In ancient times, emperors used various systems and policies to restrain others in order to protect their rights and interests. The emperors of every dynasty were equally concerned about the interests of their rule. So in order to maintain their own rule, what kind of methods are specific to them?
Just look at Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The punishment he invented is the most cruel punishment in history, several of which are unacceptable to ordinary people, and although the punishment he invented is very cruel, it does play a certain role.
One of the most cruel is the "grooming punishment",
The "grooming punishment" mentioned here is not the literal meaning we understand, and there are more cruel facts behind it. The cruelty of this punishment makes people sound like they are trembling in the back.
Zhu Yuanzhang, as the most outstanding emperor, not only did he do things cruelly, but the policies and punishments he formulated were also the most ruthless.
1. Formulation of penalties
Zhu Yuanzhang was a well-known ruthless ruler in history, and before he established the Ming Dynasty, he fought and did things very viciously and sharply. After he established the Ming Dynasty, he naturally used this method to govern the country and complete various tasks with maximum efficiency. Only in this way can the purpose of success be achieved.
He had been framed by corrupt officials before, which led to a very miserable life in the following period. He also hated such corrupt officials, who not only did not contribute anything to the country, but also were moths that nibbled on the national meal.
After he became emperor, he paid close attention to this aspect of work, formulating a series of rules and regulations to restrain those corrupt officials, including those who were corrupt.
The rules and regulations he formulated are also deterrent and have played a certain role.
In terms of punishment rules and regulations, the most cruel and cruel punishment he formulated was the "punishment of grooming", which could be invented, showing how much the courtiers under him were during his reign at that time, and how they could recall this kind of frightening punishment.
The invention of punishment in such a context was inseparable from the current situation faced by the country at that time.
2. Freshening up the penalty
When you hear the name of the grooming punishment, most people may think that the punishment like a woman's grooming and dressing up is not so serious, in fact, the grooming punishment is not its literal meaning, recorded in history.
The punishment of grooming is to first strip the prisoner of all his clothes and then fix the prisoner to an iron bed. Then sprinkle the prisoner's back with boiling hot water, and then use an "iron brush" to brush the prisoner's back. When imposing a sentence on a prisoner, it is necessary to ensure that the prisoner is sober.
Because this punishment is to make the prisoner feel the process of this punishment. Before the punishment is carried out, a cloth is stuffed in the mouth of the prisoner to prevent the prisoner from biting his tongue and committing suicide on the way.
If the prisoner has lost his breath before he has been punished, the punishment has no meaning.
The executioner will grasp this measure and follow the steps to carry out the punishment. Whether male or female, as long as they make mistakes and touch the bottom line of the rules and regulations, they will face the "punishment of grooming". Some people are scared to death before they face punishment.
Some people are either burned alive when they bear this punishment, or they are killed by the brush of the iron brush, and those who cannot bear it will have no breath when they are halfway through the execution.
This punishment begins with scalding, and after going through the iron brush layer by layer, the skin and flesh are brushed off and only the bones are left, and this step is repeated step by step, over and over again.
3. Treating people by torture
The punishment formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang was so cruel, but it was precisely because of his penal system of governing the country that he was able to achieve the goal of better governing the country. Those who want to break the rules and not listen to his rule do not dare to act rashly.
Zhu Yuanzhang himself has also been subjected to various unfair treatment, and after he himself successfully became emperor, he will also consider it from the previous perspective. In the first few years of the Ming Dynasty, politics was clear, and the people lived in peace and contentment.
In the imperial court, once someone moved evil thoughts and wanted to rebel on their own, they would face the punishment invented by Zhu Yuanzhang. Those who are looking at the tiger think about the consequences of failure, and then slowly dispel their evil thoughts.
They all knew in their hearts that Zhu Yuanzhang was a kind of person, and if he did something wrong, he would face cruel punishment, especially the punishment of grooming, which made people afraid when they listened, let alone experience that kind of pain. Gradually, everyone obeyed Zhu Yuanzhang in their hearts.
After all, the greatest credit for the establishment of this country was still him, and after the founding of the country, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to maintain his rule, which was also a matter of course. It is not worth it to accept such a cruel punishment because you have made a mistake. The country governed under Zhu Yuanzhang's punishment was perfect and stable in all aspects.
4. Summary
The reason for inventing the "grooming punishment" is presumably not simply to make the wrongdoers suffer psychological and physical pain, but most importantly, Zhu Yuanzhang wants to rule the country well and prevent civil unrest. I have worked hard to fight down the country.
Even if the background at that time was dark and chaotic, zhu Yuanzhang himself had suffered unfair treatment, and he did not want his country to be like this. He invented the most cruel "grooming punishment", the degree of cruelty is to challenge the physical and psychological limits of the human body.
Male prisoners with good physical fitness cannot bear such pain, let alone female prisoners who are weak in body.
Don't look at the "punishment of grooming" with simple ideas, for prisoners in the Ming Dynasty, this punishment is simply a purgatory in hell, making people worse off than dead.
The rules and regulations of the Ming Dynasty formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang are also very much related to his own style of doing things, he is fierce and fierce, which is known and known to people in that era and people now, which is also his style of doing things.
Of course, behind the "grooming punishment", it can be seen that there is a strict standard for governing the country. In times of chaos and darkness, only such a method is the best way to achieve the goal of being able to obey and rule in the depths of their hearts.
However, when Zhu Yuanzhang ruled the country, he showed it in this way and implemented it on those prisoners. Female prisoners are treated the same way, and in the face of making mistakes, men and women are treated the same and are punished the same.
When you encounter a punishment like the "grooming punishment", you can only blame yourself for violating the bottom line, or saying that you have other evil thoughts. Zhu Yuanzhang's way of governing the country has certain reasons and his own style, but the ultimate purpose is to let the country he rules develop in a better direction.