When did eunuchs begin to exist?

Introduction to the origin of eunuchs: Eunuchs are also called eunuchs, officials and eunuchs, that is, men who remain in the palace after their genitals are destroyed and lose their sexual intercourse and reproductive ability. Eunuchs in China have existed since the Yin Dynasty. As for the origin of eunuchs, China had a "temple man" as early as Shang Dynasty. According to experts' research, there are relevant records in Oracle Bone Inscriptions, and the history is naturally longer than that in the West. This piece of Oracle Bone Inscriptions describes that King Ding of Wu of the Yin Dynasty castrated the Qiang people and became an official to worship the gods. This piece of Oracle Bone Inscriptions may be the earliest eunuch record in the world.

The word "eunuch" should be familiar to most people. In fact, it only appeared after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It wasn't called that before Ming and Qing Dynasties. Before the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they were called "eunuchs", and some were called "middle officials". Of course, most of them are called "eunuchs". What exactly is a eunuch? What does "official" mean? An official raises a family. The ancients said "keep the eunuch, keep the palace", but "official" means "keep". Not only in China, but also in foreign palaces. It is said that the pronunciation of the word "eunuch" in English comes from Greek, which translates into Chinese as the person who guards the bed.

In ancient China, castration was closely related to castration. Later generations generally believe that castration appeared at least before Xia, and its initial function was to punish improper sexual relations between men and women, that is, "women are immoral and cannot leave the palace;" If a husband commits adultery, it will cut off his potential. "The Book of Resurrection says:" Men and women who don't take righteousness as their friends will be punished. "It can be inferred that castration occurs after monogamy, otherwise, there will be no punishment for improper sexual intercourse between men and women. However, under the cruel persecution of slave owners and the feudal ruling class, the scope of castration expanded and became a harsh means of indiscriminate punishment and oppression of the people.

Eunuchs can be produced because of the emergence of authoritarian power, in order to better serve the ruling class. There is nothing wrong with this statement. To put it bluntly, someone has to do the work in the palace, but there are some things that women really can't do, such as hard work, so there must be men among the servants in this palace. But the emperor himself knows that there are too many women of his own, and there is always a time when he can't take care of them. In order to make the palace neither lack of male labor force, but also prevent disgraceful events, eunuch profession came into being.