From 146 AD to 1924, Chinese eunuchs - men who underwent complete castration

From 146 AD to 1924, Chinese eunuchs - men who underwent complete castration

- held remarkable positions of power within imperial China. These individuals served as civil servants, palace managers, and even became powerful political advisors who could influence emperors.
At the height of their influence during the Ming Dynasty, eunuchs managed royal households and led maritime expeditions. The famous admiral Zheng He, himself a eunuch, commanded massive fleets that traveled as far as Africa, demonstrating their reach extended far beyond palace walls.
While their inability to father children was seen as a guarantee of loyalty, many eunuchs wielded significant behind-the-scenes power. They could accumulate vast wealth and influence, though they paid an unimaginable physical price for their positions.
The last Chinese eunuch, Sun Yaoting, died in 1996 at age 94 - marking the end of a 2,000-year tradition that shaped one of history's most fascinating empires.

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