Ancient Maidservants as Mobile Toilets: Translation
There is no evidence to suggest that ancient maidservants were used as mobile toilets. The following provides a detailed explanation:
In the system of daily life in ancient imperial courts, maidservants undertook numerous meticulous and complex tasks in serving their masters, but there was never a situation where they were treated as mobile toilets, which would be contrary to common sense and humanity.
In terms of daily routines in the court, maidservants would assist their masters in using the toilet. Taking the official chamber pots used in the court as an example, palace maids had clear and detailed divisions of labor. When a master needed to use the toilet, a palace maid would first carefully lay out an oilcloth. The laying of the oilcloth served an important purpose: on the one hand, it could prevent excrement from splashing out, keeping the surrounding environment relatively clean; on the other hand, it facilitated the subsequent cleaning and disposal of the excrement. While the master was using the official chamber pot, the palace maid would stand by respectfully, ready to meet any other needs of the master at any time. After the master finished using the toilet, the palace maid would quickly and carefully collect the excrement and carry out preliminary treatment according to the court's prescribed procedures, such as possibly performing simple packaging operations. After that, eunuchs specifically responsible for this task would regularly transport the treated excrement out of the palace. This series of procedures reflected the hierarchical system and strict norms of court life, and also showed that the work of maidservants was auxiliary tasks centered around serving the daily life of their masters, rather than being used as mobile toilets, which would be an absurd use.
Empress Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty, as a figure of extremely high status in the court, had even more elaborate arrangements when using the toilet. At that time, palace maids and eunuchs were also specifically assigned to serve her, from preparing toilet utensils to subsequent cleaning work, all following a strict set of procedures and norms. The palace maids would prepare exquisite chamber pots in advance and make various arrangements around them to ensure Empress Dowager Cixi's comfort and convenience during the toilet process. Throughout this process, the maidservants always adhered to their duties and fulfilled their serving responsibilities, further demonstrating that the nature of their work was serving and attending, rather than being used as mobile toilets.
