Pit Workers in the Old Days # 21: Torture #4 (Burning a Lawbreaker after Hanging Him Head down)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama no Hitobito #21: Rinchi #4 (Sakasazuri Hiaburi)
[Pit Workers in the Old Days # 21: Torture #4 (Burning a Lawbreaker after Hanging Him Head down)]
20.7 x 29.3 cm Ink Painting

In the Mid-Meiji era (1868-1912), everybody would become deeply frightened, scared, or shuddered at the cruelty of this torture, when he/she heard some miners utter their habitual saying, "I'll torture you bastard with the Chochin-mage of Takashima Island!" [Translator's Notes: The Chochin-mage was a series of the ways of bondage reportedly used by the miners at the pit in Takashima Island.]
There was another method of torture that involved burning a man after hanging him head down. He would suffer hell on earth. This method was an unimaginably cruel torture. It was said that most of the men who were tortured in this way lost their lives. (This was done according to the rules of the pit in the above island.)

Words above the Inset
Aa, san!: How miserable!
Akaoni (in red ink): red demon
Zankoku!: How cruel!


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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