A gruesome method known as ‘death by a thousand cuts’ or ‘slow slicing’ was once employed in China, Vietnam, and Korea for executing criminals. This torturous practice involved the gradual removal of body parts using a knife until the victim succumbed to death. Despite being banned in 1905, Lingchi was reserved for severe crimes like treason and was often carried out publicly, adding a layer of humiliation to the punishment.
Victims of Lingchi faced excruciating pain and public disgrace as their bodies were methodically mutilated in front of onlookers. Some reports even suggest that the flesh of the deceased may have been sold as medicine post-execution. In some cases, the punishment extended to chopping bones and cremation following the slicing of body parts.
Illustrating the severity of this method, a historical photo captured the execution of Wang Weiqin in 1904 for committing heinous crimes. Lingchi did not discriminate based on gender, with both men and women facing this brutal form of punishment. One notable case involved a woman and her lover who were sentenced to death by slicing for killing her father-in-law to conceal their affair.
Various prominent figures, including officials and generals, met their demise through Lingchi for acts of rebellion or treason. Despite its barbarity, this method was a traditional form of punishment that was applied without regard to gender or social status.