The Shunzhi Emperor and His Eunuchs

This chapter explores the reign of the Shunzhi emperor, the first Qing ruler to inhabit the Forbidden City (Zijincheng). Historians have long debated whether Shunzhi fell into the same trap as had emperors of the preceding Ming dynasty, placing trust in eunuchs and eventually allowing them into government. Debate has centered on his creation of a series of inner-court eunuch agencies known as the Thirteen Yamen, and on whether he ceded power to the eunuch Wu Liangfu. This chapter settles the debate by examining: Shunzhi’s reconstruction of Qianqing Gong, a major palace building; the draft of an edict of 1653; the role of eunuch Wang Jinshan. These unequivocally demonstrate that Shunzhi was indeed headed toward a government with eunuchs at the center.