Eunuchs popularized in ‘Game of Thrones’ have historical parallels to Imperial China

A fictional character in the fantastical television and book series,
Varys’ position draws historical parallels to several instances in
Imperial China where eunuchs were among those closest to the emperor and
in some cases rose to become de facto rulers. Among them is Wei
Zhongxian, a eunuch who nearly usurped power from the next to last Ming
emperor during the 1620s.

This summer, Keith McMahon, a professor of East Asian languages and
cultures, will publish “The Potent Eunuch: The Story of Wei Zhongxian”
in the Journal of Chinese Literature and Culture. McMahon uses fictional
and historical accounts of Wei Zhongxian and other eunuchs in Imperial
China to examine their role in palace life, how and why they became
eunuchs and their alleged sexuality……