"Echoes of Ancient China: Customs and Laws of the Qin Dynasty"

Did you know that in ancient China around 200 BC, individuals of shorter stature were exempt from arrest? Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who stood at just 4 feet 11 inches tall, enforced a law dictating that one had to be as tall as him to be considered an . This led shorter men to often plead as children, as verifying age through birth records was impossible at the time. However, passing the height test came with its own challenges. The same laws prohibited men from crying, deeming it a sign of weakness. If caught shedding tears, the punishment was severe – the offender's beard and eyebrows were shaved off. But the peculiarities didn't end there. For women, the Qin dynasty initiated a bizarre crying ritual before marriage. Every woman was required to cry for an hour every day for 30 days prior to her wedding. She wasn't alone in this; her mother joined for three weeks, followed by her grandmother for two weeks, and then aunts and sisters for one week each. This ritual was considered a necessary display of affection for the family.