In the 10th century, Jing Xinmo, a jester, may have gone too far when he teased the Chinese emperor after being chased by a dog. Instead of begging for his life, Jing cracked another joke, which luckily landed and saved his life. Contrary to popular belief, jesters were not a solely European phenomenon, but were found in various times and cultures. You Shi, from 7th century BCE China, was the first recorded jester, who claimed that his words could not give offense.
Jesters were appointed to royal courts by various means, such as physical or neurological differences, being plucked from a pool of entertainers, or recruited by a traveling courtier. Some jesters, such as Roland the Farter of Henry II’s 12th century court, had unique talents. Jesters could have an influence on important decisions, like when the clowns of the Tübatulabal nation of the Sierra Nevada mountains could get elders to appoint a new chief. Jing Xinmo was also able to sway the Chinese emperor.
Mathurine, one of the few female jesters on record, was able to save a man from death by pleading to King Henry IV. However, jesters could also be fired or even killed for taking their mockery or criticism too far. Archy Armstrong was banished from court for asking the Archbishop of Canterbury, “Who’s the fool now?”, after the Archbishop revised the Scottish Book of Common Prayer. Talhak and Karim Shir’ei were able to speak truth to power and reveal who the real fools were, even when rulers were considered divinely appointed.