英文摘要
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Concubinage was defined by the Chinese system of monogamous marriage. Therefore, concubines did not exist in the polygynous early society of the Manchus. However, there were women whose status was between that of a slave-girl and a wife. They entered into Manchu families along with other war booty, or because of some criminal activity. When the Manchus imitated the Han system after Qing troops entered China, polygyny translated into monogamy, and slave-girls became concubines.
Getting concubines was especially prevalent among bannermen and was encouraged by the Qing monarch. After the Qianlong reign, the marriage system in Manchu society was almost the same as that in Han society, but two characteristics of the Manchu bannerman's concubine still differentiated her from the concubine of the Han male. First, her status was lower than that of the Han concubine since she likely came from a criminal or slave background; second, concubines in the banners were mostly non-Manchus and brought many influences from the Han and other ethnic groups into Manchu families and Manchu society. They played a significant role in the mutual acculturation and interaction of Manchu and Han.
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