1. The Palace Eunuch System

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Illustrations viii
4. Acknowledgments ix
5. Conventions xi
6. Introduction: The Other Side of Eunuch History 1
7. 1. The Palace Eunuch System 14
8. 2. Routes to the Palace 28
9. 3. Unrobing the Emasculated Body 48
10. 4. Entering the Emperor’s Realm 66
11. 5. The Parallel World of the Eunuch: Eunuch Society 89
12. 6. Running away from the Palace 107
13. 7. Eunuch Suicide: Punishment, Not Compassion 126
14. 8. Authorized Exits from the System: Sick Leave, Retirement, Discharge, and Death 145
15. 9. Surviving the Fall of the Qing: Chinese Eunuchs Post 1911 170
16. 10. Conclusion 194
17. Appendix 1: Reign Titles and Dates of the Qing Emperors 201
18. Appendix 2: Eunuch Suicide Regulations 202
19. Appendix 3: Eunuch Temples 203
20. Appendix 4: Eunuch Cemeteries 204
21. Bibliography 205
22. Index 215