The Punishments of China, as Illustrated by 1804 Book

Posted by Alex in Book & Lit, Pictures, Politics on January 18, 2008 at 3:56 pm



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



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COMMENT

6 comments to "The Punishments of China, as Illustrated by 1804 Book"

  1. Thomas
    January 18th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    I like how only twins perform these punishments.

  2. Christophe
    January 18th, 2008 at 11:51 pm

    Ah! Sweet China. But they’re getting soft. Now it’s just forced labour.

  3. Geekazoid
    January 19th, 2008 at 9:59 am

    These punishments are a good idea to bring back, our criminal elements are getting way too soft around the world and get away literally with bloody murder.

  4. Thomas
    January 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Not true, Christophe, these days if you mess up, the government takes you out back and shoots you, then mails your family a bill for the bullet.

  5. Oscar Zoroastor
    January 19th, 2008 at 7:12 pm

    no water boarding?

  6. Alex
    January 21st, 2008 at 1:55 am

    I think water boarding was invented by the Spanish Inquisition and was not in use in China at the time.


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