He Sentenced 9/10 of China to Death

4.8

Po-yen, the powerful minister of the Chinese Emperor Tohan Timur (1320—1370), thought of a cruel method for punishing the Chinese people who had risen against the government.

He sentenced to death every man, woman and child, who had the surnames of Chang, Wang, Liu, Li and Chao. These were the most popular Chinese surnames. 50 million out of China’s population of 56 million — in the 14th century — had these names. Therefore Po-yen sentenced to death nine out of every ten Chinese. Fortunately for China the Emperor was overthrown before the killing could begin.