Copyright: Turandot

ID: 328
Ressource_Provider: Jérôme Bourgon
Title: Cangue supported by pilars
DocumentNature: Watercolor
Repository: Turandot
Color: Color
Topic: Cangue 枷
Description: THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WOODEN-COLLAR.
This punishment is deemed very disgraceful. The collar is formed of heavy pieces of wood, dosed together, and having a hole in the centre, which fits the neck of the offender, who, when this machine is upon him, can neither see his own feet, nor put his hands to his mouth. He is not permitted to reside in any habitation, nor even to take rest for any considerable length of time, an inferior officer of justice constantly attending, to prevent him. By night and by day, he carries this load, which is heavier or lighter, according to the nature of the crime, and the strength of the wearer. The weight of the common sort of these wooden collars, is only fifty or sixty pounds, but there are those, which weigh two hundred, and which are so grievous to the bearers that sometimes, through shame, pain, want of proper nourishment, or of natural rest, they have been known to expire under them. The criminals find various methods, however, of mitigating this punishment: by walking in company with their relations and friends, who support the corners of the collar, and prevent it from pressing upon the shoulders; by resting it upon a table, a bench, or against a tree;* or, according to the representation in the accompanying Plate, by having a chair constructed for the purpose, with four posts of equal heights to support the machine. When this ponderous incumbrance is fixed upon an offender, it is always before the magistrate, who has decreed it; and upon each side, over the places where the wood is joined, long slips of paper are pasted, upon which the name of the person, the crime, which he has committed, and the duration of his punishment, are written, in very distinct characters; a seal is likewise stamped upon the paper, to prevent the instrument from being opened. Three months is the usual time appointed for those to bear about this collar, who have been convicted of robbery. For defamation, gambling, or breaches of the peace, it is carried a few weeks; and insolvent debtors are sometimes ordered to bear it, until they have satisfied their creditors.
When the offender is to be liberated from the collar, it must be in the presence of the magistrate, who has imposed it; he then generally orders him a few blows of the pan-tsee, and dismisses him, with an exhortation to comport himself more regularly in future.
Near the figure in this Engraving, are represented the basin and the sort of spoon, by which persons in that situation are supplied with food.
* See folio vol. of Su George Staunton, Plate XXVIII.
--------------------------------------------------------------
LA PUNITION DU COLLIER DE BOIS.
On regarde cette punition comme très-dishonorante. Le collier est formé de pesantes pieces de bois, unies ensemble, ayant, au centre, un trou, de la grosseur du col du malfaiteur. Lorsque cette machine est sur lui, il ne peut voir ses pieds, ni porter ses mains à sa bouche. On ne lui permet d'avoir aucune demeure, ni même de prendre de repos, pendant un terris considérable; un officier subalterne de justice l'accompagne constamment, pour l'en empêcher. Il porte, jour et nuit, ce fardeau, dont la pesanteur est proportionnée au crime, et à la force du patient. Ces colliers de bois ne pèsent ordinairement, que cinquante ou soixante livres; mais il y en a qui pèsent jusqu'à deux cents, et qui accablent tellement ceux, qui les portent, qu'on en a vû quelquefois y succomber de honte, faute d'aliments convenables, ou de repos naturel. Cependant, les criminels trouvent diverses manières d'adoucir ce châtiment; tel, qu'en marchant à côté de leurs parents et amis, qui supportent le coin du collier, et l'empêchent de presser sur les épaules; en l'appuyant sur une table, un banc, ou contre un arbre;* ou, suivant la représentation dans la Planche ci-jointe, au moyen d'un chaise, faite exprès, avec quatre montants d'une égale hauteur, pour supporter la machine. Quand on charge un coupable de ce poids incommode, c'est toujours en présence du magistrat qui l'a jugé; et de chaque côté, sur les jointures du bois, on colle de longues bandes de papier, sur lesquelles sont écrits, en caractères bien distincte, le nom de la personne, le crime qu'elle a commis, et la durée de sa punition; et pour empêcher d'ouvrir l'instrument, on scelle encore le papier. Ceux qui sont convaincus de vol, sont ordinairement condamnés à porter trois mois, ce collier. Pour diffamer, filauter, troubler la tranquillité publique, on le porte quelques semaines; et quelquefois des débiteurs sans fonds sont obligés le porter jusqu'à ce qu'ils ayant payé leur créanciers.
Quand le coupable est déchargé du collier, ce doit être en présence du magistrat, qui l'a ordonné; alors il lui fait ordinairement appliquer quelque coupa du pan-tsee, et le congede, en l'exhortant à se comporter de plus régulièrement.
Près de la figure, dans cette Planche, sont représentés le bassin et l'espèce de cuiller, avec lesquels on donne les aliments aux personnes dans cette situation.

*Voyez vol. in folio, du Chevalier Staunton, Planche XXVIII.
Keyword: cangue

Bibliography
  1:Name: MASON, George Henry, Pu-qùa (ill.), DADLEY (grav.) The Punishments of China, Illustrated by Twenty-two Engravings with Explanations in English and French

Related Replication (1)

1  Ressource_Provider: Miss Turandot
    Title: Chinese Cangue
    Information: Three representation of the Chinese cangue made on a same model, reworked by Western arists. The Chinese characters of the original have been scrupulously reproduced, very likely by a Chinese hand. The 2nd and 3rd image might be Chinese copy of the 1st, produced by the collaboration of Cantonese Pu-quà workshop and the British engraver Dadley (see the spoon and bowl, figuring the impediment to self feeding that the cangue was supposed to cause).

Related VisualSet (1)

1  Title: The Punishments of China, Illustrated by Twenty-two Engravings with Explanations in English and French
    DocumentNature: Engraving

Derniére modification le : 2006-12-12