In many historical dramas, a classic scene shows the emperor selecting a consort for the night. After dinner, eunuchs present a tray of green-tipped wooden sticks, each inscribed with a concubine’s name, from which the emperor chooses one. According to reports from Sina.com, repeating this monotonous process daily could grow tiresome—prompting emperors to invent bizarre and imaginative alternatives.

1. Butterfly Selection: Tang Emperor Xuanzong’s Floral Romance

Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) was famously known for his romantic exploits. Before Yang Guifei entered the palace, he hosted grand spring banquets in the inner court. Consorts would adorn their hair with fresh flowers, and the emperor would release butterflies. Whichever woman the butterfly landed on would be chosen for the night. This practice ended only after Yang Guifei gained exclusive favor.

2. The Fragrant Arrow Game: Emperor Jingzong’s Aromatic Amusement

Emperor Jingzong of Tang (Li Zhan), inspired by his ancestor Xuanzong’s romantic flair, invented the 'Fengliu Jian' (Wind-Flow Arrow) game. Using a light bamboo bow and paper arrows filled with borneol and musk powder, he would shoot randomly at gathered concubines. The one hit would carry a rich fragrance without pain and be selected for the night. A popular saying emerged: 'To be struck by the wind-flow arrow is every woman’s wish.'

3. Goat-Cart Fortune: Emperor Wu of Jin’s Palace Roaming

Emperor Wu of Jin (Sima Yan) had nearly ten thousand women in his harem, making selection difficult. He devised 'Yang Che Wang Xing'—riding a goat-drawn cart through the palace grounds. Wherever the cart stopped, he would spend the night.

One clever consort learned goats were attracted to salt. She hung green bamboo branches at her doorway and sprinkled saltwater on the ground. The goats paused to lick it, causing the cart to stop at her quarters. Others soon imitated her, leading to bamboo sprigs appearing at every palace entrance.

4. Coin Toss Gambling: Emperor Xuanzong’s Game of Chance

Beyond butterfly selection, Emperor Xuanzong also used 'Tou Qian Du Qin'—a gambling method where concubines tossed coins or dice to compete for the night’s privilege. Eunuchs in Daming Palace jokingly called the dice 'Cuojiao Meiren' (the horned matchmaker who causes trouble).

5. Lantern Extinguishing: Ming Dynasty’s Red Light Signals

The Ming palace developed a strict lantern signaling system. Each evening, two red silk lanterns were hung outside every consort’s residence. Once the emperor decided on a destination, the lanterns at that door were removed—signaling his choice. Night patrol eunuchs then instructed others to extinguish their lights. Unselected consorts could only wait until the next day to hang them again. This system has since inspired numerous films and TV dramas.

Source: Sina.com