*in loving memory of cikgu rathia, dearly missed always remembered, never forgotten.*

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random musings.

i watched a show on arts central the other day and they were showing the history of the forbidden city, even up till now, with technology so advanced, we are still unable to uncover the secrets within the forbidden city. the building stood the test of time, being the home to 24 emperors.

anyway the highlight of the show was something on eunuchs. i've always known eunuchs to be people who are castrated so that they are able to be 'safer servants' to the people in the palace.

but i thought, maybe they will undergo vasectomy! but oh my, technology wasn't THAT advance then. the show said that they used to tie the hands of the men, and cut of their testicles. only half of the people who yearn to become eunuchs survive. afterall, holding a job in the palace then was quite prestigious.

well, what i didn't know is that they cut it off. and by cut it off, i gather you know what i mean (penile amputation). and they showed a picture too! which i found off the net, and if you really want to have a look at it. it's here. CLICKONME.

its amazing to see how people actually will themselves to go through such pain and agony just so they can earn themselves a prestigious job.

another point they brought up in the show was about how vicious women really are. there was a dynasty that was cursed to fall if they allow some women of the 'hei' (i think) tribe to enter the palace. so being careful, the emperor then, didn't have anything to do with that tribe. but soon, their dynasty flourished and people grew to respect him. the emperor gradually let his guard down and ignore or rather forgot the curse.

soon, there was a woman of that tribe who got herself into the palace, turning on her charms, seduced the men.

she soon became the emperor's concubine. well of course she got pregnant with a child, male. well given that the traditional chinese (zhong nan qing nu) values of having a male would be honourable , she soon became empress. she abused her power and soon the dynasty fell.

(empress) Cixi was a devious despot who maintained a deathgrip on what little power she had until that power faded out completely. even with her last breath she was unwilling to let go of the power bestowed to her. she chose the youngest nephew (of age 3) to rule the dynasty.

anyway my point is, women even from the dawn of time already have this vicious insidious nature within them.

hoho. like what mdm foo said; she said something about 'to make a woman smile it'll cost you your palace, to make her laugh, it'll cost you your nation.'

anywhoo, if you want to read up on the empress dowager cixi it's here!

the Forbidden city is showing again at the esplanade, and really, if you have the time and money. go catch it. i watched it two years back, and it was GREAT. i was still quite dense then (haha, like im any better now?) and i found the show awesome. if it wasn't for the confound prelims, i think i'll be the first to get a ticket. and kit chan is good.

=D till next time.

and this entry was done because i was rather amazed at the castration thing and one thing linked to the other.
grace- haha, this time don't count too! i've got reasons. =_=''