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Caishikou Execution Grounds

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Caishikou Execution Grounds

Caishikou Execution Grounds (Chinese: 菜市口法場) was an important execution ground in Peking during the Qing Dynasty.

The execution ground was located at the crossroads of Xuanwumen Outer Street and Luomashi Street. The exact location is under debate today. However, contemporary sources and photographs put it across from an apothecary shop named He Nian Tang (Chinese: 鶴年堂藥店).

Executions were usually carried out at 11:30AM. 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. The bowl would be smashed after it was drank. 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.

Famous people executed at Caishikou

  • Zhu Yousong, or Hongguang Emperor, the first emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty.
  • Zhu Changfang, a member of the Royal family of Southern Ming Dynasty.
  • Zheng Zhilong, father of Koxinga.
  • Jahangir Khoja, East Turkic rebel leader.
  • The Six gentlemen of the Hundred Days' Reform, including Tan Sitong and Lin Xu.
  • Xu Jingcheng, Qing diplomat, during the Boxer Rebellion.
  • Qixiu, Manchu pro-Boxer official
  • References

    Caishikou Execution Grounds Wikipedia