Xiaode Zhang

Xiaode Zhang (1876-1957), or Zhang Lande, was the last chief eunuch during China's Qing Dynasty. He became a eunuch when he was 15 and was sent to the imperial theatrical troupe to learn opera. He was favored by the Empress Dowager Cixi and received multiple promotions giving him great power. After the Empress Dowager died in 1913, he moved out of the imperial court to a British concession in Tianjin, and became a businessman with a lot of land and properties.