In ancient times, when a person committed a capital offense, they were given a special meal - a severed head. This rice sounds simple, but one dish in it is very special, and that is a piece of fishy raw meat. This piece of meat is simply out of place when placed in a delicious meal.
The ancient punishment was harsh and direct, beheading, although cruel, but it was commonplace in that era. The last meal that a condemned prisoner can enjoy before the execution is called a decapitated meal. This meal is not just about filling your stomach, it carries a deep cultural significance and human care behind it.
But the strange thing is that there is always a piece of fishy raw meat in this hearty meal. This can't help but make people wonder, what is the use of this seemingly disgusting piece of raw meat? In fact, the story behind this goes back to the Spring and Autumn period. At that time, the king of Chuzhuang captured a large number of enemy prisoners of war in a battle. In the face of these former enemies, King Chuzhuang's heart was actually very entangled. He had to show the benevolence of the king, but he could not be too weak to the soldiers and people in the country.
Under these circumstances, King Chuzhuang decided to give these prisoners of war a last good meal, and let them have a full meal before executing. This seemingly cruel behavior is actually a very humane consideration, which not only shows respect for life, but also reflects the generosity of the monarch. This practice was soon emulated by other countries and gradually evolved into a cultural tradition.
What's the deal with that smelly piece of raw meat? It turned out that this piece of raw meat was not meant to be tortured by the prisoners. In the ancient people's concept, the soul of a person after death had to go to the underworld, and the path to the underworld was full of unknowns and dangers. It is said that the underworld is guarded by vicious dogs that attack the souls of the sinful dead. This piece of raw meat is a kind of "bribe" for these vicious dogs, to protect the souls of the dead from being injured by vicious dogs.
Such a setting is not unfounded. In many ancient cultures, there is a similar idea. In ancient Egypt, it was believed that after death, there were many trials to pass in order to reach the afterlife. In China, drinking Meng Po soup and forgetting the past is also a manifestation of the concept of the world after death. Although this fishy piece of raw meat is intuitively unpleasant, in that era, it carried a meaning far more than the practical use of life, and more of a kind of spiritual sustenance and comfort for the afterlife.
In addition to this deep cultural significance, this piece of raw meat also has its own uniqueness in practice. In ancient times, execution scenes were often public and attracted large audiences. Among them are ordinary people and people from the upper class. In this case, a piece of raw meat may also be placed in order to make the audience feel the seriousness and cruelty of life and death more deeply through this extreme contrast. This visual and olfactory impact enhances the warning effect of punishment and makes people more cautious about crime.
From a psychological point of view, the existence of this piece of raw meat may be an extreme psychological torment for death row inmates. Imagine that in the last moments of your life, you are faced not only with the fear of death, but also with such a disgusting piece of raw meat. This extreme experience may cause the death row inmates to have deep introspection or remorse at the last moments, which may also be the deep psychological consideration of the ancients in setting up this link.
It is undeniable that, whatever the reason, the presence of this piece of raw meat undoubtedly adds to the mystery and ritual of the severed head rice. It is not just a meal, but also a cultural inheritance, a final tribute to the dignity of life, and a kind of mourning and commemoration for the deceased.
In the modern world, although we no longer have such punishments, these ancient traditions and stories still affect us on a legal and cultural level. They make us constantly reflect on what justice is and what respect for life is. When we look back on these stories, we are not only learning about history, but also thinking about how we should treat every life better, now and in the future.
By exploring the story of the fishy piece of raw meat in the ancient severed rice, we not only see a historical and cultural phenomenon, but also see the profound thinking of the ancients about life, death and morality. This piece of raw meat is not a simple food, but a symbol full of historical weight. It reminds us that when faced with the question of life and death, human beings are always full of complex emotions and deep thinking.