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The ranks of imperial consorts have varied over the course of Chinese history but remained important throughout owing to its prominence in the management of the inner court and in imperial succession, which ranked heirs according to the prominence of their mothers in addition to their birth order. Regardless of the age, however, it is common in English translation to simplify this hierarchy into the three ranks of empress, consorts, and concubines. It is also common to use the term "harem", an Arabic loan word used in recent times to refer to imperial women's forbidden quarters in many countries. In later Chinese dynasties, these quarters were known as the inner palace (內宮; nèi gōng) or the rear palace (後宮; hòu gōng). In Chinese, the system is called the "Rear Palace System" (後宮制度; hòu gōng zhì dù).No matter which dynasty, the Empress (皇后) was the highest rank, which makes her the only legitimate wife of the Emperor, chief of the Imperial Harem and the Mother of the Nation (国母; 國母). She was also known as the "Central Palace". In addition, the emperor would typically have several other imperial consorts and concubines (嫔妃; 嬪妃), ranked by importance into a harem, in which the Empress was supreme. The Empress could be over ruled by the Empress Dowager- the Emperor's Mother. Every dynasty had its set of rules regarding the numerical composition of the harem. Early history There existed a class of royal consorts called ying (媵; yìng) during early historical times in China. These were people who came along with brides as a form of dowry. It could be a female cousin or sister of the bride, or people from other countries (not necessarily from another race). Worth noting is the fact that during the Shang dynasty, there were times when two queens existed at the same period. The Rites of Zhou contains great details of a royal consort ranking system. However, as the Rites of Zhou is considered by modern scholars to be merely a fictitious constitution for a utopian society, the system listed in that work of literature cannot be taken word for word. Rather, it offers a rough glimpse into the inner palace during the time. Ranking system for emperors The Rites of Zhou states that for Emperors, they are entitled to the following: 1 Empress (王后; wáng hòu) 2 Consorts (妃; fēi) 3 Madames (夫人; fū rén) 9 Royal Concubines (嬪; pín) 27 Hereditary Ladies (世婦; shì fù) 81 Royal Wives (御妻; yù qī)It was suggested that a system (not necessarily resembling the one listed above) was set up to prevent the situation of having two queens/empresses. Ranking system for others According to the Rites of Zhou, under the feudal fengjian governance system, aristocratic feudal lords were entitled to nine consorts in total, and cannot marry again after having nine consorts, which makes for one wife and eight concubines. For other officers, they are entitled to one wife and one concubine. For normal citizens, only one wife is allowed. Qin Under the Qin dynasty, from the reign of King Huiwen: Queen (王后; wáng hòu), which became Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) from the reign of Qin Shi Huang Madame (夫人; fū rén) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of Gentleness (良人; liáng rén) Learned Lady (八子; bā zi) Harmonious Lady (七子; qī zi) Senior Waiting Lady (長使; zhǎng shǐ) Junior Waiting Lady (少使; shǎo shǐ)Han Western Han During the reign of Gaozu, part of the Western Han dynasty: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Madame (夫人; fū rén)Later: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Madame (夫人; fū rén) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of Gentleness (良人; liáng rén) Learned Lady (八子; bā zi) Harmonious Lady (七子; qī zi) Senior Waiting Lady (長使; zhǎng shǐ) Junior Waiting Lady (少使; shǎo shǐ)From the reign of Emperor Yuan: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Lady of Luminous Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí) Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú), created by Emperor Wu Lady of Youthful Fairness (娙娥; xíng é), created by Emperor Wu Lady of Splendid Countenance (容華; róng huá), created by Emperor Wu Lady of Complete Deportment (充衣; chōng yī), created by Emperor Wu Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of Gentleness (良人; liáng rén) Learned Lady (八子; bā zi) Harmonious Lady (七子; qī zi) Senior Waiting Lady (長使; zhǎng shǐ) Junior Waiting Lady (少使; shǎo shǐ) Courtier of Miscellaneous Uses (五官; wǔ guān) Lady of Complaisant Constancy (順常; shùn cháng) Lady Without Impurity (舞涓; wǔ juān), Lady of Reverent Gentleness (共和; gòng hé), Lady Who Pleases the Spirit (娛靈; yú líng), Lady Who Safeguard Multitude (保林; bǎo lín), Gentle Waiting Lady (良使; liáng shǐ), Lady of Night Attendance (夜者; yè zhě)The principal wife of the crown prince was called consort (妃; fēi). There also exists a sub-ranking system for concubines; they were called bride of excellence (良娣; liáng dì) and dear lady (孺人; rú rén). For grandchildren of the emperor, their principal wives were called madame (夫人; fū rén). Concubines for these people have no titles, and were simple called people of the house (家人子; jiā rén zǐ). Eastern Han In the Eastern Han dynasty: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of the Palace (宮人; gōng rén) Talented Woman (才女; cǎi nǚ)No limits were set for these consorts. This later created situations when more than 20,000 women were living in the palace during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling. Three Kingdoms During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei used the following system: Cao Wei During the reign of Cao Cao (who was not an emperor but a king): Queen (王后; wáng hòu) Madame (夫人; fū rén) Lady of Luminous Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí) Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú) Lady of Splendid Countenance (容華; róng huá) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén)During the reign of Emperor Wen: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Madame (夫人; fū rén) Noble Concubine (貴嬪; guì pín) Lady of Virtuous Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn) Lady of Luminous Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí) Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng) Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú) Lady of Splendid Countenance (容華; róng huá) Lady of Humble Accomplishments (順成; shùn chéng) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of Gentleness (良人; liáng rén)During the reign of Emperor Ming: Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) Madame (夫人; fū rén) Noble Concubine (貴嬪; guì pín) Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi) Lady of Virtuous Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn) Lady of Bright Deportment (昭儀; zhāo yí) Lady of Flowering Luminance (昭華; zhāo huá) Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū róng) Lady of Cultivated Deportment (修儀; xiū yí) Lady of Handsome Fairness (婕妤; jié yú) Lady of Splendid Countenance (傛華; rǒng huá) Lady of Beauty (美人; měi rén) Lady of Gentleness (良人; liáng rén) Lady of Value (鹺人; cuó rén)Jin During the Jin dynasty, the ranks were as follows: 1 Empress (皇后; huáng hòu) 3 Madames (夫人; fū rén) Noble Concubine (貴嬪; guì pín) Madame (夫人; fū rén) Noble Lady (貴人; guì rén) 9 Imperial Concubines (嬪; pín) Pure Consort (淑妃; shū fēi) Lady of Virtuous Beauty (淑媛; shū yuàn) Lady of Virtuous Ceremony (淑儀; shū yí) Lady of Splendid Cultivation (修華; xiū huá) Lady of Cultivated Countenance (修容; xiū .... 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