zhuó
椓
ancient castration punishment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
ancient punishment of castration; mutilation of male genitals
archaicAlso known as 宫刑 (gōng xíng). This ancient Chinese punishment involved the removal or destruction of male reproductive organs, historically inflicted upon criminals and later used to create eunuchs for imperial service. The term appears in classical texts such as the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), where Sima Qian famously suffered this punishment.
Zhuó椓
xíng刑
shì是
gǔ古
dài代
wǔ五
xíng刑
zhōng中
zuì最
cán残
kù酷
de的
ròu肉
xíng刑
zhī之
yī一
。
Castration was one of the most cruel corporal punishments among the five ancient penalties.
Sī司
mǎ马
Qiān迁
yīn因
tì替
Lǐ李
Líng陵
biàn辩
hù护
ér而
shòu受
zhuó椓
，
hòu后
fā发
fèn愤
zhù著
chéng成
《
Shǐ史
jì记
》
。
Sima Qian suffered castration for defending Li Ling, and later wrote the Records of the Grand Historian with indignant determination.
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Shòu受
zhuó椓
zhě者
duō多
wéi为
gōng宫
zhōng中
zhī之
yān阉
rén人
，
shì侍
fèng奉
huáng皇
shì室
。
Those who underwent castration mostly became eunuchs in the palace, serving the imperial family.