Thrillers are sometimes not limited to thrillers or horrors**, and some ancient punishments can be just as gruesome. These ancient methods of punishment are so surprising that one wonders what kind of punishment is the most frighteningWhy did such a punishment occur?In this article, we will take you through the strange punishments of ancient times and think about the horrors of them.
Punishment can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty in Chinese history. It is said that the Xia Dynasty's punishment "Three Thousand Summer Punishments" was enacted by Emperor Yu of the Xia Dynasty in order to suppress the forces that opposed the hereditary system. As dynasties changed, so did the punishments. During the Shang Dynasty, there was the notorious punishment of cannon burning, which was used by the emperor to treat prisoners. The brutality of the torture was jaw-dropping, with the prisoners tied to bronze pillars and the fire below burning red, slowly roasting to death in a blazing oven. The existence of this kind of punishment makes one wonder why ancient rulers used such cruel methods to treat criminals
1. Sheep tongue punishment
Sheep's tongue punishment is an ancient punishment that is considered one of the relatively minor punishments. In this punishment, the soles of the prisoner's feet are smeared with a layer of honey, and a sheep is then brought to the prisoner. Due to the ** of honey, the sheep will lick and eat the soles of the prisoner's feet, and the sheep's tongue has barbs, which will make the prisoner feel extremely itchy. At first, the prisoner laughed just because of the itching, but as time went on, the itching became more intense, and the prisoner's laughter gradually turned into screams of pain. Some of the prisoners even suffocated to death because they laughed so hard. This kind of punishment may seem like a "joy", but in fact it is extremely torturous for the prisoner.
2. On paper
In this punishment, the prisoner is placed on a chair and then rice paper is piled on his face and water is poured on the paper to moisten it. Next, the executor will re-weight the wet paper one by one, making it impossible for the prisoner to breathe. The prisoner could only sit helplessly, waiting to suffocate to death. Although this punishment may seem mild, it is actually extremely painful for the prisoners, as they are forced to face the impending death.
3. Hunger strike
This punishment kept the prisoner in a small cell without any water or food. The prisoners struggled to survive on their own, but due to prolonged hunger and thirst, the prisoners eventually died due to physical incapacity. The hunger strike, which tortured the prisoners both physically and mentally, was unbearable.
4. Bluffing
This punishment is carried out through psychological intimidation of the offender. The prisoners were taken to a pitch-black room, blindfolded, and then told that their wrists would be cut open. Even though their hands are not cut, they can hear the sound of dripping water, and they will think that their blood is being lost. In fear and insecurity, the prisoner eventually dies out of fear.
Although these punishments may not seem comparable to beheading or hanging, the manner in which they are extremely painful and torturous gives them a horrific character. These ancient punishments highlight the cruelty and mistreatment of the prisoners by the rulers, both as a means of punishment and as a demonstration of the ruler's authority.
The existence of ancient punishments may be related to the social background and moral concepts of the time. In ancient times, power was concentrated in the hands of rulers, who had the power to decide whether the prisoner lived or died. In addition, the social morality of the time was also relatively severe, and extreme punishment was often adopted for criminal acts. These punishments also serve as a deterrent and a warning, warning others not to commit crimes by demonstrating cruel punishments.
Although these ancient punishments have been eliminated by modern society, their existence is still worthy of our reflection and vigilance. They remind us to cherish and uphold human rights and dignity and to avoid a return to that cruel period of history.