How did ancient emperors and queens go to the toilet? You can't sit on the toilet and read the newspaper!

The palace mainly uses toilets, including bedpans, toilet bowls, etc., but there is no special toilet. The place where toilets are stored is called a "clean room". The bedpan filled with charcoal ash is prepared for defecation. Just cover it with charcoal ash after defecation. No charcoal ash is used when urinating. Just pour it directly into the toilet bucket and cover it with a lid. The toilets used by emperors and concubines are called "guanfang" and are kept by special eunuchs. When necessary, they are transferred to the "guanfang". They are not kept in the palace at ordinary times. The toilets of other lower-class people are called "bedpans". The "official rooms" used by emperors and concubines were very particular. This kind of "official room" is divided into two forms: rectangular and oval, and is made of wood, tin or porcelain. The wooden chamber is rectangular, with a wooden frame on the outside. There is an oval opening on the frame, which is lined with soft cushions. The opening has a cover. The bedpan can be pulled out like a drawer. Generally, wooden bedpans are equipped with tin linings. Prevent leakage. The tin official chamber is oval in shape, with a wooden lid on the basin and a button in the middle; this kind of bedpan must be used in conjunction with a stool. The stool is relatively short and has an oval opening at the front end. The bedpan is placed underneath and aligned with the round opening. The stool had a backrest and soft lining, just like today's sofas without armrests. Sitting on it was no worse than today's toilets, except that it couldn't be flushed.