Editing Lingchi

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[[File:ACBoSJ Liu Jin execution.jpg|thumb|250px|Liu Jin being executed via ''lingchi'']]
'''''Lingchi''''' (凌遲), also known as '''death by a thousand cuts''',<ref name="Scroll 2">''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' – [[Database: Scroll 2 (China)|Database: Scroll 2]]</ref> was a form of torture and slow execution used in [[China]] throughout the second millennium CE.

==Description==
The process involves tying the condemned to a wooden frame, usually in a public place. Strips of flesh are then cut off the prisoner over a period of days, prolonging their life and extending their suffering.<ref name="AC China 2">''[[Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun]]'' – [[The Assassin Brotherhood and The Templar Order]]</ref>

==History==
''Lingchi'' was already a known method of capital punishment in China during the 8th century. During the [[An Lushan Rebellion]], [[Yeluohe]] general [[Shi Siming]] captured the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] loyalist leader [[Yan Gaoqing]] upon putting down his counter-rebellion in [[Changshan Commandery|Changshan]]. He claimed while interrogating him that Gaoqing would be executed via ''lingchi'' should he be sent to [[An Lushan]] but that he would grant him a swift death if he expressed regret for his resistance and begged for forgiveness.<ref name="Dynasty 32">''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' – [[Integrity's Last (Part 8)]]</ref>

Under the [[Ming dynasty]], ''lingchi'' became a regular method of exacting capital punishment on the treasonous. In 1510,<ref name="tEG">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide]]''</ref> it was notably used by the [[Zhengde Emperor]] to execute [[Liu Jin]], a disgraced member of the [[Eight Tigers]] who had been betrayed by his own lieutenant, [[Zhang Yong]].<ref name="Scroll 2" /><ref name="Liu Jin">''Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China'' – [[Database: Liu Jin]]</ref> 

In 1521, while the court was transitioning to the new reign of the [[Jiajing Emperor]], the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Brotherhood]] of [[Assassins]] suffered a catastrophic defeat battling the [[Templars]] in the [[Forbidden City]]. At this point, the Eight Tigers who led [[Shanghai Rite of the Templar Order|Chinese Rite]] still controlled the court and seized upon this victory to enact a purge of the Assassins, their allies, and their suspected sympathizers. All were tortured and executed via ''lingchi''.<ref name="Embers">''[[Assassin's Creed: Embers]]''</ref><ref name="Scroll 7">''Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China'' – [[Database: Scroll 7 (China)|Database: Scroll 7]]</ref> One of the chief executioners was the Tiger [[Ma Yongcheng]]; his sadistic enjoyment of this role earned him the epithet "the Butcher".<ref name="Scroll 7" />

Hence, the use of ''lingchi'' only escalated under the Jiajing Emperor, who favoured it over decapitation and employed it frequently against political dissidents and enemies.<ref name="Embers" /> He was notorious for condemning many of his [[concubine]]s to it after they attempted to {{wiki|Palace plot of Renyin year|assassinate}} him.<ref name="The Jiajing Emperor">''Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China'' – [[Database: The Jiajing Emperor]]</ref>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Embers]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel)|''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' novel]] {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China]]'' {{Mdat}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: The Ming Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Blade of Shao Jun]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[zh:凌迟]]
[[Category:Execution methods]]