According to textual research, the "three palaces and six hospitals" does have its thing. Take the Forbidden City, the most complete existing ancient architectural complex in China, as an example. It is bounded by Gan Qing Gate, with an outer court in the south and an inner court in the north. The Forbidden City is the place where emperors and concubines live and live, ranging from Gan Qing Palace to Shenwumen. Being honest and upright is the emperor's bedroom, and Kunning Palace is the queen's bedroom. Between these two palaces, there is a small hall called Jiaotai Hall, which is always called "the last three palaces". On both sides of the three palaces, there are six palaces on the East Road and six palaces on the West Road. Dongliu Palace is Zhaigong Palace, Ren Jing Palace, Chenggan Palace, Zhongcui Palace, Jingyang Palace and Yonghe Palace. The six palaces in the west are Palace of Gathered Elegance, Yikun Palace, Yongshou Palace, Changchun Palace, Xianfu Palace and Zhonghua Palace. Because all the palaces are quadrangle buildings, they are collectively called "Six Courtyards", which is the residence of concubines. These constitute the so-called "three palaces and six hospitals". The saying of "seventy-two concubines" has a long history, but "seventy-two concubines" is not a fixed number, but a description of many concubines of the emperor. According to the Book of Rites. The king of the Zhou Dynasty had "the last six palaces, three concubines, nine concubines, twenty-seven concubines and eighty-one emperors", which added up to 126! Kangxi, who was buried in Dongling, Qing Dynasty, also had four empresses, three concubines, 465,438+08 concubines, nobles, regular troops and secretaries.
Although the harem system of emperors in past dynasties has evolved, the polygamy of emperors has never changed, which is a great sin of cruel oppression of women in feudal society.