Caishikou Execution Grounds

Caishikou Execution Grounds (traditional Chinese: 菜市口法場; simplified Chinese: 菜市口法场; pinyin: Càishìkǒu Fǎchǎng) was an important execution ground in Peking during the Qing Dynasty. It was located at the crossroads of Xuanwumen Outer Street and Luomashi Street.[1] The exact location is under debate today. However, contemporary sources and photographs put it across from an apothecary shop named He Nian Tang (鶴年堂藥店).[2]

Execution of Boxers at the execution ground.

Executions were usually carried out at 11:30AM.[3] On the day of the execution, the convict would be carted from the jail cell to the execution grounds. The cart stopped at a wine shop named Broken Bowl (Chinese:破碗居) on the east side of Xuanwu Gate, where the convict would be offered a bowl of rice wine.[4] The bowl would be smashed after it was drunk. During the executions of infamous convicts, it was common for a large crowd to gather and watch. The torture death by a thousand cuts was also carried out at the execution ground.[5]

Famous people executed at Caishikou

See also

References
  1. Henriot, Christian; Yeh, Wen-hsin (2012). Visualising China, 1845-1965: Moving and Still Images in Historical Narratives. BRILL. p. 66. ISBN 978-9004233751.
  2. "解密北京菜市口秋決:犯人臨刑前吃大餅醬肘子".
  3. The time was 午時三刻 in old Chinese timekeeping, which corresponded to 11:30AM. "古代中國斬首行刑奇聞". Archived from the original on 20 August 2015.
  4. "Beijingers of the Past Seen in Photos (part three)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 23 Aug 2015.
  5. Chan, Shelley W. (2011). A Subversive Voice in China: The Fictional World of Mo Yan. Cambria Press. ISBN 978-1604977196.
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