The Song Dynasty (960-1279) was a period of transformation and prosperity in Chinese history. During this era, the country's politics were stable, the economy flourished, and cultural education flourished unprecedentedly. However, against such a backdrop of civilization, how did the Song Dynasty treat convicted prisoners sentenced to death? This article will introduce the Song Dynasty's approach to treating death row inmates.

Firstly, it is important to understand the legal system of the Song Dynasty. Based on the "Song Criminal Code," the legal system of the Song Dynasty provided detailed regulations for criminal behavior. For capital crimes, the Song Dynasty adopted strict trial procedures to ensure judicial fairness. During the trial process, judges were required to conduct detailed investigations and collect evidence to ensure the authenticity and sufficiency of the evidence. In addition, to protect the rights of defendants, the Song Dynasty also established a complaint system, allowing defendants to appeal to higher-level courts within a certain time limit.

In its approach to treating death row inmates, the Song Dynasty demonstrated humanitarian spirit. According to historical records, the Song Dynasty treated death row inmates relatively leniently. Before the execution of the death sentence, prisoners were entitled to certain living allowances, such as food and clothing. Furthermore, to respect the dignity of the prisoners, the Song Dynasty stipulated that their bodies should not be insulted during the execution. These regulations reflected the Song government's humanitarian concern for death row inmates to a certain extent.

However, despite demonstrating humanitarian spirit in treating death row inmates, this did not mean that lenient policies were applied to all such inmates. For criminals who posed a serious threat to national security and social stability, the Song government still took severe punitive measures. For example, for major criminal acts such as treason and rebellion, the Song law stipulated severe punishment to maintain national security and stability.

In summary, the Song Dynasty's approach to treating death row inmates reflected both humanitarian spirit and the principles of the rule of law. This balanced approach safeguarded the basic rights of prisoners while maintaining social fairness and justice.

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