Tru Vương – The King of Genius and His Cruelty
Tru Vương (1154 BC – 1123 BC), also known as the De Tân, with the real name of Tử Thú, is considered the last king of the Zhou Dynasty in Chinese history. He is believed to have reigned from 1154 BC to 1123 BC, or from 1075 BC to 1046 BC.
In the Records of the Grand Historian, he is described as the son of De Đạt, a well-known figure in the literary world. Outside of the historical records, there are mentions of him being a local hero. He is the younger brother of Tử Khải and Tử Diễn.
In the early years of his reign, Tru Vương focused on military leadership. He was very talented in military strategy and consistently won victories, eventually defeating the Dong Di, bringing the cultural achievements of the Zhou Dynasty to the Hoài Thủy and Trường Giang regions. However, Tru Vương was known for his tyrannical rule, showing little regard for the lives of common people due to prolonged wars and disasters. He relentlessly built magnificent palaces and lavish gardens. Additionally, Tru Vương and De Kỳ also resorted to extreme measures to suppress the people. The harshness of these measures often led to widespread suffering and discontent among the populace.
Tru Vương and De Kỳ devised many cruel measures to suppress the people. (Image: Sohu)
Some notorious methods associated with the name of Tru Vương include:
– Sái Bồn: A cruel punishment involving drowning, where the victim was subjected to a torturous drowning in a deep well until death. This method served as a means to instill fear among the people, resulting in widespread terror in the land. Sái Bồn was where Tru Vương and De Kỳ brutally demonstrated their power and authority.
Tru Vương devised cruel methods to punish the people. (Image: Sohu)
– Bảo lạc: A form of execution involving a large stone placed over the victim, who would be crushed to death as a form of punishment. The brutality of this method was infamous and served to deter dissent.
Additionally, there is another form of punishment attributed to Tru Vương called “Tích Thủy Hình”. According to scholars, this method also caused significant suffering to the victims, likened to a torturous method of execution involving water. Tích Thủy Hình was a form of punishment where victims were subjected to a method of slow drowning.
What is the “Tích Thủy Hình” punishment?
Illustration of the “Tích Thủy Hình” punishment method used by Tru Vương on offenders. (Image: Sohu)
As the name implies, “Tích Thủy Hình” is a punishment that involves water to execute the offender. The victim is first restrained in a position where they cannot move. A container is placed strategically above their head to allow only a few drops of water to fall down. Subsequently, water is dripped into the container, which gradually fills and overflows, leading to the victim’s demise over time. This method can take up to two years to execute.
What are the consequences of the “Tích Thủy Hình” punishment?
At first, many might think this form of punishment is not particularly severe. However, in reality, it can lead to severe mental distress for the victim. Over time, the constant dripping of water can cause psychological torment, making the victim paranoid and fearful.
An illustration comparing the “Tích Thủy Hình” punishment to “water torture.” (Image: Sohu)
Modern scientists have studied and confirmed that if conducted continuously over a period, each drop of water could be akin to a hammer striking the victim’s head, leading to a sound akin to a hammer striking metal, causing immense psychological pain.
The ‘Tích Thủy Hình’ punishment that drives the victim to madness. (Image: Sohu)
After a month, the victim’s hair would grow long and tangled, and after another month, their hair would be completely unkempt, with visible signs of mental degradation and despair. Eventually, the victim would succumb to death due to the prolonged psychological torment. Thus, “Tích Thủy Hình” is regarded as one of the most barbaric forms of punishment in ancient times.
