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26 images of Torture punishments inflicted on adulteresses in ancient China

In ancient China, chastity was considered a very important virtue. Victim’s suffering and humiliation were important aspects of the Chinese tortures.

Chinese ancient society was based on a patriarchal model and men could have three or four concubines; wives had to remain faithful to the husband even in mourning. Adulterous women, in some cases and the man “who led in temptation”, were persecuted and tortured publicly. Even women subjected to rape were found guilty and were therefore doomed to a series of punishments. During the Ming Dynasty, the “guilty” of the crime of rape was considered a social evil, deserving of physical pain and guilty of having stained the spirit of disgrace. The men convicted of rape could also be sentenced to death. In the Qing Dynasty, frivolous and flirty women risked torture.

Related: Chinese punishments images, Chinese hell, slow slicing depiction

Chinese torture in Ming and Qing society

Techniques used were numerous: some women had their eyes removed from orbital sockets and every single drop of blood pouring from the socket was then collected.  Others were tied to stakes and after being spanked, were carried around to suffer public humiliation and some were simultaneously hanged, beheaded, mutilated, and eviscerated; others were flogged or beheaded; some couples were burned, buried or given as food to tigers, those who had been pregnant from their lover were tied up and then were deprived of the child by cutting the belly. Some men were cut in two, others became the target of countless arrows, some were tied and thrown off a cliff, or dragged from the carts in the dust.

Sources via torture cinesi [cinaoggi]

Topic: ancient Chinese torture methods, adultery in ancient China, ancient China images, chastity, China history, Chinese adultery punishment, Chinese traditions, gender discrimination, husband adultery in China, torture methods


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2 thoughts on “26 images of Torture punishments inflicted on adulteresses in ancient China”

  1. F_Le_Rulz – I'm an unpublished writer, who, so far, has not met any success apart from on Currently working on my first novel. I've been saying this for the past ten years. With different novels. I think you can put together the story. I'm prone to ranting, getting too involved in things that I shouldn't be involved about, and I'm trying *really* hard to be rational. I don't always succeed.

    These images depict Ming styles of dress, not Qing.


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