Jin Shengtan, a scholar renowned for his unique cultural perspective and critical spirit during the Qing Dynasty. His life was full of legends, and his ending was even more intriguing. However, there are different versions about the cause of Jin Shengtan's death in history, with the most well-known being that he was executed by waist-chopping and decapitation. So, how did Jin Shengtan really die? This article will provide a detailed analysis based on historical data.

First, let's look at the claim of waist-chopping. The main basis for this claim is the official historical records of the Qing Dynasty. According to the "Qing History Draft", Jin Shengtan was sentenced to the extreme punishment of waist-chopping for "talking about government affairs improperly". However, there is significant controversy surrounding this claim. On one hand, official historical records of the Qing Dynasty often have an official tint, and their authenticity is questionable. On the other hand, waist-chopping is an extremely cruel punishment, and there are doubts about whether the Qing government really used this punishment on Jin Shengtan.

Next, let's consider the claim of decapitation. The main basis for this claim is some unofficial histories and folk legends. It is said that after Jin Shengtan was arrested by the Qing government, his persistence and bravery angered the Qing emperor, and he was eventually decapitated. However, this claim also has significant problems. First, the authenticity of unofficial histories and folk legends is often difficult to verify. Second, even if Jin Shengtan was really decapitated, it cannot explain why the official historical records of the Qing Dynasty avoided mentioning it.

Based on the above analysis, we can draw a preliminary conclusion: the cause of Jin Shengtan's death may not have been waist-chopping or decapitation, but other reasons. However, due to the lack and uncertainty of historical data, we cannot determine the true cause of Jin Shengtan's death. This may be a regret of history and also our nostalgia for Jin Shengtan.

Overall, the cause of Jin Shengtan's death is a complex and sensitive issue that requires us to approach it with rationality and objectivity. Regardless of how he died, his life was filled with courage and wisdom, and his spirit will forever inspire us.

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