This punishment was conceived by the Ming Dynasty’s founding emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. It is a form of punishment so brutal that prisoners would rather choose death than endure it.
The Brutality of “Tiếp Gia Quan”
This type of punishment is known as “Tiếp Gia Quan.” The name actually originates from the performance of traditional opera. In each opera performance, there is an opening act featuring three actors portraying the deities of “Heaven, Earth, and Water,” who face the audience and present prayers and blessings that carry good meanings. These actors wear masks, referred to as “Tiếp Diện Cụ.” Later, Zhu Yuanzhang devised a method to replace the masks with paper for punishing prisoners.
The punishment “Tiếp Gia Quan” was inspired by the art of traditional opera. (Image: Sohu)
Some may wonder how a mere piece of paper could kill a person? To better understand the savagery of this punishment, let’s first explore the execution process of “Tiếp Gia Quan”:
Prisoners are tightly bound by their hands and feet, with their heads pulled backward. A piece of paper is placed over their face and forehead, and water is poured directly onto their nose and mouth. Initially, only one sheet of paper is placed on the prisoner’s face; if the individual does not confess, additional sheets are added, making it increasingly difficult for the victim to breathe.
The prisoner has a sheet of paper placed over their face, while the torturer pours water directly on it. (Image: Sohu)
“Tiếp Gia Quan” deprives the victim of oxygen, creating a sensation similar to drowning. The paper covering the face acts like a one-way valve, allowing exhalation but not inhalation. During this method, the torturer carefully monitors to avoid unintended death. This form of torture may seem simplistic at first glance, but it is essentially a method of invisible murder. Its cruelty is regarded as comparable to that of slow slicing.
The victim is deprived of oxygen, experiencing sensations akin to drowning. (Image: Sohu)
According to records in various historical documents, many prisoners were tortured using the “Tiếp Gia Quan” method. Most of them suffocated when the fifth sheet was placed on their face. After the prisoner died, the water would evaporate, leaving the paper with impressions on the victim’s face, resembling someone wearing a mask.
Once the paper dries, it sticks to the tortured person’s face like a mask. (Image: Sohu)
This form of punishment is exceedingly cruel, and it was highly effective. Many corrupt officials were exposed, and they were frightened into compliance. However, over time, the “Tiếp Gia Quan” punishment evolved into a “tool” for the imperial harem to vie for power and benefits. This development was entirely contrary to Zhu Yuanzhang’s original intent when he invented it. This was something Zhu Yuanzhang could have never anticipated.
