We know what a day in the life of an Ancient Chinese Emperor is like, but what about the ladies of his Imperial Harem? In the 15th and 16th centuries, Istanbul’s grand Topkapi Palace was the main residence of the ruling sultan. Traditional China before 1949 had always practices polygamy allowing (and often encouraging) one man marrying multiple women as wives. Traditionally, a concubine to the emperor was brought to the attention of the court because of her beauty or status. Choosing a Chinese Emperor's Bride Required Intense Scrutiny From:The Reign of the Concubine, Part 2 2m 26s; HD; TV-PG; It is not the Emperor, but his mother, who chooses his bride; she also ranks his many concubines. It was the place where the emperor lived, the place where the concubines lived, and the eunuchs who looked after them. But who lived in the Palace? This article contains Manchu text. Now a museum and popular tourist site, it was then a sprawling complex of luxurious private chambers, grand state rooms, mosques, courtyards, kitchens, a library, a … Concubinage (/ k ə n ˈ k juː b ɪ n ɪ dʒ / kəng-KYOO-bih-nij) is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want to or cannot enter into a full marriage. One rather assumes that such palaces were for the central bureaucracy and the various ministries; if so they were well concealed. Without proper rendering support , you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Manchu alphabet . China’s Concubine Culture Lives On in Mistress Villages Collector’s Items Rich and powerful Chinese men collect trophy women—not wives but mistresses—two or three at a time. The ranks of imperial consorts have varied over the course of Chinese history but remained important throughout owing to its importance in management of the inner court and in imperial succession, which ranked heirs according to the prominence of their mothers in addition to their strict birth order. The success of a Chinese historical period drama about scheming imperial concubines in a Qing dynasty palace has been celebrated by China as a … The Qing dynasty (1636–1912) of China developed a complicated peerage system for royal and noble ranks . In fact, the palace was mainly residential. The Reign of the Concubine From:The Reign of the Concubine, Part 2 2m 13s; HD; TV-PG; Cixi, known first as Yehenara, was once a simple concubine, but through cunning and manipulation she ultimately came to rule the Middle Kingdom. Where the concubines lived . The Chinese emperors had many concubines, numbering from the hundreds to thousands. But what was the life of a concubine in the imperial court?