The Empress Dowager's Healthcare Secrets in Yonghe Palace

Address: One of the Six Eastern Palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, Beijing A plaque inscribed with "Imperial Pharmacy" hangs on the left side of the Yonghe Gate. Stepping through the gate, you'll find a two-courtyard compound. In the first courtyard, lush wisteria climbs the west side, and the main building is Yonghe Palace. Yonghe Palace was built in 1420, the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty. It served as the residence of imperial concubines during the Ming dynasty and continued to house empresses and concubines in the Qing dynasty. Upon entering Yonghe Palace, the first thing that catches the eye is an imperial poem by the Kangxi Emperor, bestowed upon the imperial physician Huang Yun: "How can divine power be relied upon? Prescribing medicine requires utmost care. Be sincere and cautious of medicinal properties, practice benevolent medicine throughout your life." This also served as the motto of the Imperial Hospital, prominently displayed in the main hall. On display are important physical relics of medical practices in the Qing imperial court. Women are likely curious about the beauty and skincare tools used by the concubines of old. Here, related instruments are exhibited. The first is an agate massage tool, made of high-quality material, smooth and delicate, and exquisitely crafted. It can stimulate meridians and relieve fatigue. The second is a crystal and jade-handled five-bead "taipingche" (massage roller), a Qing dynasty beauty instrument. The massage heads are made of crystal, agate, and other materials, each bead plump and elegant in color. Rolling it promotes relaxation of muscles and tendons and improves blood circulation. Especially during the hot summer months, it also has a cooling effect. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi often applied a "Jade Facial Powder" ointment to her face and then massaged it with the taipingche, making her skin whiter and firmer than her peers. At the age of 70, her face still maintained its vitality and elasticity, astonishing the American painter who portrayed her at the time. The third item is a gilded copper and agate medicine tube, containing traditional Chinese medicine pills. It's such a delicate, Western-style instrument, resembling a lipstick tube. There are also sandalwood oil and clove oil, even the bottles are so beautiful! According to records, clove oil can treat stomach aches. The main benefits of sandalwood oil are beauty enhancement, calming, and soothing. The palace also displays a male anatomical model and a complete set of ophthalmological surgical instruments, incredibly sharp, beyond my imagination. After visiting Yonghe Palace, enter the second courtyard. The main building bears a plaque inscribed with "Tongshunzhai." Inside, prescriptions written by imperial physicians or renowned folk doctors for the emperor, empress, and concubines are displayed. They are neatly transcribed on yellow and red paper, following a specific format. These prescriptions embody the wisdom of ancient doctors and represent the crystallization of their medical experience.