The Last Eunuch of China-The Life of Sun Yaoting (Classical Modern Chinese Literature Series)(English Edition) Kindle Edition

by Yinghua Jia (Author), Sun Haichen (Translator)
4.3 out of 5 stars 15 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • File Size: 51250 KB
  • Print Length: 314 pages
  • Publisher: China Intercontinental Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2008)
  • Publication Date: October 1, 2008
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00EAJ8D24
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #474,475 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThe illogical end to anyone's curiosity about what went on in China's Forbidden City.
By Glenn Bassett on March 17, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
If you are a student of history you naturally want every detail of a story. If you have an "inquiring mind" you will be propelled forward by Sun Yaoting's sometimes harrowing story. If you are are merely intrigued by stories of the interactions among the various inhabitants of the Forbidden City - perhaps you've read Alice Roosevelt's amusing account of her 1906 visit there - this book will give you hours of satisfying reading.

You thought the eunuchs in the Forbidden City merely lived the rich life and pillaged (being spared by their anatomy the rape parts) and perhaps ultimately retired to enjoy their loot, didn't you? No fear! It seems it was seldom so idyllic. But there's much more in Sun Yaoting's story.

Did you ever wonder why families all over China, in the centuries before the creation of the People's Republic, dreamed of having one son become a eunuch to the imperial family or by what procedure the hapless little boy was "eunuchized"? Well, the answer to the first part was in the hope that the son might be able to help his family lessen the desperate starvation-level poverty that was the constant companion of the masses of Chinese. If you've read Pearl Buck's China books, such as The Good Earth trilogy, you already have some sense of that. The saddest part was that the overwhelming number of those mutillated boys were never able to send much help, and what they did send was often wasted by relatives with no concept of thrift or financial management.

To address the second part, little boys were turned into eunuchs usually by fathers who had no anesthetics nor methods to sterilize their instruments - a sometimes rusty, dull knife or razor.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsIntimate and interesting story at the close of Imperial China
By 张斌明 on January 27, 2012
Format: Paperback
This is a very well researched and well written account of the life of China's last living Imperial Eunuch, Sun Yaoting.

Sun Yaoting was also the personal attendant to the last Empress of China, Wanrong, and also the last Emperor of China, Puyi, whilst the Emperor was "ruler" of the puppet state of Manchukuo (under the Japanese).

What makes this work compelling is the intimate and personal details of life within Imperial households, and the lives of Eunuchs who were despised by commoners, and whose lives were literally at the whim and mercy of their masters.

For people interested in history, this work gives a firsthand eyewitness accounts of famous incidents in China's last imperial period, such as daily life and the personalities in the Imperial household and Warlords period, the forced removal of the Emperor from the Forbidden palace, the cruelty of life (and death) under the Japanese and Puyi in Manchukuo, as well as tales and gossip within the Imperial palace (the last Empress' affair, the usurption of power by Empress Dowager Cixi and the "imprisonment of the Emperor which signalled the end of the 100 days reform, and corruption in the Palace - all from an eyewitness or firsthand accounts).

A very well researched, compelling and surprisingly intimate account of the life of China's last Eunuch, and his firsthand and invaluable eyewitness account of life at the close of China's Imperial period.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFASCINATING LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF A EUNUCH
By J. T. Shippee on November 4, 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
if you're looking for a firsthand account of what a eunuch's life was like from the end of the qing dynasty thru the onset of modern day china, this is the book for you.
the subject of this book, sun yaoting, was clearly a special human being above and beyond his eunuch status. the book is somewhat straightforward in writing style but full of very personal details and memories of sun's lifestyle and those of his fellow eunuchs as well as the imperial family he worked with. if you're a fan of chinese history, you will find this book most fascinating.

one suggestion -- as you read the biography, you might wish to keep a simple written list of characters with some basic notes. there are a lot of other eunuchs as well as imperials mentioned and as the story unfolds, some appear and then reappear later in sun's life. very interesting to see how their lives were intertwined and how they ended up.
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4.0 out of 5 starsGulp!
By Dan Kelly on May 2, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
A very interesting tale of a little understood subject. The book is not the most magnificent read in literature but it opens the door on what really went on in the Forbidden City. It does not dwell on the castration part so much as human element, structure and how we get along with one another. There must have been WONDERFUL other stories we will never know that went on in all of the Qing period. In the end though, we are still left with the amazing and barborous and brutal idea of Castration. Man! If they could only have kept their penis at least!! Wow!
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Gem that would have been buried.
By sookybabi on January 15, 2012
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The Last Eunuch of China shines with a special lustre. This narrative biography gives a rare insight to the last reign of a Monarch in China. As well as drawing readers to become engaged with Sun Yao Ting. We share his moments of melancholy, as the past appears to be a battle long past. His ability to expose the secrets, and confirm rumours associated with his time serving as an Eunuch, that else-wise would have been taken to the grave. This book portrays the Imperial rule at it's best and ultimately at its worst in face of a revolution. We are given invaluable first hand witness to the duties of this thousand year old profession. The hardships, serendipities, sacrifices and coincidences Sun Yao Ting had experience brings him closer to our hearts. I highly recommend this novel for a slice of history, entertaining and humorous at times, none the less, there is a underlying sadness to it all.

The seller was friendly, and the item was well packaged and arrived quickly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Interesting insight

Published 2 days ago by Edwin
5.0 out of 5 starsGood and Real

Seemed very much the truth as it was. Very interesting

Published 5 months ago by LadyDaisy
1.0 out of 5 starsIf you are looking for a good informative read about life and rituals...

Poorly Written and rushed thru. If you are looking for a good informative read about life and rituals in the Forbidden city, you will be sorely disappointed. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Rex G.
3.0 out of 5 starsAn okay read

This book was okay - not as much in depth information that I had hoped to read about concerning his position & duties.

Published 10 months ago by mjc
5.0 out of 5 starsGood

A good read

Published 14 months ago by Jesse
4.0 out of 5 starsLoved this book

I loved this book because I am fascinated with The forbidden City and everything to do with it. It was very detailed and if you only have a small interest you may find it a little... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Joyce C. Murphy
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat!

Excellent book, very informative.

Published 17 months ago by Laurel Seale
5.0 out of 5 starsA worthwhile read

The book is new and in excellent condition. I'm very happy with the purchase. The delivery is also very fast. I find the book about life of Mr Sun Yaoting very moving. Read more

Published on July 25, 2014 by AlexGirl
5.0 out of 5 starsThe BEST BOOK ever written about Eunuchs!

The BEST BOOK ever written about Eunuchs. The best account of an eunuchs life is directly from one who lived it and was the last surviving one. Read more

Published on May 29, 2013 by Sunshine

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