Retainers in China from pre-Qin through Han times were a special social group, who lived as dependents under a noble, an officeholder, or a powerful landlord. They were designated binke, (simplified Chinese: 宾客; traditional Chinese: 賓客; pinyin: bīnkè), shike (Chinese: 食客; pinyin: shíkè), menke (simplified Chinese: 门客; traditional Chinese: 门客; pinyin: ménkè). Retainers stayed long-term at the house of their host, were fed by him, and obtained also many other benefits through him, such as money, reputation, social position, appreciation, and so on. In return, a retainer would have rendered certain services to his host. But he was free to come and go, and he could leave when he was not treated politely or when he disapproved of the behavior of his host.

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