In ancient times, there was a punishment that, although it did not cause physical pain to the victim, was very humiliating.
This type of punishment is known as "shaved off" and consists of shaving off the prisoner's hair and beard as punishment for his criminal acts. This may not seem like a punishment to modern people, but it didn't think so to the ancients.
When someone broke the law, but he was not a heinous person, he would be punished lightly, punished with a penalty, and cut his hair short.
Later, in the Qin Dynasty, there was a new requirement: to cut off the hair and beard, officially as a punishment, and later also used by successive dynasties, until the establishment of China**, this punishment was officially abolished.
The reason why this punishment is torture is because in the ancient people's concept, the parents who were exposed to the body and skin should not be harmed in the slightest.
Otherwise, it is unfilial, cannot gain a foothold in society, and will be despised and criticized by others when going out. Shave off all or part of the victim's hair.
This means that the person being punished will not receive much physical punishment, basically mental harm, which was also considered torture in ancient times.
In ancient times, punishment was not only a form of punishment, but also a sign of social exclusion. Prisoners whose beards and hair are cut off are perceived as outliers by society and face discrimination and exclusion. The mental and psychological stress of this punishment is often more severe than the physical pain.
However, with the passage of time, especially the changes in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, traditional values and social structures began to waver.
The impact of foreign cultures and the transformation of the country itself have prompted people to re-examine and abandon outdated traditional practices. The gradual abolition of the penal sentence marks respect for individual rights and social freedoms, as well as a reassessment of laws and social norms.
In modern society, haircuts and shaves have become part of an individual's daily care, and people trim or shave their hair regularly for reasons such as aesthetics, hygiene, or fashion.
This behavior, which was seen as humiliation in ancient times, no longer has a negative social connotation in modern times, but has become a way for individuals to choose and express themselves in fashion.
No longer carrying the shame of antiquity, but becoming a reflection of one's own style and lifestyle. This shift reflects a major advance in social and cultural development, with a greater emphasis on personal choice and self-expression.
The modern rule of law society emphasizes the rationality and humanization of punishment, which is not only the abolition of ancient punishment, but also the continuous improvement and development of laws and social norms.
From the disappearance of the punishment, we can see the evolution of social concepts. In ancient times, punishment was often closely associated with moral education, while in modern times, laws place more emphasis on protecting the rights and dignity of the individual.
This change is a sign of social progress, and it tells us that with the development of the times, we should constantly reflect and update our ideas to adapt to the changing world.
Today, when we walk into a barbershop and admire the new image created by the hairstylist, it is difficult to imagine that such an act was once a form of punishment in ancient times.
This transition from humiliation to everyday life is both an affirmation of individual freedom and a respect for history and culture. It reminds us that the development and progress of society requires us to constantly learn and adapt, while also requiring us to maintain respect for the traditions of the past.
In the long course of history, the disappearance of the penal punishment and the popularization of haircuts are a microcosm of the progress of civilization. It tells us that with the passage of time, human society continues to innovate itself, abandon old habits that are not adapted to the development of the times, and embrace a more open and inclusive culture.
This change is reflected not only in laws and punishments, but also in our respect for the dignity and freedom of the individual.
In short, the change of punishment is a microcosm of an era, witnessing the transformation of human beings from feudal society to modern society.
In the process, I learned to respect the individual more and pay more attention to the fairness and humanity of the law. This transformation not only makes our lives more colorful, but also makes our society more harmonious and progressive.