Despite the collapse of Imperial China over a century ago, modern-day film and television continue to reimagine and dramatize life in the imperial harems.

Imperial harems existed since ancient times and bore witness to the waxing and waning of dynasties. Life in imperial harems was imagined to be one of luxury and comfort. But what did really go on behind closed doors and beneath the glittery façade of the royal titles? Why do the lives of empresses and concubines in the imperial harems remain ever so intriguing to modern audiences? What are some of the tragic tales that most people have not even heard of? From Imperial Consort Yang in the Tang Dynasty (618–906) to Consort Zhen in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), we delve into the less-than-glamorous lives of women in China’s imperial harems.