The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s3.t8.8

c10.s3.t8.8

For the seventh century Hiuen Thsang gives the same evidence as Fa Hien for the fifth in regard to the absence of capital punishment. The offenders against the "power of the ruler", i. e. seditionists were imprisoned. They were "simply left to live or die and were not counted among men". This amounted to life-long social ostracism. Amputation of limbs or deportation was a penalty for the violation of what in Confucian ethics is known as the rules of domestic "propriety". For other offenses the punishment was a small payment of money. In the investigation of criminal cases there was no use of rod or staff to obtain proofs of guilt.²