Imperial Chinese Harem Systems part 3
Western Han
Empress (皇后 ; huáng hòu)
Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú), created by Emperor Wu
Lady of Graceful Beauty (娙娥; xíng é), created by Emperor Wu
Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá), created by Emperor Wu
Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī), created by Emperor Wu
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Virtuous Lady (良人; liáng rén)
Consort (八子; bā zi)
Lady (七子; qī zi)
Senior Palace Woman (長使; zhǎng shǐ)
Junior Palace Woman (少使; shǎo shǐ)
Lady for Miscellaneous Uses (五官; wǔ guān)
Lady of Complaisant Constancy (順常; shùn cháng)
Lady Without Impurity (舞涓; wǔ juān), Lady of Reverent Gentleness (共和; gòng hé), Lady who Pleases the Spirit (娛靈; yú líng), Lady who Could Comfort a Multitude (保林; bǎo lín), Lady of Excellent Employment (良使; liáng shǐ), Lady for Night Attendance (夜者; yè zhě)
The principal wife of the Crown Prince was called (妃; fēi). There also exists a sub-ranking system for concubines; they were called Ladies of Excellence (良娣; liáng dì) and (孺人; rú rén). For grandchildren of the Emperor, their principal wives were called Madame (夫人; fū rén). Concubines for these people have no titles, and were simple called (家人子; jiā rén zǐ).
Eastern Han
Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Courtier (宮人; gōng rén)
Talented Lady (才女; cǎi nǚ
No limits were set for these consorts. This later created situations when more than 20,000 women were living in the palace during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling.
Three Kingdoms
Cao Wei
During the reign of Cao Cao (who was not an emperor but a king):
Queen (王后; wáng hòu)
Madame (夫人; fū rén)
Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
During the reign of Emperor Wen:
Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
Madame (夫人; fū rén)
Noble Imperial Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín)
Lady of Pure Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn)
Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá)
Lady of Humble Capability (順成; shùn chéng)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Virtuous Lady (良人; liáng rén)
During the reign of Emperor Ming:
Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
Madame (夫人; fū rén)
Noble Imperial Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín)
Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi)
Lady of Pure Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn)
Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí)
Lady of Bright Magnificence (昭華; zhāo huá)
Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí)
Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
Lady of Lovely Countenance (傛華; rǒng huá)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Virtuous Lady (良人; liáng rén)
Northern & Southern Dynasties
Liu Song
1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
3 Madames (夫人; fū rén) Noble Imperial Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín), Consort (夫人; fū rén), and Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
9 Imperial Concubines (嬪; pín) Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi), Lady of Pure Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn), Lady of Warm Ceremony (淑儀; shū yí), Lady of Cultivated Splendidness (修華; xiū huá), Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng), Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí), Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú), Lady of Everlasting Splendidness (傛華; yǒng huá), and Lady of Sufficient Splendidness (充華; chōng huá)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
From 456, during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu:
1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
3 Madames (夫人; fū rén) Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi), Noble Imperial Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín), and Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén)
9 Imperial Concubines (嬪; pín) Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi), Lady of Pure Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn), Lady of Warm Ceremony (淑儀; shū yí), Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí), Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng), Lady of Bright Splendidness (昭華; zhāo huá), Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú), Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá), and Lady of Sufficient Splendidness (充華; chōng huá)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Lady of Regular Talents (中才人; zhōng cái rén)
Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī)
From the reign of Emperor Ming:
1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu)
3 Madames (夫人; fū rén) Noble Consort (貴妃; guì fēi), Noble Imperial Concubines (貴嬪; guì pín), and Noble Concubine (貴姬; guì jī)
9 Imperial Concubines (嬪; pín) Lady of Pure Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn), Lady of Pure Deportment (淑儀; shū yí), Lady of Pure Countenance (淑容; shū róng), Lady of Bright Splendidness (昭華; zhāo huá), Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí), Lady of Bright Countenance (昭容; zhāo róng), Lady of Cultivated Splendidness (修華; xiū huá), Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí), and Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng)
5 (職; zhí)
Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)
Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá)
Lady of Sufficient Countenance (充華; chōng huá)
Lady of Inherit Honor (承徽; chéng huī)
Lady of Kind Honor (列榮; liè róng)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Lady of Regular Talents (中才人; zhōng cái rén)
Lady of Talents (才人; cái rén)
Lady of Virtue (良人; liáng rén)
Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī)) Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú)Lady of Lovely Countenance (容華; róng huá), Lady of Sufficient Countenance (充華; chōng huá), Lady of Inherit Honor (承徽; chéng huī), and Lady of Kind Honor (列榮; liè róng)
Beauty (美人; měi rén)
Lady of Regular Talents (中才人; zhōng cái rén)
Lady of Talents (才人; cái rén)
Lady of Virtue (良人; liáng rén)
Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī)
