Shortage of Eunuchs

[JesusA (imported)]

During the reign of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795), China reached the greatest territorial extent in its long history. During this period it was easily the most populous and the most prosperous nation on earth.

The emperor declared that his Summer Palace (actually the 840 acre palace from which he ruled) would be staffed by “young eunuchs” and that older eunuchs would be sent to other posts, including the “Forbidden City” in Beijing. For years there was a shortage of young eunuchs to staff the many positions at the Summer Palace. Eunuchs were required as gardeners, kitchen help, maintainers of the imperial wardrobe, document handlers, archers, servers of tea, waiters to serve food, etc. A staff of 80 eunuchs was required just to accompany the emperor on travel between palaces where there was a resident staff of eunuchs in each.

The shortage was finally resolved by a new policy promulgated in 1789,which declared that the sons of murderers and of rebels who were younger than 15 were to be castrated and serve in the palace. This was the time of the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion on Taiwan and it resulted in a surplus of young eunuchs that could be shared with other imperial institutions. One memorial alone lists forty boys, ranging in age from three to fourteen, who were sent to the Imperial Household Department for castration.

(Excerpted from Unspoken Collusions: The Empowerment of Yuanming yuan Eunuchs in the Qianlong Period, by Norman A. Kutcher. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 70 (2010), no. 2, pp. 449-495)

[nullorchis (imported)]

I can only guess that if a boy is castrated before entering puberty he has no concept of loss. How can you loose what you never had.

You could observe the actions of non-castrated men, but not ever feel, understand, or appreciate the physical, emotional, feelings of being not castrated.

Not so if castrated after puberty.

Of course in my mind it they were almost lucky.

Almost, but not quite.

The methods used to achieve castration were horrific, and frequently resulted in death.

[alveinor (imported)]

I think during the early age of China, young eunuchs were needed to serve as gardeners, archers, servers of tea, etc. They can serve freely if they are eunuchs.

[daifu-orchid (imported)]

Jesus also recommends by Kutcher, a wonderful book

"Eunuch and Emperor in the Great Age of Qing Rule".

I bought it!

The Amazon page with info is

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/05202 ... UTF8&psc=1

-but probably better to support your local bookstore!

The Emperor Qianlong 1711-1799 was a remarkable man, who engaged Europe and the world. He even had the closest of friends, a Jesuit and fine painter Giuseppe Castiglione. (life-size realistic portraits of people and even the emperor's kinda fat and wooly favorite horse, dog too.) Qianlong was not only famous as a collector and promoter of the arts and literature, but also a voracious burner of books (and inquisitor of authors) if the works were deemed critical of the Qing. A complex character with a not-entirely-understood preference for young eunuchs.....

[Rafaella (imported)]

To someone like me who has been a eunuch for less than a year and who knew nothing about the subject before my deballing it's very interesting to read the historical records. My partner would say there is a major shortage of eunuchs today as well, she much prefers a nutted male over one with a pair of baby makers hanging between his legs.

[stephaniesteve1 (imported)]

To someone like me who has been a eunuch for less than a year and who knew nothing about the subject before my deballing it's very interesting to read the historical records. My partner would say there is a major shortage of eunuchs today as well, she much prefers a nutted male over one with a pair of baby makers hanging between his legs.

Strangely my wife would agree with your partner,better without balls.

[Begoneboy (imported)]

Strangely my wife would agree with your partner,better without balls.

Better without balls and even better yet without the bat.

[daifu-orchid (imported)]

Better without balls and even better yet without the bat.

My partner also very much prefers no nuts.

-and BTW, Just who are calling an old bat??

[Begoneboy (imported)]

My partner also very much prefers no nuts.

-and BTW, Just who are calling an old bat??

Daifu-Orchid: I love that remark! I threw the bat out with the balls of course. Hee Heee Heeee!

[Begoneboy (imported)]

My partner also very much prefers no nuts.

-and BTW, Just who are calling an old bat??

nobody as you know. cock, wank, dick, pole, bat or whatever fits the thing