ancient punishment by dismemberment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to execute by dismemberment using horse-drawn carts; tearing apart by five chariots
archaicA specific form of capital punishment in ancient China, primarily during the Warring States, Qin, and early Han periods, and famously associated with the death of Shang Yang.
Shāng商
Yāng鞅
zuì最
zhōng终
bèi被
chē车
liè裂
ér而
sǐ死
。
Shang Yang was ultimately executed by being torn apart by chariots.
Zhè这
zhǒng种
chē车
liè裂
zhī之
xíng刑
tǐ体
xiàn现
le了
gǔ古
dài代
xíng刑
fá罚
de的
cán残
kù酷
xìng性
。
This punishment of dismemberment by chariots illustrates the brutality of ancient penal codes.
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Zài在
lì历
shǐ史
shū书
shàng上
dú读
dào到
chē车
liè裂
de的
miáo描
shù述
lìng令
rén人
bù不
hán寒
ér而
lì栗
。
Reading the description of chariot dismemberment in a history book sends a chill down one's spine.