empress Dowager, to be a delightful person.
Introduces the young Empress and the author's positive impression.
“There are a number of tiring-women and maids in the Palace who are called by outsiders “slaves”; but they are not slaves, or, if they are so, it is but for a time, a space of ten years.”
Although outsiders refer to the palace maids as slaves, they are not truly enslaved; their service is limited to a ten-year term.
Clarifies the status of palace maids.
“Widows in China never remarry, or if they do, they lose caste and reputation.”
In China, widows are expected to remain unmarried for life; remarrying would cause them to lose social standing and respect.
Explains the strict rule of widow chastity.