Ana-tsurushi

Common card · No. 291231

Ana-tsurushi (穴吊るし; lit. "hole hanging"), also known simply as tsurushi (吊るし; lit. "hanging"), was a Japanese torture technique used in the 17th century to coerce Christians ("Kirishitan") to recant their faith. The victim was hung head-down by the feet. Both Japanese and Western Christians are known to have been subjected to the torture. One of the victim's hands would be held tight with a rope, but the other would be left free so the victim could signal his willingness to recant. The technique was said to be unbearable for those submitted to it, though some particularly resilient martyrs never broke under torture. The body was often lowered into a hole, itself often filled with excrement at the bottom. Typically, a cut would be made in the forehead around their temples in order to let blood pressure decrease in the area around the head. The aim was to "break their resolve" to renounce their faith or they would eventually die. Sometimes, there was a doctor to resuscitate them only to be...

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