Eight Grand Hutongs
Homes to Hookers
in Old Beijing
Hutong refers to
long and narrow alleyways between
enclosed courtyard
residence in
Beijing. And Beijing’s hutongs are
numerous as the hairs on a cow, as the
locals like to say. The sizes and
appearances of hutongs vary, so do their
notability. Usually a hutong becomes
famous for its association with
historical figures. But this isn’t
always the case. The most famous ones are
Eight Grand Hutongs (八大胡同),
and they did not house any historical
VIP, but were homes to hookers. If you
stand at the point between the northern
end of West Zhushikou Avenue and the
southern tip of Tieshuxie Street, and
count the alleys from west to east, you’ll
find these eight hutongs: Baishun Hutong
(百顺胡同Hundreds
Luck), Yanzhi Hutong (胭脂胡同Rouge),
Hanjia Pond (韩家潭
Han Family Pond), Shaanxi Alley (陕西巷),
Shitou Hutong (石头胡同Stone),
Wangguangfu Slant Street (王广福斜街),
Zhujia Hutong (Zhu Family朱家胡同)
and Lishamao Hutong (李纱帽胡同Gauze
Cap Li).
In the old days,
the area outside the Front Gate (前门)
around the Dachila (大栅栏
Great Fence) were scattered with a
hundred of brothels, with the hookers at
the Eight Grand Hutongs reputed as the
best, meaning they were not only pretty
but able to sing and play music
instruments.
 Entrance to
an ancient brothal
|
One of the
Eight Grand Hutongs today
|
Since
Beijing was made the capital city of
China, a profession called Official
Prostitutes emerged in the inner city
area. Most of the ladies there were the
daughters and wives of the condemned
court officials who refused to switch
their loyalty after Emperor
Jianwen in
Nanjing was defeated by Emperor Yongle
from Beijing. The women were forced to
play music for the emperor and officials,
and the hutong where they lived is still
called Yanyue Hutong today (演乐胡同Concert
Hutong).
But on the whole,
Beijing’s hookers were never been able
to compete with their counterparts in the
south, particularly those in the cities
of Yangzhou,
Nanjing
and Hangzhou. During the Ming and Qing,
the emperors and officials frequently
travelled down along the Yangzte River to
seek their true pleasure.
China
stories are told at wenhousecrafts.com
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