Many believe Chinese water torture was a very effective way to seriously harm someone. And still, the water keeps coming.Įventually, if the person were not released, they would most likely suffer a psychotic breakdown. You have no idea how long you’ll have to endure the pain and discomfort. The straps holding you down dig into your skin. Your body temperature drops, and you get chilled. Hour after hour, the cold water taps against your forehead. Torturers poured cold water on your head in a steady, continuous stream of droplets that you can do nothing to stop. Just imagine being strapped to a chair and immobilized.

But “annoying” doesn’t come close to the horrors this practice supposedly inflicted on its victims. It’s most commonly used nowadays as a metaphor for something annoying. What Is Chinese Water Torture?Īlthough everybody seems to have heard of Chinese water torture, its origins are not well known. So let’s take a look at the roots of Chinese water torture and whether it was ever actually used, to begin with. Water can be truly sinister in the right (or wrong) hands. So how can droplets of water be considered torture? The idea of dripping water on someone – which is what Chinese water torture consists of – sounds almost pleasant. Water may not sound as bad as other torture methods involving spikes, rods, electricity, or sharp or painful objects. And yet, humans have found a way to turn this precious resource into a diabolical form of torture. It can be refreshing, soothing, or even life-saving.

Houdini chinese water torture cell