Do you know what it means to be three o'clock in the afternoon? Why did the ancient times choose to impose the death penalty at this time?
In the long history of China's 5,000 years, different social forms have emerged one after another, and they are endlessly changing. In this period of history, there are three major social formations that stand out the most, and I think everyone knows about them. The key to their constant change lies in the institutions and norms established by rulers in different periods. These systems and norms have an important impact on social processes and stability.
Ancient rulers used various methods to maintain social order, such as through laws, moral indoctrination, strengthening military authority, spreading religious beliefs, and establishing special bureaucrats.
For example, Legalism emphasizes the rule of law, Confucianism emphasizes moral education for the people, military science emphasizes governing the country by force, and Taoism emphasizes the harmony and unity of the natural order and upholds the laws of nature. In terms of religious beliefs, the rulers encouraged the development of religion and used religion to appease the populace, while exercising stricter control over religion to ensure that religion was subordinated to the ruler's interests.
Punishment is an important factor in maintaining social stability and national unity. Ancient punishments such as beheading were also strictly regulated. Beheading is a type of capital in which a prisoner's head is cut off with a sharp weapon such as a knife, sword, or axe and the person is put to death. It is one of the oldest and most common punishments in human history, dating back to primitive societies. In ancient China, beheadings evolved from slavery to feudalism, reflecting changes in law and culture.
ii.The mystery of the three hours of noon and the time of execution.
In the past,"Three o'clock in the afternoon"It's a special time. First, we need to know"Three o'clock in the afternoon"It is a term for time in ancient China. In ancient times, the 12-hour system was used, and the day was divided into 12 hours, each hour was divided into 8 quarters, and each quarter was the current 15 minutes"。3:30 p.m"Refers to the last quarter of an hour, which is equivalent to 12:45. At this time, the sunlight is strong, the shadow is the shortest, and the human physiology is at its best. In ancient times, it was believed that this was the time of the day when the yang energy was at its peak.
Indigenous people like"Three o'clock in the afternoon"There are several reasons for the execution. First of all,"Three o'clock in the afternoon"It is the way of heaven. The ancients believed that the emperor was the Son of Heaven, and for Heaven to favor him, his actions must conform to the way of Heaven"。Three quarters in the afternoon is the time of the day when the yang energy is at its highest, so it is considered auspicious. Execution at an auspicious time is in line with the way of heaven and increases the legitimacy of execution. Secondly,"Three o'clock in the afternoon"It is used to suppress ghosts. The ancients believed that ghosts still exist after death, and the ghosts of criminals are especially terrifying.
If you choose to execute at the peak of yang energy, you can suppress the soul of the criminal and make it impossible to haunt him. In addition,"Three o'clock in the afternoon"It also helps to show the majesty of the emperor and intimidate people. Performing at the height of yang energy can show the emperor's supreme power and otherworldly status. At the same time, it can also create a strong deterrent in people's minds, warning them not to break the law and commit crimes.
In summary,"Three o'clock in the afternoon"The reason why it became the best time for execution in ancient times was the combined effect of various factors such as complying with the mandate of heaven, suppressing ghosts, proving the majesty of the emperor, and intimidating the people. This choice is rich in culture and history.
At the end of the day, it's human nature. While people in the past were very afraid of the ghosts of criminals, they also cared about the humanity of criminals. When executing criminals, they also take into account the feelings of the criminals and treat them humanely.
Before the execution, a special meal will be prepared for the criminals"Decapitation meal", let them enjoy a delicious meal at the last moment of their lives, and perhaps a piece of raw meat will be eaten by the wild dogs guarding her as she crosses the Nai Ho Bridge. Select"Three minutes in the afternoon"The execution was carried out out of humanitarian respect, so that the convicts could relax a little before they died, and even have the opportunity to recognize themselves, atone for their sins, say their last words, say goodbye, and so on.
The ancients believed that a criminal should be respected throughout his life. They do not do it out of sympathy or pity for the criminal, but for their own benefit or safety. They believe that if the criminals eat well before they die, they will not be haunted by hungry ghosts, and a piece of raw meat will allow them to cross the Naihe Bridge smoothly and never come back for revenge. At the same time, the confessions, confessions, last words, and farewells of criminals can serve as a warning and punishment by alleviating their sins and letting their relatives, friends, or colleagues know what is about to happen to them.
Feel free to follow the interesting history of Xiaogong and give us more valuable advice.