also: あしきり
cutting off a foot; foot amputation (ancient Chinese punishment)
Historical term referring to one of the five severe punishments (五刑) in ancient China. Rarely used in modern Japanese except in historical or legal history contexts.
See also: 五刑
Among the five punishments of ancient China was 剕 (hi), a punishment of cutting off a foot.
The kanji 剕 is composed of 非 (not, wrong) and 刂 (knife), suggesting punishment by cutting. The reading ひ is on'yomi; あしきり is a native Japanese reading literally meaning 'foot cutting'. The term is historically specific to ancient Chinese legal systems.