Throughout the long river of human civilization, law and order have always been accompanied by cruel shadows. In ancient society, various forms of punishment were developed to maintain rule and deter crime. Among them, the most feared were those extremely cruel tortures. Based on historical records, this article will explore the top ten tortures in ancient punishments and reveal the cruelty and warnings behind them.

Lingchi, an extremely cruel form of death penalty in ancient criminal law, involves slowly cutting the prisoner's flesh until death. This punishment not only causes extreme physical pain but also immense mental torment, reflecting the extreme punishment of ancient law for serious crimes.

Paoluo involves burning iron until it is red hot and then forcing the prisoner to walk barefoot on it or directly branding their body with the hot iron. This punishment exploits humans' natural fear of fire and heat, as well as extreme sensitivity to pain, and its cruelty is chilling.

Chelie refers to tying a prisoner to a cart and then allowing the horses to pull the cart in different directions, tearing the prisoner's body into pieces. This punishment is notorious for its bloodiness and violence and is considered an extreme punishment for treason and other major crimes.

Bopi, as the name suggests, involves peeling off the prisoner's skin in its entirety. This punishment not only causes extreme pain but also completely tramples on human dignity, demonstrating the cruelty of ancient criminal law.

Gongxing, or castration, involves amputating the male prisoner's genitalia. This punishment not only causes physical pain but also strips the prisoner of the right to continue the family line, reflecting ancient society's special punishment for certain crimes.

Huomai, or living burial, involves burying the prisoner alive until they suffocate to death. This punishment, known for its simplicity, brutality, and direct lethality, reveals ancient law's disdain for life.

The Iron Virgin is a torture device that involves placing the prisoner in an iron humanoid frame and gradually applying pressure until death. This mechanically slow death fully demonstrates the cruel wisdom of ancient punishments.

Zuoxin, or drilling the heart, involves piercing the prisoner's heart with a sharp tool. This punishment is quickly fatal, but its cruelty and mental torment to the prisoner are immeasurable.

Wumafenshi involves tying the prisoner to five horses and then driving the horses to run, tearing the prisoner's body apart. This punishment is not only an extreme torment for the prisoner but also a humiliation to their family and social status.

Shuixing, or water torture, involves immersing the prisoner in water until they suffocate or drown. This seemingly simple punishment is actually filled with terror and despair, testing the fragility of human nature in extreme circumstances.

Although these ancient tortures have been abolished with the progress of the times, their existence is undoubtedly a painful point in human history. Through understanding these tortures, we should not only reflect on the cruelty of past legal systems but also be vigilant against possible legal regressions in the future. The lessons of history remind us that the progress of civilization requires the humanization of the rule of law and respect and protection for human rights. Let us remember history, cherish the present, and jointly look forward to a more just and humane future.

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