How did the Qing Dynasty execute the death penalty for prisoners?

Whether it is Chaishikou in the Yuan Dynasty, Xisipailou in the Ming Dynasty, or the food market in the Qing Dynasty, it is the main traffic artery of old Beijing. Why do you want to execute people downtown? How did the Qing Dynasty execute the death penalty?

In ancient China, the actual execution of the death penalty was based on the principle of openness. Except for special traffickers and women, they are usually executed in Cao city. During the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Beijing also executed the death penalty in downtown areas. Chaishikou in Yuan Dynasty (now Dongcheng District, Beijing), Xisipailou in Ming Dynasty (now Xisipai District, Xicheng District, Beijing) and Caishikou in Qing Dynasty (now Caishikou, Xicheng District, Beijing) all belonged to the traffic in Beijing at that time.

In the Qing Dynasty, there were two main ways for mainlanders to enter Beijing: along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, through the Canal and through Tongzhou. (Tongzhou District in Beijing is called North Tongzhou in ancient times, and Nantong House is located in Jiangsu); Along Han Jing Road, the western provinces entered Beijing from Guang 'anmen via Lugou Bridge, which accounted for 70% to 80% of the foreign visitors (digression: this is why the July 7th Incident attacked Lugou Bridge). Entering Guang 'anmen, the food market entrance is just around the corner. This place is naturally crowded with inns and restaurants. "Xuanwumenwai Street is southbound near the food market, and there is the Hall of the God of Wealth; In Shaodong Iron Gate, there is Wenchang Guild Hall, the last place to sit, and people who order wine and sing in Xicheng are all theatres "(Yang Maojian's Chen Jing Miscellaneous Law).

Every year in late autumn, Dali Temple, Duchayuan and the Ministry of Punishment will hold a joint hearing on prisoners, who will be beheaded before the winter solstice. On the eve of beheading, the prison officer will say to the prisoners: You are so happy, the lawsuit is over today! At the same time, the jailer will send a farewell meal to the prisoner; There are: a bag of elbow with sauce and a catty of pie. On the day of execution, the executioner was bored to death by people on both sides, and was placed at the back. The officer in charge of beheading was taken out of Xuanwu Gate to cross the broken bridge, and the prisoner was taken to the food market to make way through the market. When many prisoners are executed, they are arranged from east to west, and the executioner takes the knife from east to west in turn.

During the execution, the executioner will shout: Ye! I'm waiting for you. It's also a question of which bowl of rice to eat and which job to do. Don't worry. The executioner's palm was so accurate that he didn't turn around when beheaded, while his family carried it away and sewed a complete body on it. When you meet someone who has no status or money, you raise your knife, behead and lift your feet, and there is not a polite word.

At this time, the people are stepping on the dust all over the street, running back and forth, watching ordinary criminals, officials who died because of remonstrance, losers in the upper struggle, reformers, and the Boxers being beheaded. After the prisoner was beheaded, his blood was covered with loess.

Old Beijingers are used to these things, that is, they are used to them, and they also shape their character. A bowl of dregs and a place to live is enough. What a big official, what a prosperous palace, what a rich businessman, what a vicious bully, what a brave hero, they are nothing more than a knife, and their lives are plain and natural.