In ancient feudal society, to maintain social order, those in power would impose a series of torture methods to punish criminals. Among these forms of punishment, there are some with extremely poetic names, which are executed in a very simple manner but yield brutally harsh results.
If you have watched historical or martial arts films from China, you must have heard the phrase “Beaten with a rod“. Specifically, this punishment involves striking the offender’s buttocks with a large stick. Sounds simple and somewhat mild, right? In reality, most individuals subjected to this punishment either do not die or are left severely disabled.
The “First Rod of Red” punishment in the palace, a scene from the palace drama “Empresses in the Palace”.
The punishment is also elegantly named “First Rod of Red”, and is the most common form of punishment in ancient palaces. Although the name sounds gentle, it is extremely cruel. This punishment applies to anyone, from the ruler to the servants, who commits an offense.
Though there is nothing complicated about it, if the large stick strikes the body continuously dozens of times, it usually results in the offender being beaten to the point where blood and flesh intermingle. From a distance, the blood will soak into the ground, creating a haunting scene, which is why it is called “First Rod of Red”.
According to historical records, if the executor knows how to hold back and strikes gently, the offender may not lose their life. However, they will still endure excruciating pain. For some concubines, enduring this punishment is akin to a tremendous humiliation. Many individuals, unable to withstand the physical pain and psychological trauma, have committed suicide.
Historians analyze that the reason many concubines committed suicide after receiving the “First Rod of Red” punishment is that even if their skin healed, it would leave scars, and they would almost never have the chance to regain the emperor’s favor, losing their competitive edge against countless other beauties, rendering their lives meaningless.
Secondly, women in ancient times were frail and delicate; being struck in the lower body often resulted in broken bones and damage to internal organs, leading to complications such as infertility and disability. Thus, even if they continued to live, they would not escape the fate of growing old in isolation.
Moreover, in ancient times, the prevailing mindset was conservative; being publicly beaten as a concubine in front of others was a source of great shame for them. Consequently, more than half of the concubines and beauties in the palace who were punished would contemplate suicide. This illustrates that “First Rod of Red”, though simple, is one of the most brutal forms of punishment both physically and psychologically.
