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Ancient China lavish toilet routines: nobles used silk, Empress Cixi had 28 maids to serve her

For most ordinary people in ancient China, using the toilet was a routine necessity.
In the imperial court, however, even the most private act became a…

By Samantha Johnson / April 8, 2026

For most ordinary people in ancient China, using the toilet was a routine necessity.

In the imperial court, however, even the most private act became a carefully staged display of status and ritual.

Papermaking, one of China’s Four Great Inventions, had emerged by the Han dynasty (206 BC–220), yet paper remained too precious for daily use.

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Instead of toilet paper, commoners relied on leaves, pebbles, or tiles for personal cleaning, while the elite used silk or cloth. They also employed slender wooden or bamboo strips called ce chou, some of which were lavishly crafted from gold or jade and were washed and dried after each use.

However, their hardness made careless handling painful, even dangerous, and limited their effectiveness in cleaning.

In ancient China, commoners typically used a primitive wooden bucket known as a matong, or “horse bucket,” for sanitary purposes. Photo: Baidu
In ancient China, commoners typically used a primitive wooden bucket known as a matong, or “horse bucket,” for sanitary purposes. Photo: Baidu

According to the Book of Southern Tang, Emperor Li Yu personally prepared ce chou for monks, testing its smoothness against his own cheek.

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