A man in a cangue in Shanghai, photographed by John Thomson c. 1870
A man in a cangue in Shanghai, photographed by John Thomson c. 1870 A man in a cangue in Shanghai, photographed by John Thomson c. 1870. The label reads "上海縣正堂，封" meaning "Sealed by the Shanghai County Magistrate". The offender had to rely on passersby for food. This is a pillory as it was used in China in the 19th century. It saved costs for prisons and was quite effective. The man in the picture can't reach his face with his hands so he can't eat. He's in public and he's depending on people to take pity on him and feed and water him like a dog. Charitable Chinese man feeding a criminal in a cangue. Petty criminals were sentenced to wear Charitable Chinese man feeding a criminal in a cangue. Petty criminals were sentenced to wear the canque, often for a couple of months, and display themselves in public places. At best they were humbled by dependence on others to be fed, at worst, they might starve to death. The sign on the cangue describes the ...