Why didn't women in ancient brothels find opportunities to escape, but spent half their lives saving money to be redeemed?

"Book of Jin": "Swim in flexion, cattle and sheep are absent, south of the doors, north of the brothel."

In ancient China, there was a very special place-a brothel. In many ancient books or costume dramas, this place has appeared more or less, and the women in it are very beautiful, attracting many literati to play. This may be different from some people's imagination. Isn't brothel a dirty place? Why do those scholars who think highly of themselves go to such places?

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In China Ancient Books: Reading Notes of Wei Caotang and Huaixi Magazine IV, there is a description of a brothel: "Ji suddenly folded her hand and knelt down, saying,' My concubine is an Hanlin's favorite, and Hanlin will die, and Mrs. Du will be incompatible. If you consider entering the brothel, leave as early as possible' ". It can be seen from this passage that most of those prostitutes were forced to come here because of the changes in their lives. Before they entered the brothel, they were basically proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. They came here just to show their skills, not to sell themselves.

This is one of the main features of ancient brothels in China-selling works of art instead of prostitution. Most women who sell themselves to make money live in folk earthen kilns, also known as brothels, which are essentially different from brothels. Before falling into this field, women in ancient brothels basically lived a luxurious life with sweet voices and were good at writing poems. In such an environment, why not find an opportunity to escape, but spend half your life saving money to redeem?

It was not particularly easy to be a prostitute in ancient China. There are a large number of homeless women, but their ultimate fate is often that they can't find anyone to marry or go to the kiln to make money. Only those who are good-looking, have temperament, can play the piano and recite poems can have the opportunity to become prostitutes.

Although the ancients often show disdain when mentioning these women, they have to admit that their daily life is still very good, especially the top girls in brothels, who hardly have to go out to work every day. Only when local dignitaries or rich children come in person can they meet these women.

It is difficult to be free.

Although their lives are glamorous, they have lost a very important thing, that is, they cannot have freedom and pursue the love they want. What they have to do every day is to dress themselves up and win the favor of those rich children. After a long time, everyone will be angry and unwilling to continue doing this kind of work.

Women in ancient brothels were basically well educated when they were young, so that in ancient times, when the illiteracy rate was extremely high, they could read books, write poems and play various musical instruments. If their lives have not changed, they can basically be good girls all their lives, but they are forced to sell to brothels for various reasons to make a living. Why don't they find a chance to escape, but spend the rest of their lives saving money to make amends?

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This is because people who have the ability to open brothels generally have very good contacts, and they also hire many bodyguards to keep order. If someone dares to escape without permission, once caught, it will be a very tragic fate waiting for them. After all, these prostitutes have been sold to brothels, and naturally no one will stand up for them. Therefore, these prostitutes, unwilling to take such a big risk to escape, had to work hard to save money and strive for early freedom.

References:

Notes on Huaixi Magazine of Yuewei Caotang (IV)