Since the feudal era, China has been a nation deeply concerned with its legal system. Although the Han Dynasty promoted the idea of “abolishing the Hundred Schools of Thought and establishing Confucianism as the sole doctrine,” the underlying reality of this benevolent governance was a series of harsh punishments intended to suppress the behaviors of the populace.
Later, a particularly brutal form of execution was invented, known as “lingchi,” or “the death by a thousand cuts.” This method involved torturing the condemned individual with hundreds or thousands of cuts, subjecting them to both physical and mental agony long before death arrived.
Among the various punishments employed by the feudal court, one that sounds quite elegant is “pipa torture” (playing the pipa), but no one could endure it for even the duration of a single piece of music.
The Cruel Punishment of “Pipa Torture”
Pipa torture is a form of torment invented during the Ming Dynasty, conceived by Zhu Yuanzhang, and was employed by the Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) and the Dongchang (Eastern Depot). There are reports suggesting that this punishment was devised by the Jinyiwei, but without Zhu Yuanzhang’s approval, this organization would not have dared to implement it. A prisoner subjected to this punishment could only wish for death, enduring even more pain than that inflicted by lingchi.
When mentioning the Jinyiwei and Dongchang of the Ming Dynasty, one may recall the shadowy figures that appeared and vanished, known to be associated with the imperial court and tasked with carrying out secret missions. Historical records indicate that these organizations were established by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Jinyiwei.
After founding the nation, Zhu Yuanzhang could have enjoyed the glory and peace that came with a stable realm, yet he could not find tranquility. He constantly suspected those close to him of plotting rebellion, especially the loyal ministers who had helped him conquer the empire. Consequently, he established the Jinyiwei and Dongchang.
The purpose of the Jinyiwei and Dongchang was to secretly gauge the people’s sentiments, investigating anything Zhu Yuanzhang wished to know. The power wielded by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang was immense; they could judge high-ranking officials, pursue major dignitaries, and even bypass the responsible departments in the palace to conduct their inquiries.
The guiding principle of the Jinyiwei and Dongchang was to obey the emperor’s supreme orders and “better to mistakenly kill than to miss.” Accordingly, torture and punishment were indispensable. Whenever these two organizations were mentioned, even high-ranking officials in the court would tremble in fear, their faces paling. This demonstrates that the level of torture employed by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang exceeded human imagination.
The Brutality of “Pipa Torture”
The “pipa torture” inflicted by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang involved stripping the prisoner or pulling up their clothing to expose their ribs. The executioner would use a small knife to make incisions along the ribs until the skin peeled away from the flesh. The name stems from the fact that the execution process closely resembles the act of plucking the strings of a pipa. The executor treated the prisoner’s ribs as if they were the strings of the instrument, causing unbearable pain that few could endure for the duration of a single piece of music. The only way to escape this torment was to cooperate with the Jinyiwei and divulge any information to prevent further torture.
“Pipa Torture” was once regarded as the most brutal punishment of its time. (Illustrative image).
At one point, there was an official named Wang Wenyan who underwent execution by “pipa torture.” His clothing was entirely stripped away, and members of the Jinyiwei used hooks to pierce his ribs and pull upwards. Wang Wenyan immediately fainted from the pain. The Jinyiwei then rinsed the hooks in salt water and reinserted them into his ribs to revive him. After just a few rounds, Wang Wenyan confessed to his crimes.
“Pipa torture” was the pinnacle of punitive measures in feudal China. Those subjected to this punishment would faint at the mere mention of its name. Although it was cruel, the Jinyiwei and Dongchang largely achieved their goals: subjugation without the need for retrials. However, the operation of these two organizations led to the wrongful deaths of countless innocent people.
As the Ming Dynasty eventually collapsed, the application of this punishment gradually diminished over the years. By the time of the Qing Dynasty, the “pipa torture” had completely vanished.
