also: ぼくけい
noun
tattooing as punishment in ancient China
Historical term referring to one of the Five Punishments (五刑) in ancient China, where criminals were tattooed on the face or body as a permanent mark of their crime.
See also: 五刑
古代中国では、墨刑は五刑の一つとして行われていた。
In ancient China, tattooing as punishment was carried out as one of the Five Punishments.
The Five Punishments of ancient China, of which 墨刑 (tattooing) is one; 五刑 is the broader category.
From Chinese 墨刑 (mòxíng), literally 'ink punishment'. The Japanese reading is on'yomi.