Before execution, why were ancient death row prisoners fed a hearty meal with a smelly piece of raw meat but still very grateful?

Dong Trong Thu, an idealistic philosopher of the Western Han Dynasty and a typical representative of Confucianism, based on the ideology of `Unity of Heaven and Humanity`, created the doctrine of `Induction of Heaven and Humanity`.

He believed that, `The heavens have four times, the king has four principalities` meaning there are four seasons in the weather, and kings have four policies to rule the country.

Therefore, major events in ancient times such as `inauguration` (festival), `reward` (commendation), `punishment` (conviction), `penalty` (execution) in the royal court must correspond to the four

If you go against God’s will, it will lead to disaster and punishment from heaven, and ancient people believed in this.

For the ancients, `Autumn’s death` is not only in accordance with the weather but also a way of life for death row prisoners.

Prisoners sentenced to death in different regions of China are often reviewed by high-ranking officials before being executed.

But because travel in ancient times was backward, it took several months to deliver the news to the capital, so during this process, the relatives of death row inmates still had a chance to find new evidence and overturn the verdict.

That’s why, `Autumn’s Retribution` also prevents injustice to a certain extent.

Although feudal laws were very harsh, death row inmates were still given a hearty meal before execution.

In the eyes of ancient people, no matter what crime they committed, after being sentenced to death, that person was considered to have received a suitable punishment, their life had been taken away.

For those who are about to die, what is the point of calculating with them?

In many historical records, the `first meal` was first proposed by Vuong So Trang (the 25th king of the So state – a vassal of the Zhou Dynasty) in the Spring and Autumn period.

At that time, all countries were in chaos, the winning side would destroy the defeated side, resulting in many enemy soldiers being killed.

As one of the five tyrants of the Spring and Autumn period, when King So Trang saw this situation, he proposed a full meal before killing those people, so as not to let them become hungry ghosts.

From then on, the `first meal` became more popular, becoming a custom of later dynasties.

The `first meal` is the last meal in the life of a death row prisoner, that’s why the government servants try to prepare it as sumptuously as possible.

Living conditions in the past were very difficult, civilians could not eat meat for half a year, but during the `first meals`, death row prisoners were given chicken and meat, ensuring they were well fed.

However, despite being provided with such a rich meal, most death row inmates cannot swallow it.

In feudal laws, there are also many different regulations on beheading.

For example, the Song Dynasty was famous for being very populous, with the standard for a `first meal` costing no less than 5,000 coins.

Although officials at all levels embezzled a little, the remaining money for the `first meal` was not small.

Not only that, in the `first part of the meal`, the government official will put a piece of raw meat that smells bad.

In ancient times, most people were superstitious and believed in the theory of reincarnation.

Next to Nai Ha bridge there is always an aggressive dog.

Therefore, even though it was a piece of raw meat that smelled bad, it was considered a `favor` from the government to give the death row prisoner some luggage to go to the nine streams.

Placing a piece of raw meat in a death row prisoner’s rice bowl may seem like an act of contempt for people in ancient times, but it can reduce the psychological pressure on the dying person.

People in ancient times were deeply influenced by Confucianism, so the Emperors when ruling the country also paid more or less attention to humanity.