The Great Ming Empire Grants Mercy

Those who cross the son of heaven will suffer annihilation! However as this is your first offense I will grant mercy. Why thank you very much oh merciful great Ming Dynasty. 黎利 Le Loi 世先 Sen Taishi 阿那咳毕隆 Anaukpetlun 俺答 Altan Khan 丰臣秀吉 Toyotomi Hideyoshi 约翰·威德尔 John Weddell 野猪皮 Nurhaci 李自成 Li Zicheng 大明帝国 The Great Ming Empire

A battered, bandaged imperial figure representing the Great Ming Empire declares that anyone who crosses the Son of Heaven will be annihilated, but grants mercy for a first offense. Several historical figures thank the merciful dynasty. The joke refers to the Ming Empire’s repeated conflicts with neighboring rulers and states, using exaggerated courtroom-like mercy as a humorous reaction to surviving an overwhelming threat.

• @eternalclassic / 38793 2023-09-15