Why did the ancients choose to ask questions after autumn? ?

In ancient times, people chose to plead guilty after the autumn because it would enable prisoners to give full play to their value, help their families and benefit the country.

Questioning after autumn is a way to execute the death penalty, which first appeared in the Book of Rites. It is recorded in the Book of Rites: "The cool wind comes, the dew falls, cicadas sing, and the eagle is a sacrificial bird, so it is useless to kill it." This month is autumn, and the wind blowing outside is a little cold. In the morning, dew has begun to appear and cicadas have cried. The falcon scattered the killed birds around like sacrifices. People sentenced to death this month should also start executing the death penalty.

In ancient times, the state had clear requirements for everything in the four seasons. Spring is the season of celebration, summer is the season of reward and autumn is the season of punishment. This is because the ruler thinks he is the son of heaven, and everything must conform to the rhythm of heaven.

In ancient times, most people sentenced to death were men, and few women were sentenced to death. Because most death row inmates are men. And men are the main labor force. In ancient times, farming was the mainstay, and it was busy in spring, summer and autumn. This is the loss of the country's sowing and harvesting. So in order to make the best use of it, we will wait until the autumn harvest before executing the death penalty.

Generally, after a year's food is collected, the condemned prisoners will go to the capital to execute the death penalty. However, only prisoners of a few dynasties had such an opportunity. Prisoners were treated like this during Emperor Taizong's reign. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, one year, 106 condemned prisoners were sentenced to go back to farming first and then be punished in autumn. After the autumn harvest, all the prisoners went to Chang 'an to receive the death penalty, and Emperor Taizong also pardoned the world and exempted the 106 prisoners from the death penalty.

Although the death penalty is cruel, in ancient times, people tried their best to be humane.