Beneath the rigid honour codes of the criminal underworld, ancient Chinese thieves operated in a high-stakes gamble against the state. For those who broke the law and were captured, the cost of failure was inscribed on their skin or paid in blood through facial tattooing, brutal amputations, or the executioner’s blade.From mastering qinggong (light body technique) to extreme contortion, their skills offered insight into a shadowy realm characterised by cunning, strict discipline, and...