Introduction
This book explores the complex relationship between eunuchs and the emperors who ruled them, during the first 150 years of Qing rule. Eunuchs (such as the notorious Wei Zhongxian) have been blamed for the falls of dynasties, which writers since ancient times attributed to their great skill at flattery, which they used to slowly usurp power. As essentially yin (feminine) beings, they, along with women, were considered to be dangerous when allowed to take part in government affairs. These same writers warned rulers repeatedly of the dangers of trusting eunuchs. This chapter introduces these clichéd notions of the dynastic cycle and eunuchs’ place in it. It also considers issues of eunuch biology and identity.
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