The Punishments of China, as Illustrated by 1804 Book

The Punishment Swing

Twisting of the ears and the wooden collar

The New York Public Library Digital Gallery has a set of engravings from a 1804 book titled The Punishments of China. Too bad no descriptions were given to accompany the pictures, but then I suppose the images speak for themselves.

‘The Punishments of China’ (1801/1804) by GH Mason at NYPL "looks like a cheerful children’s book, but it provides graphic detail of ingenious cruelties devised to penalize thieves, disorderly women and translators who willfully misinterpreted others’ words. The punishment for "committing fraud on merchants" was to be suspended face down on a canvas sling that could be tightened to back-breaking extremes." (for example)

Link – via Bibliodyssey