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What punishments were used under Han law?

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Map showing the Han Empire's territory around 100 BCE, shaded in orange, covering much of eastern China and extending westward. The map also marks the boundary of modern China and highlights the Great Wall running along the northern frontier, built for protection against the Huns. Major rivers and the capital, Chang'an (Xi'an), are labeled. — Han dynasty Map showing the extent of the Han empire c. 100 bce.

Under the Han dynasty, the legal system was designed to maintain order by punishing disobedience and crime, though it also allowed for rewards to encourage service. While the law was theoretically binding on all, privileged individuals—such as nobles—could sometimes mitigate their sentences by forfeiting their status.12

The specific punishments utilized under Han law included:

Exile: The forced relocation of individuals away from their homes.12
Hard labor: Conscripted work often used for state projects.12
Flogging: A physical punishment for various offenses.12
Castration: A severe physical penalty.12
Death: The most severe punishment, which was typically carried out publicly for heinous crimes.12

In cases involving the death penalty, the state confiscated the criminal's goods and family members, who were then enslaved to perform menial or domestic tasks in government offices. However, senior officials and members of the imperial family were often permitted to commit suicide to avoid the public disgrace of a formal execution.12