Why did beheadings in ancient times have to be done at three quarters of noon? Is there anything special about it?

Because the ancients believed that killing was a "shady thing", and three quarters of noon was the time when the sun was strongest and the "yang energy" was heaviest in ancient times.

Even if the person who is beheaded deserves it, he will still be resentful and will pester the executioner or the official who gave the order after death. Therefore, the ancients set the time of beheading at three quarters of noon to borrow Yang Qi. Suppressing the Yin Qi can protect the executioner or the ordering officials to the greatest extent.

There is another meaning. Human energy is on the verge of "lying on the pillow" at "three quarters of noon". For example, many times we stand in the dazzling sunshine at noon. After a short time, our eyes You will feel pantothenic acid and your consciousness will be a little hazy.

Therefore, if the prisoner is beheaded at this moment, the prisoner will also be a little drowsy. The moment the head falls to the ground, it can alleviate some pain. In this way, it is also out of humanitarian considerations.

There are also concepts commonly used in later novels about gods and ghosts:

Beheading is performed at three quarters of noon, when the Yang energy is at its strongest and the Yin energy dissipates. If the person to be beheaded is a heinous person, If you commit a crime, you may "not even be a ghost" as a sign of severe punishment.

To put it more clearly, it means that he cannot be exposed to the Yin Qi. If he dies, he will die. Even ghosts will prevent this prisoner from being able to do it.

So this is contrary to the humanitarianism mentioned above, and it is a deepening punishment for criminals.

There is another saying that the execution of beheading is performed at noon, so that it can be done by ghosts;

Repeat offenders or heinous criminals must be executed at three quarters of noon, and they will not be allowed to do it. It's a ghost.

There is no shelter near the Meridian Gate of the Imperial City, where the sun shines directly and the Yang energy is at its strongest.

Therefore, those who were beheaded at the Meridian Gate by the emperor’s order were not guilty of any evil deeds.

In fact, to put it bluntly, it is a deterrent effect. These myths about gods and ghosts are used to make people fear the punishment itself, thereby inhibiting crime. From the perspective of the ancient feudal superstitious environment, this kind of The approach actually works.

Finally, I would like to add that the exact time of three quarters of noon should have been specifically stipulated in the Qing Dynasty:

That is equivalent to the current time between 11:44 and 12 o'clock. A period of approximately 16 minutes, collectively referred to as:

Three quarters past noon.

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In "Water Margin" there are often descriptions of killings at three o'clock in the afternoon, such as Chapter 40 "The heroes of Liangshan Po rob the White Dragon Temple, the place of execution" In "The Little Gathering of Heroes", Song Jiang and Dai Zong were taken to the execution ground, "and a report was made: 'At three o'clock noon!' The supervising officer said: 'The execution has been reported.'" Another example is the 62nd chapter "Send a cold arrow to Yan Qing, the savior, and Shi Xiu jumps off the building at the execution site". Lu Junyi is about to be executed, and the executioner is about to take action when he shouts "it's three quarters past noon". Other classical novels often include plots of executions at "three quarters at noon".

So, does ancient law stipulate that executions should be carried out at "three quarters of noon"?

Not so. For example, the laws of the Tang and Song Dynasties stipulated that every year from the beginning of spring to the autumnal equinox, as well as the first month, May, and September, the great sacrificial days, the great fasting days, the twenty-four solar terms, the lunar and first quarter days of each month, and the first and last quarter days of each month. No executions are allowed on the days when killings are prohibited (i.e. on the 10th, 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th and 30th days). It also stipulates that the death penalty shall not be executed when "the rain has not cleared or the night has not dawned." According to this regulation, the Tang Dynasty could execute executions less than eighty days a year. Regarding the time of execution, the laws of the Tang Dynasty clearly stipulated that executions could only be carried out between Weishi and Shenshi (approximately between 1:00 and 5:00 this afternoon). It’s not “three quarters at noon”. The laws of the Ming and Qing Dynasties only stipulated the date of execution, which was similar to that of the Tang Dynasty. There was no clear provision on the time of execution.

Since there are no clear provisions in the law, the statement of execution at "three quarters of noon" in Ming and Qing novels should just be the practice of the officials at that time, or the common view of storytellers and writers. So why did the writer write this?

In ancient times, a day and night were divided into twelve hours, and then divided into a hundred quarters ("engraving" originally referred to the notches on the drip barrel of timekeeping.

A bucket full of drops in one day and night is divided into one hundred quarters). "Hour" and "quarter" are actually two sets of timing system units. The conversion is troublesome. On average, each hour equals eight and one-third quarters. "Noon hour" is generally between 11 and 13 o'clock noon today. The third quarter of noon is nearly 12 o'clock noon. The sun hangs in the center of the sky, which is the time when the shadow on the ground is the shortest. This was considered by people at that time as the time when "yang energy" was at its strongest in the day. Ancient China has always believed that murder is a "secret matter". No matter whether the person killed deserves it or not, his ghost will always come to haunt the judge who made the judgment, the official who oversaw the execution, the executioner and other people related to his execution. . Therefore, executing the execution when the yang energy is at its strongest can suppress the ghosts from appearing. This should be the main reason for the customary "three quarters in the afternoon" execution.

The novel is misleading! In fact, ancient laws stipulate that it is after autumn, but there is no stipulation that it must be at three quarters of noon.

Then why is Qiuhou Wenzhan?

Moreover, in ancient societies dominated by agriculture, the autumn harvest was the most important time of the year. To prevent too much resentment between heaven and earth from affecting the autumn harvest, people asked to behead after autumn.

The laws of the Tang and Song Dynasties clearly stipulated: every year from the beginning of spring to the autumnal equinox, as well as the first month, May, September, the Great Sacrifice Day, the Great Fasting Day, the twenty-four solar terms, and every month The death penalty is not allowed to be carried out on the New Year's Day, the first and last quarter days, or the killing days of each month. Moreover, the death penalty shall not be carried out when "the rain has not cleared and the night has not dawned."

The execution time was not three quarters past noon.

In the history of the Ming Dynasty, there is a saying that "Execution was carried out at Shenyou (from three to seven o'clock in the afternoon)".

In the Tang Dynasty, it was stipulated that executions should be carried out from the late hour to the Shen hour (one to five o'clock in the afternoon).

It is said in the Qing Dynasty novel "Awakening Flowers":

The fifth watch is not the third quarter of noon. So three quarters to noon is a misinformation.

In fact, there are many explanations for this, including legal explanations, superstitious yin and yang theory, and explanations based on physiological laws.

The more popular one is the "yin and yang theory".

We know that the ancients divided a day into 12 hours, and one hour is equivalent to two hours today. Noon is the time from 11 o'clock to 13 o'clock, and quarter past noon is exactly around 12 noon. 12 o'clock is the time of day when the sun is in the sky and the Yang Qi is at its strongest.

The reason why we chose three quarters of noon is because the ancients had feudal superstition in it. I feel that the matter of murder involves dealing with the underworld, so beheading at three quarters of noon can suppress the Yin energy from the underworld, and use the strongest Yang energy to suppress the prisoner's sadness. In order to avoid turning into a vicious ghost and coming to seek life or something... It really makes my spine shiver.

In addition, three quarters past noon is roughly equivalent to 12:45 today. The time of day when Yang energy is the strongest is not at noon, but at 12:45. Those who were beheaded at this time did not even have to be ghosts. They were treated like criminals who had committed the most heinous crimes. It feels a bit cruel...

Another theory is based on "physiological laws".

At the "three quarters of noon", people's energy is at its weakest and they are on the verge of "lying on the pillow". Therefore, when the prisoner is executed at this moment, the prisoner is also ignorant and sleepy. The moment his head hits the ground, the pain may be reduced a lot. . From this point of view, choosing such a time to execute the prisoner was out of consideration for the prisoner.

We watch period TV dramas and read novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and there are often plots of "Beheading the prisoner at three quarters in the afternoon". Why was execution chosen at "three quarters at noon" in ancient times? What's the point?

In ancient times, day and night were divided into twelve hours and one hundred quarters. "Engraving" originally refers to the notches on the drip barrel of the timer. A bucket full of drops in a day and night is divided into one moment. "Hour" and "quarter" are actually two sets of timing system units. The conversion is troublesome. On average, each hour equals eight and one-third quarters. "Noon hour" is generally between 11 and 13 o'clock noon today. The third quarter of noon is nearly 12 o'clock noon. The sun hangs in the center of the sky, which is the time when the shadow on the ground is the shortest.

It may be said that Chinese culture does not have a strong religious overtone, but in fact ghost factors are always reflected in the daily activities of the people and even the government. In literary works, the "three quarters of noon" killing time is this One of the examples of ghost factors at work.

So, does ancient law stipulate that executions should be carried out at "three quarters noon"? Not so. The law of the Tang Dynasty clearly stipulates that executions can only be carried out between Weishi and Shenshi (approximately between 1:00 and 5:00 this afternoon). It’s not “three quarters at noon”. The laws of the Ming and Qing Dynasties only stipulated the date of execution, which was similar to that of the Tang Dynasty. There was no clear provision on the time of execution.

Since there are no clear provisions in the law, the statement of execution at "three quarters of noon" in Ming and Qing novels should just be the practice of the officials at that time, or the common view of storytellers and writers.

At three quarters past noon, it is almost noon. The sun hangs in the center of the sky, and it is the time when the shadow on the ground is the shortest. This was considered by people at that time as the time when "yang energy" was at its strongest in the day.

In ancient times, it was always believed that murder was a "secret matter". No matter whether the person killed deserved it or not, his ghost would always come to haunt the judge who made the judgment, the official who oversaw the execution, the executioner who executed the execution, etc. and him. Related persons were executed. Therefore, executing the execution when the yang energy is at its strongest can suppress the ghosts from appearing. This should be the main reason for the customary "three quarters in the afternoon" execution.

Beheading is performed at three-quarters of an hour at noon, when Yang Qi is at its strongest and Yin Qi dissipates immediately. This heinous crime should be punished severely by "not even being a ghost". According to Yin-Yangists, Yang Qi is at its peak, which is different from what modern astronomy says. It is not at its peak at noon, but at three quarters of noon. In ancient times, executions of beheadings were carried out at different times, that is to say, beheadings had different severity. Generally, beheading is performed at noon to prevent the person from becoming a ghost; for repeat offenders or heinous criminals, the execution must be performed at three quarters of noon to prevent the person from becoming a ghost. The Yang Qi of the Meridian Gate in the imperial city is also the strongest, regardless of time, so those who are beheaded at the Meridian Gate by the emperor's order are innocent.

However, there may be another meaning. At the "three quarters of noon", people's energy is at its lowest, and they are on the verge of "falling on the pillow". Therefore, when executing prisoners at this time, they are also ignorant and sleepy. The moment their heads fall to the ground, the pain may be reduced a lot. From this point of view, choosing such a time to execute the prisoner was out of consideration for the prisoner. (Excerpted from "Integrity Outlook")

Editor's comment: "Don't be a ghost" is more reliable than "being considerate" as the reason for execution at 3:00 noon. After all, the deadline is approaching, even if you are too sleepy to lift it, His eyelids were raised, and the prisoner must have lost all sleep at that time.

The supervisor said, Dou E is approaching three quarters of noon, what else do you have to say. Dou E said that after my death there was a severe drought in Caozhou for three years. Supervising and beheading officials, haha, this is not an idiot talking in his sleep. Secondly, after I die, my passion will be sprayed on Bai Lian, who is hanging high. Supervise and kill officials, hahaha. Third! After my death, heavy snow will fall, covering up my innocence. Supervisor and beheading officer, it’s snowing in June.

This is Liuxue.

At three quarters noon, the execution was carried out.

Dou E was unjust. Dou E was really unjustly killed. After Dou E died unjustly, the three things she said came true.

For such an unjust case, if the execution had not been carried out at three quarters of noon, it would be strange that the wronged souls of those who died would not seek help from the prison officials and executioners.

In ancient times, the time of five o'clock and three quarters should be one o'clock past noon. At this time, the sun was shining at noon. No matter whether you are an unjust ghost who died in an unjust way or a ghost who died in any way, you don't dare to be there. Mischief under the sun.

According to folklore, ghosts must sign in with the Lord of Hell when the rooster crows, otherwise they will be thrown into the eighteenth level of hell and will never be able to recover. Therefore, ghosts do not dare to act boldly during the day.

Three quarters past noon is broad daylight, so it is a safe time for execution.

First of all, let’s introduce “asking and beheading”, which is to cut off the head of the prisoner to death. This criminal method is popular all over the world, it is convenient and practical, and everyone agrees with it.

Beheading can take many forms.

The first is beheading with an axe. The victim places his neck on the anvil and chops it down with a heavy axe. The second is where the victim kneels, stands, or sits on his heels, with his hands often tied in front. Lower your head and place your chin on your chest so that the executioner can see his neck (the most common method in movies and TV shows). The third method is for the victim to stand while being tortured, with one person holding the prisoner's head in front and one person responsible for the execution. This is the least and most difficult beheading method.

Beheading for public display is a common method used by rulers. The ancient Chinese had unique insights into the process of beheading. For ordinary people, at three quarters of noon, they were asked to behead at the vegetable market, and for princes and ministers, they were asked to behead at the Meridian Gate. , which is very particular. Noon is now 11:00-13:00, one quarter is about 15 minutes, and three quarters is around 11:45. At this time, the sun is blazing, and people can’t see their own shadow. According to feudalism, the sun is strong at noon, and three When the engraving is extremely powerful, it can instantly extinguish the ghosts, causing the souls of those who have been decapitated to scatter. Even ghosts cannot do it.

There is also a saying that the execution of the death penalty is a "shady thing". The ghost of the murdered person will come out to haunt the judge, executioner and executioner, and at three quarters of noon, the ghost can be suppressed and dare not appear. Beheading at the Meridian Gate was the right time and place for the emperor. In Feng Shui, the Meridian Gate was the place where Yang flourished, and the morning hour was the Yang hour. At this time and place, there was no scruple in beheading someone. No matter whether you deserved death or died unjustly, Dragon The person on the chair can sit back and relax. If the emperor still feels panic, then he can wipe out all the nine tribes.

However, according to the research of historians, the execution time in ancient times was indeed stipulated, but there was never a stipulation of "three quarters of noon"

In the months when executions can be carried out, such as in the Tang Dynasty Chao means the first month, fifth month, and ninth month. No executions will be carried out during leap years, which is the so-called "Duan Tu Month"

On the dates when executions can be carried out, they are usually festivals, solar terms, sacrifices, synodic periods, and upper and lower strings. And no execution will be carried out on "ten straight days"

As for the time when execution can be carried out, there is no clear regulation on when the execution must be carried out. Generally... it is not clear before the sky is clear, the rain is not clear, and execution cannot be carried out. Of course, there are exceptions , for example, in the history of the Ming Dynasty, there is a saying that "the edict will be executed in Shenyou from now on" (from 3 to 7 p.m.)

Since the Spring and Autumn Period, there has been a saying that "rewards are in spring and summer, punishment is in autumn and winter" According to the theory, dynasties in Chinese history generally used autumn and winter punishments... and then there is no killing after the winter solstice and before the autumnal equinox. Therefore, the saying of three quarters at noon is likely to only appear in novels.

According to the ancient theory of yin and yang, yang energy is strongest at three o'clock in the afternoon, and even if there is yin energy, it will dissipate immediately. The criminals who are executed at three o'clock at noon must be extremely heinous and their crimes are so heinous that they cannot exist in the three realms. To prevent the Yin Qi from gathering together after death, and to prevent the person from being reincarnated as a ghost, the soul will be destroyed.

In fact, execution at "three quarters noon" is not an ancient legal requirement. The laws of the Tang and Song dynasties only stipulated the times when executions were not allowed, that is, the days on which executions were prohibited were (the first, eighth, tenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, eighteenth, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, and twenty-fourth day of each month). 8, 29, and 30) shall not be executed. The death penalty shall not be carried out every year from the beginning of spring to the autumnal equinox, as well as in the first month, fifth month, ninth month, the Great Fasting Day, the Great Sacrifice Day, the 24th Solar Terms, and on the lunar and first and last quarter days of each month. There is even a provision that the death penalty cannot be carried out even if the rain has not cleared or the night is still dark. So when was the death penalty carried out in ancient times? In fact, the time period for executions in ancient times is not like the "three quarters of noon" written in the book in the play, but is set between the period from 13:00 to 17:00 on the days when executions can be carried out. ) execution. The laws of the Ming and Qing Dynasties only stipulated the date of execution, but did not clearly stipulate the time of execution. Therefore, I believe that the "three quarters of noon" execution is related to superstition. People in ancient times believed that murder was a "secret matter". Regardless of whether the person killed was guilty or not, his ghost would come to haunt the judge, supervisor, executioner and other related personnel. Therefore, execution can only be carried out at "three quarters of noon" when the yang energy is strongest, which can suppress the ghosts and prevent the ghosts of the condemned prisoners from coming out to haunt them.

This may be the reason for the "three quarters of noon" period in ancient times.

Three quarters past noon, during the day, is the time when Yin energy exchanges with Yang energy. The moment when Yang energy is the strongest is also the time when Yin energy is the strongest. The person who has just died is the new ghost, which can make new ghosts appear. When ghosts fly away, old ghosts can come out to collect yin and replenish yang. So in the countryside, it is usually this time when you encounter ghosts. When you encounter ghosts, it is usually when you are too unlucky and go to the place where yin gathers. Then again. At three quarters of noon, if these three conditions are met, you will encounter ghosts. If two conditions are met, it is easy to see ghosts. Generally speaking, it is dazzled and hallucinating. People who sigh often have more bad luck. Why do the old people say when you sigh? It’s not good for you to sigh often, that’s why,