In ancient feudal society, there was a specialized system for eunuchs in the imperial palace, which was a unique product of the feudal autocratic system. So what was the eunuch system like during the Tang Dynasty? Next, the History Encyclopedia editor will bring you relevant introductions, hoping to be helpful to everyone.
The eunuch system in the early Tang Dynasty was as follows: there were four eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, six regular eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ten eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and ten eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, twelve eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, eighteen eunuchs in the Ministry of Ceremonies, and six eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In total, there were seventy-two eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In addition, there are five bureaus: one is the Ye court, which is in charge of the list of concubines; The second is the palace palace, which is in charge of the entrance to the palace; The third is Xi Guan, who is in charge of palace diseases and funerals; The fourth is an internal servant, in charge of supplying the palace with lamps, curtains, and other items; The fifth is the inner palace, which is responsible for the collection and storage in the palace.
The highest officials of the Five Bureaus are called the Eunuch Orders, and there are also Eunuch Officials below.
The above are the positions that eunuchs could hold in the early Tang Dynasty.
Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, issued an edict not to establish third rank officials in the Imperial Household Department, and the highest level of Imperial Household Department Chief was a fourth rank official. The Chief Chamberlain is not in charge of external affairs, but only manages the palace affairs such as guarding the gates, cleaning the court, and providing food.
With the development of the Tang Dynasty, the eunuch group gradually became stronger.
By the time of Empress Wu Zetian, the number of eunuchs had increased. By the time of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, there were over 2000 eunuchs with ranks, including over a thousand with seventh rank or higher. However, at that time, very few could reach third rank.
After Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji ascended to the throne, he worked hard to govern and the Tang Dynasty reached its peak. The government was wealthy and extravagant, and Emperor Xuanzong was generous with rewards and did not cherish titles. The development history of eunuchs reached a turning point.
During the Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods of Emperor Xuanzong, there were over 40000 women, including concubines and maidservants, in the imperial harem. As a result, the number of eunuchs naturally did not want to fall behind and increased accordingly. At that time, there were over 3000 eunuchs of different ranks, and more than a thousand of them were of third rank. Those who were appreciated by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang were often awarded positions of third rank or higher.
These eunuchs ran around the counties and counties for the emperor and his concubines, demanding tribute and becoming the henchmen of the imperial family to extort local people.
Tang Xuanzong’s trust in eunuchs was not limited to this. In addition to serving as imperial envoys, eunuchs were also appointed as supervisors. Xuanzong granted eunuchs great power and monitored the every move of local military governors. Eunuchs held the emperor’s token and gave orders, even making military governors their subordinates, as written in the “New Book of Tang”:
Appointing Hua Zhong, carrying out his duties with integrity, and spreading his brilliance to all directions.
At that time, half of the mansions and farmlands in the capital were owned by eunuchs. After such turmoil by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the status of eunuchs skyrocketed, which also led to the continued decline of the eunuch group.
Tang Suzong and Tang Zongzong both ascended to the throne with the support of eunuchs, and they themselves were relatively weak, so there were scenes of ugly dramas where the great eunuch Li Fuguo claimed to be the “Shangfu”, Cheng Yuanzhen acted recklessly, and Yu Chao’en surpassed the military governors (Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, etc.).
However, although Li Fuguo and others were domineering, they did not yet control military power. During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang, Zhu Long rebelled and Emperor Dezong abandoned the capital and fled, with eunuchs being the main bodyguards. This made Emperor Dezong feel that only eunuchs were the most reliable.
After Emperor Dezong returned to Chang’an, he did not reflect on his mistakes. Instead, he entrusted all the military forces such as the Left and Right Divine Strategy and Tianwei to eunuchs for governance. In addition, he set up lieutenant guards and central guards, with eunuchs as the head of the imperial guards to carry out the prohibition of troops. From then on, the power of the emperor was transferred, and the Tang Dynasty’s political power was in the hands of eunuchs. Eunuchs became figures who turned their hands into clouds and their hands into rain.
Eunuchs with high positions and power began to raise disciples and children, and the governors of the fiefdoms crowded their heads to make friends with eunuchs.
Eunuchs originally had no cultural foundation and lacked the concept of loyalty, filial piety, propriety, and righteousness. In addition, they served the emperor sooner or later, and over time, they did not fear the emperor’s authority. As a result, incidents of deception, slander, and even deposing and poisoning the emperor occurred frequently.
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang became the Supreme Emperor and was relocated due to Li Fuguo, but ultimately died of depression; Tang Xianzong and Tang Jingzong were both killed by eunuchs; Emperor Wenzong of Tang died due to the anxiety and anger of eunuchs, and the monarchs of the Tang Dynasty became puppets of eunuchs.
The relationship between eunuchs and imperial power in the Tang Dynasty was like burning firewood with a raging fire. Once the firewood was burned, the fire naturally extinguished, leading to the downfall of the Tang Dynasty and the disappearance of the powerful eunuch collective.
In Ouyang Xiu’s words, it is
Eunuchs have a weak and unyielding spirit, and their tenderness is easily transferred. When they are disrespectful, they are supreme; when they are fearful, they harbor resentment; when they borrow power, they are exclusive; when they cause trouble, they are close to them; when they attack slowly, they are urgent. This petty person is always powerful.
