This punishment could reduce a prisoner to a state worse than death in just a few hours due to “soft pain.”
King Zhou – A Talented Yet Ruthless Monarch
King Zhou (c. 1154 BC – 1123 BC), also known as Di Xin, whose real name was Zi Shu, was the last king of the Shang Dynasty in Chinese history. He is believed to have reigned from 1154 BC to 1123 BC, or from 1075 BC to 1046 BC.
King Zhou was a talented yet brutal ruler who devised various punishments to oppress others. (Image: Sohu).
In the “Records of the Grand Historian,” Sima Qian wrote that he was the son of Emperor Yi, known for his remarkable intelligence from a young age, and possessed an unusually strong physique. The “Xunzi” mentions that he was famous for his exceptional talents, even being referred to as a contemporary hero. He was the younger brother of Zi Kai and Zi Yan.
During the early years of his reign, King Zhou worked diligently to restore political order. He was skilled in military affairs, consistently achieving victories and ultimately subjugating the Eastern Yi tribes, spreading Shang culture across the Huai River and Yangtze River basins. However, King Zhou indulged in pleasure and showed little concern for the suffering of the people due to prolonged warfare. He relentlessly constructed extravagant palaces and indulged in luxurious entertainment. Furthermore, King Zhou and Daji employed numerous brutal tortures to suppress the populace. Victims of these tortures ranged from commoners and prisoners to high-ranking officials.
King Zhou and Daji devised many brutal punishments to torment the people and officials. (Image: Sohu).
The infamous tortures associated with King Zhou include:
Snake Pit: a large and deep pit was dug and filled with numerous venomous snakes. The execution involved stripping the victim of their clothes and throwing them into the pit, where the snakes would take turns biting and devouring the victim. The Snake Pit was also a place where he and Daji relieved their boredom by organizing wrestling matches, with eunuchs and palace maids competing against each other. The winner would be rewarded with wine and meat at the Zui Pond – Flesh Grove, while the loser would be thrown into the Snake Pit for the snakes to feast upon.
King Zhou devised a method of using a heated copper tube to burn the skin and flesh of prisoners. (Image: Sohu)
Boiling Punishment: a device specifically used for torturing officials, consisting of a large hollow copper tube with a fire pit underneath to burn charcoal. The punishment involved heating the copper tube until it glowed red and then forcing the victim to be pressed into the tube, causing their skin and flesh to char, resulting in a harrowing death.
However, there was another form of punishment devised by King Zhou, though less known, called “Dripping Water Torture.” According to historians, this form of torture is considered to be equally brutal as lingchi (death by a thousand cuts), despite being executed with just a drop of water. What is dripping water torture? How horrific is this method of torture?
What is “Dripping Water Torture?”
An illustration of the dripping water torture applied by King Zhou on prisoners in ancient times. (Image: Sohu)
True to its name, dripping water torture involves the use of water droplets to torment the prisoner. Initially, the person undergoing punishment would be bound to a fixed position or a chair to prevent movement. Above their head, a large wooden bucket would be suspended with small holes drilled in it to allow only a single drop of water to fall. Water would then be poured into the bucket, dripping down onto the top of the prisoner’s head or forehead drop by drop. Each day, the bucket would be filled once. This method of torture could last for up to two years.
How terrifying is “Dripping Water Torture?”
At first glance, many might think this method of torture is harmless, but in reality, it can reduce a person to a state worse than death due to “soft pain.” In ancient times, it was likened to the phenomenon of “water dripping on stone.” Initially, the dripping water torture does not cause physical pain but wreaks havoc on the mental state, driving the prisoner to the brink of madness.
Ancient people likened dripping water torture to “water dripping on stone.” (Image: Sohu).
Modern scientists have researched and indicated that if this process continues over time, each drop of water acts like a hammer striking the prisoner’s skull. At this point, the sound of the water drops resembles the sound of a hammer hitting metal, which can be deafening and distressing for the prisoner.
Dripping water torture causes pain both physically and mentally. (Illustration: Sohu).
Within just half a month, the hair of the person undergoing this punishment begins to fall out, leading to numbness at the crown of their head. After a month, all the hair will be gone, the scalp will crack, and there will be infection and decay at the top of the head, attracting flies and maggots until the skull is exposed. Ultimately, the prisoner would die from the combined agony of physical and mental torment. For this reason, dripping water torture is considered one of the most brutal punishments of ancient times.
