4. Death by a thousand cuts (Lingchi)
Death by a thousand cuts or lingchi was reserved only for the most heinous of crimes in China. It was performed with a very sharp knife, which was used to slice and remove parts of victim’s body. Lingchi masters prided themselves in being able to keep their victims alive for days, thus prolonging their agony. It was usually performed in a public place. Another level of punishment was that, according to Buddhist teachings, a person missing part or parts of their body wouldn’t be whole in the afterlife.
