What does it mean to ask after autumn?

Ask after the autumn, which means after the autumn equinox. Asking for beheading after autumn means that all criminals in ancient times should be beheaded in autumn, because autumn is cold and suitable for beheading people who have committed great crimes.

1, pinyin: qρu hòu u.

2. Source: The word "Asked after Autumn" originated from Zuo Zhuan? Twenty-six years of "xianggong" This is related to the natural philosophy that we advocated at the beginning. Of course, the natural philosophy here is similar to what we call the concept of harmony between man and nature.

3. Analysis: Asking for guilt after the autumn refers to that in ancient times, prisoners began to be executed after the autumnal equinox and solar terms. Asking after autumn began in the Warring States Period.

4. Source: Questioning in the autumn was an important measure in the ancient judicial system of China. Since the Han Dynasty, except for treason and other felonies, the death penalty must be executed immediately, and the rest of the death penalty must be executed after autumn, which has also become a major feature of China's ancient judicial system.

Why after beginning of autumn?

The reason why the death penalty was executed after autumn was because the ancients had serious feudal superstitions, and the execution in autumn and winter was related to the concept of natural theocracy that the ancients believed in, that is, conforming to God's will. People's behavior, including political activities, should always conform to the weather, or they will be punished by the gods. The ancients believed that the emperor was the son of heaven and had to obey, especially so. Acting on the weather is like executing a prisoner.