Retainers in early China

Retainers, also known as house guests (門客; 门客; ménkè; men-k'o), invited guests (traditional Chinese: 賓客; simplified Chinese: 宾客; pinyin: bīnkè; Wade–Giles: pin-k'o) or catered guests (Chinese: 食客; pinyin: shíkè; Wade–Giles: shih-k'o), were a special social group in Ancient China from pre-Qin period to Han dynasty, who lived as dependent employees under a nobleman, an officeholder, or a powerful landlord. Retainers typically stayed long-term at the residence of the employer, catered and provisioned by the host, and also obtained through him other benefits such as administrative power, reputation, upward mobility and social status. In return, a retainer would serve and provide personal services to his host, usually as advisors, clerks and bodyguards, but sometimes as dedicated lieutenants o...