The ranks of imperial consorts have varied over the course of Chinese history but remained important throughout owing to its prominence in the management of the inner court and in imperial succession, which ranked heirs according to the prominence of their mothers in addition to their birth order. Regardless of the age, however, it is common in English translation to simplify this hierarchy into the three ranks of empress, consorts, and concubines."Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou's Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi's Commentary". China Review International, Vol. 8, No. 2, Fall 2001, pp. 358363. It is also common to use the term "harem", an Arabic loan word used in recent times to refer to imperial women's forbidden quarters in many countries. In later Chinese dynasties, these quarters were known as the inner palace () or the rear palace (). In Chinese, the system is called the "rear palace system" ().
No matter the dynasty, the empress () held the highest rank and was the legal wife of the emperor, as well as the chief of the imperial harem and "mother of [all] under Heaven" () which translates to ”imperial mother of all under heaven”. She was also known as the "central palace" (). In addition, the emperor would typically have other imperial women (). Every dynasty had its set of rules regarding the numerical composition of the harem.
Early history There existed a class of royal consorts called ying () during early historical times in China. These were people who came along with brides as a form of dowry. It could be a female cousin or sister of the bride, or people from other countries.
Worth noting is the fact that during the Shang dynasty, there were times when two queens existed at the same period.
The Rites of Zhou contains great details of a royal consort ranking system. However, as the Rites of Zhou is considered by modern scholars to be merely a fictitious constitution for a utopian society, the system listed in that work of literature cannot be taken word for word. Rather, it offers a rough glimpse into the inner palace during the time.
Ranking system for kings The Rites of Zhou states that kings are entitled to the following:
1 Queen () 2 Consorts () 3 Madames () 9 Concubines () 27 Hereditary Ladies () 81 Royal Wives ()
It was suggested that a system (not necessarily resembling the one listed above) was set up to prevent the situation of having two queens/empresses.
Ranking system for others According to the Rites of Zhou, under the feudal fengjian governance system, aristocratic feudal lords were entitled to nine consorts in total, and cannot marry again after having nine consorts, which makes for one wife and eight concubines. For other officers, they are entitled to one wife and one concubine. For normal citizens, only one wife is allowed.
Qin Under the Qin dynasty, from the reign of King Huiwen: Queen (), which became Empress () from the reign of Qin Shi Huang Madame () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness () Learned Lady () Harmonious Lady () Senior Waiting Lady () Junior Waiting Lady ()
Han
Western Han During the reign of Gaozu of the Western Han dynasty: Empress () Madame ()
Later, during the reign of Emperor Wu: Empress () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Youthful Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Complete Deportment () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness () Learned Lady () Harmonious Lady () Senior Waiting Lady () Junior Waiting Lady ()
From the reign of Emperor Yuan: Empress () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Youthful Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Complete Deportment () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness () Learned Lady () Harmonious Lady () Senior Waiting Lady () Junior Waiting Lady () Courtier of Miscellaneous Uses () Lady of Complaisant Constancy () Lady Without Impurity ()Lady of Reverent Gentleness ()Lady Who Pleases the Spirit ()Lady Who Can Safeguard a Multitude ()Gentle Waiting Lady ()Lady of Night Attendance () The crown prince: Consort () Bride of Excellence () Dear Lady ()
Eastern Han In the Eastern Han dynasty: Empress () Noble Lady () Lady of Beauty () Lady of the Palace () Talented Woman ()
No limits were set for these imperial consorts. This later created situations when more than 20,000 women were living in the palace during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling.
Three Kingdoms During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei used the following system:
Cao Wei During the reign of Cao Cao (who was not an emperor but a king): Queen () Madame () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Beauty ()
During the reign of Emperor Wen: Empress () Madame () Noble Concubine () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Humble Accomplishments () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness ()
During the reign of Emperor Ming: Empress () Madame () Noble Concubine () Pure Consort () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Flowering Luminance () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness () Lady of Value ()
Jin During the Jin dynasty, the ranks were as follows: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Concubine () Madame () Noble Lady () 9 Concubines () Pure Consort () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Ceremony () Lady of Splendid Cultivation () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Splendid Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Talent () Lady of Mediocre Talent ()
Northern and Southern dynasties Liu Song 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Concubine () Madame () Noble Lady () 9 Concubines () Pure Consort () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Ceremony () Lady of Splendid Cultivation () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Everlasting Splendidness () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Beauty ()
From the reign of Emperor Xiaowu: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Consort () Noble Concubine () Noble Lady () 9 Concubines () Pure Consort () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Ceremony () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Bright Countenance () Lady of Flowering Luminance () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Flowering Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Mediocre Talent () Favoured Assistant ()
From the reign of Emperor Ming: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Consort () Noble Concubine () Noble Beauty () 9 Concubines () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Deportment () Lady of Pure Countenance () Lady of Flowering Luminance () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Bright Countenance () Lady of Cultivated Splendidness () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () 5 Post Holders () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Flowering Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Inherit Glory () Lady of Propitious Honour () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Mediocre Talent () Lady of Talent () Lady of Gentleness () Favoured Assistant ()
Southern Qi From the reign of Emperor Gao: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Concubine () Madame () Noble Lady () 9 Concubines () Lady of Splendid Cultivation () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () Pure Consort () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Deportment () Lady Handsome Fairness () Lady of Flowering Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Mediocre Talent () Lady of Talent ()
In 483, when Emperor Wu ascended to the throne, the positions of noble consort () and pure consort () were elevated to independent categories, just beneath the empress. In 489, the position of lady of bright countenance () was added to fill the gap created upon the elevation of pure consort ().
The crown prince: Bride of Excellence () Lady Who Can Safeguard a Multitude () Lady of Talent ()
Liang During the reign of Emperor Wu: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Consort () Noble Concubine () Noble Beauty () 9 Concubines () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Deportment () Lady of Pure Countenance () Lady of Flowering Brightness () Lady of Bright Countenance () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Splendidness () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () 5 Post Holders () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Flowering Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Inherit Glory () Lady of Propitious Honour () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Gentleness () Lady of Talent ()
The crown prince: Bride of Excellence () Lady Who Can Safeguard a Multitude ()
Chen Initially, during the reign of Emperor Wu, no specific ranking system for imperial consorts were devised, due to his desire to live a simple life. It was only during Emperor Wen's reign that a ranking system came into being: 1 Empress () 3 Madames () Noble Consort () Noble Concubine () Noble Beauty () 9 Concubines () Lady of Pure Beauty () Lady of Pure Deportment () Lady of Pure Countenance () Lady of Flowering Brightness () Lady of Bright Countenance () Lady of Bright Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Splendidness () Lady of Cultivated Deportment () Lady of Cultivated Countenance () 5 Post Holders () Lady of Handsome Fairness () Lady of Flowering Countenance () Lady of Sufficient Splendidness () Lady of Inherit Glory () Lady of Propitious Honour () Lady of Beauty () Lady of Talent () Lady of Gentleness ()
Northern Wei During the reign of Emperor Daowu, the ranking system was very simple, and only contained the rank of madame (). However, there existed an unwritten, subjective system of prestige. It was during the reign of Emperor Taiwu that the system listed below came into existence: Empress () Left Lady of Bright Deportment ()Right Lady of Bright Deportment () Noble Lady () Lady of the Pepper Chamber () Passing Attendant ()
During the sinicization of Northern Wei, Emperor Xiaowen reformed the ranking system to the system below: 1 Empress () Left Lady of Bright Deportment ()Right Lady of Bright Deportment () 3 Madames () Third Concubine () Sixth Concubine () Hereditary Lady () Imperial Wife ()
Northern Qi In the beginning, there were only three ranks: Madame () Concubine () Lady ()
From the reign of Emperor Wucheng: 1 Empress () 1 Left Lady of Beautiful Blooming ()1 Right Lady of Beautiful Blooming () 1 Pure Consort () 1 Left Lady of Bright Deportment ()1 Right Lady of Bright Deportment () 3 Madames () Madame of Great Moral () Madame of Just Moral () Madame of High Moral () Upper Concubines () Upper Concubine of Great Honor () Upper Concubine of Light Plan () Upper Concubine of Bright Instruction () Lower Concubines () Lower Concubine of Proclaimed Honor () Lower Concubine of Proclaimed Brightness () Lower Concubine of Congealed Brightness () Lower Concubine of Congealed Splendidness () Lower Concubine of Conducive Splendidness () Lower Concubine of Light Instruction () 27 Hereditary Ladies () Lady of Talent () Selected Lady ()
Northern Zhou 1 Empress () 3 Madames (), later 3 Consorts () Noble Consort () Great Noble Consort () Virtuous Consort () 3 Lady Officials () 6 Concubines () Lady of Bright Splendidness () Lady of Imperial Beauty () Lady of Upper Beauty () Lady of Middle Beauty () Lady of Lower Beauty () Lady of Imperial Gracefulness () Lady of Upper Gracefulness () Lady of Middle Gracefulness () Lady of Lower Gracefulness ()