Lao Ai, the eunuch of the State of Qin, won the favor of the Empress Dowager, and was so powerful that he was named as a long letter Hou. Eunuchs are generally held by people with humble status. Its source is either filled by criminals sentenced to imprisonment or selected from the children of the people. After Qin and Han Dynasties, the eunuch system became more detailed. As a special political force, eunuchs had a great influence on the political situation of many dynasties. [7]
After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, eunuchs were under the jurisdiction of Shaofu.
In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu, occasionally used literati to serve eunuchs in view of the lessons of Qin's death. After Yuan Di, eunuch power recovered.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs were regular attendants of the emperor. They delivered imperial edicts, took charge of documents and influenced what the emperor saw and heard. At that time, consorts were powerful, and emperors often used eunuchs to contain consorts, which often led to the dictatorship of eunuch groups.
the Tang Dynasty
There was a Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Tang Dynasty, and its chief was an inspector and a small inspector. Eunuchs are managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ye Ting Bureau, Palace Office, Xiguan Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs. In charge of palace books, doormen, illness and funeral, warehouse confession and other affairs. The formal address of directors is Mu or Cheng. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, there were strict restrictions on eunuchs. The highest rank of eunuchs in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was third class, and the number was also limited. After Taizong's death, the system was gradually relaxed. During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, the total number of eunuchs increased to 3,000, and as many as 1000 people were sealed as seven or more. During the reign of Xuanzong, there were many eunuchs, only four or five products, and there were more than 1000 people. Many people have conferred the title of left (right) supervisor general with regulations. After the Anshi Rebellion, the eunuch power expanded, and some eunuchs also got their hands on the military power. Since the Dezong dynasty, eunuchs have mastered the imperial forces such as Shence Army and Tianwei Army. Eunuchs hold important positions in the army, such as the deputy commander of the imperial army and the middle imperial army. Eunuchs control the imperial institutions, generally do not involve out-of-court politics, and do not have much administrative power.
Wang Jian, a historian, pointed out that eunuchs rarely intervened in the general and specific administrative and financial affairs of the country in the Tang Dynasty. The autocratic power of eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty did not have a serious impact on the whole country as in the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. [8]
In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, Li, the first eunuch who jumped out and wanted to be authoritarian, got the opportunity by flattering, but at the same time, there was another queen, Zhang, who stood in the wrong team when she was made a prince, so Li became a hero, while Li was demoted and sent to the next month, and was killed by a "thief" a few months later, leaving no body.
Eunuchs were not reused until the middle and late period of Tang Dezong, because these eunuchs were really loyal in the change of the Jing family, and Dezong could not trust the ministers but trusted this group of eunuchs. However, it is still very unlikely that Li will come second. Until he ascended the throne, Wang was still using it to carry out reforms. We must know that the most offensive people are those who engage in reform and those who have vested interests. An anti-Wang clique headed by the prince was formed, and the eunuch headed by Ju Wenzhen was the easiest to move in the palace. Tang Shunzong was completely paralyzed and he was forced to abdicate. The prince acceded to the throne. This is Tang Xianzong. When Tang Xianzong seized power, eunuchs made great contributions and were highly valued, but the eunuchs in Xianzong period were more like Yang Sixu and Gao Lishi in Tang Dynasty. Wen Zhen came from behind because other eunuchs performed well, but he fell out of favor and died of depression. In fact, he is very lucky. History has proved that the worse the eunuch is, the worse his death will be.
In his later years, Xianzong met the problem of the prince again. Guo Fei is the granddaughter of Guo Ziyi, and the harem and court have formed a very powerful force. It is impossible for her son not to ascend to the throne, but Xianzong just doesn't want to be bound and doesn't like this son. Finally, the story of my son fighting back against Laozi was staged. Some new eunuchs took refuge in their new masters, and Guo Fei (who later became the Empress Dowager Guo) dominated everything in the last year of Xianzong. Tang Xianzong was not killed by Wang Shoucheng and other eunuchs.
Tang Wenzong used ministers Li Xun and Zheng Zhu to overthrow eunuchs Chen Hongzhi and Wang Shoucheng. Because Li Xun and Zheng Zhu, ministers, began to struggle for power and profit, and developed into an irreconcilable situation, Shiliang Zhou had a way out. Chou Shiliang saw a generation of eunuch Wang Shoucheng pulled out by Tang Wenzong, suddenly died of poisoning, and almost became a confused ghost in the change of manna. He was furious and mad, but after the change of Ganlu, Chou Shiliang did not dare to abolish Tang Wenzong. There are Empress Dowager Guo, loyal ministers and buffer regions under the banner of diligent king. Although Tang Wenzong claimed that he was not even as good as the Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty, he could still appoint Sok Li and Qin Zheng as prime ministers after the Ganlu Rebellion, to counter the eunuch's offensive on the issue of the life and death of court officials. Even Jing and Xue dared to defy Chou Shiliang, and later Zhao Yi denounced eunuchs. By the time we arrived in Tang Wuzong, Shiliang Zhou had been overthrown.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, when the last two emperors were reconciled, eunuch Tian and Yang Fuguong finally took full power, but at this time, the Tang Dynasty buffer region was completely in trouble, and the power of the Tang Dynasty court had been divided up by the Tang Dynasty buffer region. The role and influence of eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty on the whole country was far less than that in the Ming Dynasty.
Like to have fun, Tian is very good, but Huang Chao beat him up. After several years of hardships, Tang Xizong finally grew up. In addition, the war of Tian Fan Town was induced, and he completely abandoned Tian. Tian escaped and was killed by our envoy Wang Jian. Followed by Yang Fuguong, who is not as flamboyant as Tian, but he is the eunuch leader after all. Tang Zhaozong, who has just acceded to the throne, hates eunuchs. As Shiliang Zhou said, reading too much is not good. Tang Zhaozong killed Yang Fuguong. As for Liu, when he was here, the Tang Dynasty had fallen into a situation of name only, and the local buffer region really rose, and Liu had no right to monopolize power.
Song dynasty
The Song Dynasty also set up an internal affairs office, which was run by eunuchs. However, the phenomenon of eunuchs interfering in politics in Song Dynasty was not as serious as that of consorts. In Liao country, according to the Records of Hundred Officials in Liao History, there is the name of "eunuch" in the title of "supervisor" of southern officials, but specifically, it is just called supervisor, such as supervisor of a teacher. [9]
Qin and Han Dynasties, Dou Shenbao, Tong Guan, Li, Li Shunju and other eunuchs led the troops to war.
Yuan and Ming dynasties
In the Yuan Dynasty, there were many eunuchs in Taifu and other prisons (such as Wenyi Prison, Dian Mu Prison, palace examination Prison and Taifu Prison). ).
There were no such officials in the prisons of the Ming Dynasty, but in the twenty-four yamen led by eunuchs, there were eunuchs with handprints who served the emperor and his family in the court. After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, eunuchs expanded their power and had the power to send envoys, supervise troops, guard and spy on subjects. [ 10]
Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, strictly managed eunuchs, stipulated that eunuchs should not be literate, lowered their rank, banned them from holding civil and military titles such as foreign minister, and hung iron plates on the palace door to express the warning that they were not allowed to interfere in politics. Since Yongle dynasty, eunuchs have been gradually reused. Eunuchs close to the emperor were often sent to patrol the sea and served as prison officers. In the 18th year of Yongle (1420), the East Factory was set up, run by eunuchs, engaged in espionage activities, and reported everything directly to the emperor. When Xuanzong proclaimed himself emperor, he changed the ancestral system that eunuchs could not read books and set up an inner library in the palace. The official taught the little eunuch to read. In the 13th year of Chenghua (1477), a west factory was set up outside the east factory, with eunuchs as the magistrate, and the spy rule was strengthened. In addition, the official positions of eunuchs have been expanded, and there are 12 inspectors in the court, including Li Si, Neiguan, Imperial, Division and Imperial Horse. There are four divisions, such as salary, bell and drum, treasure money and mixed hall, and eight bureaus, such as silver workers, which are collectively called twenty-four yamen, each with a full-time handprint eunuch. The number of eunuchs soared, reaching tens of thousands by the end of the Ming Dynasty. During the Yingzong period, Wang Zhen, the eunuch in power, recruited some bureaucrats as cronies and formed a eunuch party, which initiated the eunuch dictatorship in the Ming Dynasty. Since then, eunuchs have been troubled. Wang Zhi in Chenghua, Liu Jin in Wuzong and Wei Zhongxian in Xizong. In the ruling and opposition, they are all powerful officials. They were overbearing, excluded dissidents, raided and blackmailed, and were repeatedly imprisoned, which aggravated the political corruption in the Ming Dynasty and brought endless disasters to the people.
Ching Dynasty
In the Qing Dynasty, eunuchs became eunuchs' proper names, and eunuchs were in charge as leaders and belonged to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Eunuch in late Qing dynasty
In view of the serious harm caused by eunuchs in Ming Dynasty, the rulers of Qing Dynasty took some restrictive measures. In the early Qing dynasty, eunuchs were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and were specifically managed by the respect room. The pilgrimage room, also known as the palace supervision room, has two positions: general manager and deputy general manager. When Kangxi was in charge of eunuchs, it was five products, and it was changed to four products when Yongzheng was in charge. [ 1 1]
The "Twenty-four Yamen" in Ming Dynasty was designated as "Thirteen Yamen", and the number was greatly reduced. There were more than 1000 eunuchs in Shunzhi, which increased to 3,000 in Qianlong period until the end of Qing Dynasty. The rise and fall of eunuchs is decided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If a eunuch breaks the law, the Ministry of Internal Affairs can take it first and then beat it. In particular, it is forbidden to interfere in politics. The emperor shunzhi imitated Zhu Yuanzhang's old system and erected a cast iron monument in the Jiaotai Hall, expressly stipulating that all illegal acts would be executed in that year. These measures have been well implemented. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, although the eunuchs favored by Empress Dowager Cixi, such as An Dehai and Li, were repeatedly banned, courtiers looked askance, but there was no phenomenon of eunuch autocracy in Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties.
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