FRII-13 NOT LACKING IN TESTICULAR FORTITUDE: THE EUNUCHS OF IMPERIAL CHINA

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory of Urology Forum II1 Apr 2015FRII-13 NOT LACKING IN TESTICULAR FORTITUDE: THE EUNUCHS OF IMPERIAL CHINA Roger Chen, Zachary Klaassen, Casey McCraw, Durwood Neal, Martha Terris, Arthur Smith, and Ronald Lewis Roger ChenRoger Chen More articles by this author , Zachary KlaassenZachary Klaassen More articles by this author , Casey McCrawCasey McCraw More articles by this author , Durwood NealDurwood Neal More articles by this author , Martha TerrisMartha Terris More articles by this author , Arthur SmithArthur Smith More articles by this author , and Ronald LewisRonald Lewis More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.504AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The Chinese emperors instituted the imperial eunuch system over 2500 years ago. What began as subjugation of prisoners to serve in the harems became an opportunity for low status men to achieve power in the imperial courts. We review the sociopolitical history of the imperial Chinese eunuch as well as the urologic techniques and consequences of his sacrifice. METHODS A literature search was performed using Medline, Google Scholar, and Chinese and Western texts. RESULTS The techniques of castration ranged from the “castration knot” to intentional crush injury caused by a trusted babysitter. More typically, both the penis and testicles were removed and “knifers” were employed to perform the procedure. Death occasionally occurred from uremia or hemorrhage. If the eunuch survived, he was to take his pickled “three precious” with him and find a role in the imperial court. The infertile eunuch was entrusted with the imperial concubines and his emasculation was thought to sap his ambitions, allowing unfettered access to the emperor. However, this proximity made the eunuch both a powerful intermediary and often times executor as well. Classical historians condemned the corrupt eunuch institution for leading the emperors astray. There were several peaks of eunuch power, the highest occurred during the Ming dynasty, which started with 10,000 eunuchs and ended with 100,000 in a population of 130 million people. A Ming eunuch could lead both the eunuch battalion and the intact military. He could serve diplomatic missions to the Mongols, Tibetans, and to his Korean eunuch counterpart. The imperial eunuch could be used to spy, collect taxes, manage mines, and engineer. Zheng He led the Seven Navigations while Wen Zhong Xian led the secret police and the downfall of the Ming dynasty. The institution survived until the expulsion of the last Qing emperor Pu Yi from the Forbidden City. Several of the last eunuchs were studied by modern Chinese doctors. The physical and physiologic changes were documented and included gynecomastia, hyperlipidemia, and impalpable prostate. On a personal level, the eunuch was noted to be compensating for his sacrifice: accruing wealth, taking on wives, and adopting sons to pass on his fortune as Chinese tradition dictated. CONCLUSIONS The last imperial eunuch died in 1996. Castration is an extreme urologic procedure but still used in medical practice today, including bilateral orchiectomy for metastatic prostate cancer and penectomy for penile cancer. Throughout Chinese history the eunuchs were viewed with suspicion and derision. However, they played a vital role in the imperial courts of China. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e593 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Roger Chen More articles by this author Zachary Klaassen More articles by this author Casey McCraw More articles by this author Durwood Neal More articles by this author Martha Terris More articles by this author Arthur Smith More articles by this author Ronald Lewis More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...