For over five centuries, the statues of Qin Hui, a former chancellor of the Song Dynasty, and his wife have been slapped, kicked, and spit on by millions of people.
In the heart of Hangzhou, forever facing the impressive mausoleum of a brave general they once framed and got executed, are the statues of Qin Hui and his wife, two of the most hated and despised figures in Chinese history. They are depicted on their knees, with their heads down and their hands tied behind their back, eternally humiliated for their treason. But that is not punishment enough for the cast-iron statues, as they also have to endure the slaps, punches, and kicks of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people every single day. To get an idea of how much abuse Qin Hui and his wife receive, you should know that their statues have been replaced 11 times since the originals were installed in the late 15th century, with the latest ones dating back to 1979.
Qin Hui was a chancellor of the Song Dynasty in the 12th century who proved instrumental in orchestrating the peace between the Song and Jin dynasties. However, he is no national hero, quite the contrary. According to modern historians, to open peace talks with the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty, Qin Hui framed General Yue Fei for disobedience and treason, and had him executed in prison. General Yue had accomplished great victories against the Jurchens, bravely defending the Song Dynasty against invaders, and he posthumously became a martyr and a symbol of loyalty in China. Qin Hui, on the other hand, became one of the most hated political figures in the history of the country.
It’s hard to describe just how hated Qin Hui and his wife are in China. One of the country’s most popular fried snacks, yóutiáo, which means “oil-fried devil,” and consists of two connected strips of dough fried together in hot oil, is said to have been inspired by the couple. People just love to punish them any way they can, but it’s their statues that get the most abuse.
Chinese history is complex and complicated, and opinions regarding Qin Hui’s betrayal are mixed. But that matters little after so many centuries. He and his wife will forever endure the abuse of a people that values few things more than loyalty, justice, and not letting traitors off the hook.
