Ancient Chinese people sentenced to flogging could hire substitutes to endure punishment for a fee

2026.03.18 10:20 During the Ming dynasty, individuals sentenced to flogging could hire substitutes, known as Qingshou, to endure the punishment for a fee. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu In ancient China there was a unique and quirky profession: if someone committed a crime and was sentenced to flogging, they could hire another person to take the punishment on their behalf. During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), flogging was a form of punishment in which court officials were publicly beaten with heavy rods. The striking end of the rod was carved into a hammer-like shape and wrapped in iron and sometimes even fitted with barbs, making the punishment extremely brutal. The above depiction of punishment in ancient times illustrates just how brutal it could be. Photo: Wellcome Collection There were two types of flogging: “attentive beating” and “real beating”. The former meant the victim would almost certainly die, while the latter meant the punishment was intended to spare the person’s life while still delivering a harsh lesson. The method used depended on the secret instructions of the emperor, conveyed through the supervising official. He would signal the intended severity of the punishment through subtle gestures, such as the positioning of his toes or through coded verbal commands to the executioners. This image shows just how humiliating and savage the thrashings were. Photo: Wikipedia These ambiguous signals often left room for abuse of power. During the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, a new profession emerged known as Da Hang , meaning beating gangs. Their members were called Qing Shou, meaning hired beaters or hitmen. Historical records show that these groups first appeared in Suzhou, in Jiangsu province, southeastern China, and eventually became a major social menace across the Jiangnan region. Their business mainly consisted of two services. Law breakers were held down and lashed until they bled. Photo: Wellcome Collection One was assault-for-hire, where they were p

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