It was believed that castration of the eunuchs changed their temperament for the better. "They believed that after castration the men became less hot tempered, more calm and crucially, more loyal. Just like a dog,”Liu said. Since the eunuchs cannot have children, it was also believed they would therefore have no reason to accumulate riches, as they would have no next generation to pass it on to. "They were seen as totally pure, and lacked any sexual longing or desires. According to traditional Chinese medicine, no sex is considered very positive for a man's temperament,”he said, however he noted that in fact not all eunuchs lacked lust—a substantial number, he claimed, had "semi-sexual affairs" (using sex toys) with maid servants. "This relationship was public knowledge within the palace, the emperor turned a blind eye,“Liu said.
