Abstract
There were three categories for palace women in Chinese dynasties: royal princesses, imperial consorts, and women in service activities. Imperial women (princesses and consorts) have been the subject of considerable reflection by Chinese and Western historians. Western studies of imperial women in different dynasties have made significant contributions: Priscilla Ching-Chung has researched the Northern Song, Felicia Soulliere the Ming, and Evelyn Rawski the Qing. In addition to a principal focus on imperial women, these three studies examine serving-women to varying degrees. Rawski has dealt with methods of recruitment and family backgrounds of Qing serving-women. Ching-Chung and Soulliere have discussed thoroughly Song and Ming serving agencies, including the institutional organizations and women's ranks and duties. Serving women, ranked below imperial women in status, served as their personal attendants, yet composed the numerical majority of palace women. Their work was essential to the running of the inner palace, yet their lives have not gained sufficient attention. Further studies of the lifestyles of serving-women in different dynastic eras are crucial to understanding palace women as individuals and as an element in dynastic history.
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