The Qing Dynasty’s Horrific Punishment: The “Standing Cage” That Kills by Standing

Cruelty Beyond Western Hanging

In the criminal justice system of China’s Ming and Qing dynasties, there existed a torture device called the “standing cage,” known for its terrifying cruelty.

The standing cage was invented by the infamous Ming Dynasty eunuch Liu Jin and was widely used throughout the Ming and Qing periods.

This device was not simply about making the prisoner stand for a period but was ingeniously designed to inflict severe pain and even death through prolonged standing.

The standing cage was a specially crafted wooden cage, with the inner walls lined with sharp iron nails.

Any slight movement would cause the prisoner to be pricked by these nails, resulting in profuse bleeding.

This design left the prisoner almost immobile, forced to maintain a painful and rigid posture.

Once confined in the cage, the prisoner’s neck would be locked by a special wooden ring mechanism, and their feet would be placed on a few bricks.

Over time, officials would gradually remove these bricks, causing the prisoner’s body to hang in the air, ultimately suspended in the wooden cage in excruciating pain.