Caning
A rattan cane used for judicial and school corporal punishment.
Caning is a type of corporal punishment where strikes, called strokes, are delivered to the body using a rattan cane. The cane is thin and flexible, unlike a walking stick, which is thicker and more rigid. Strokes are most often applied to the buttocks, which may be bare or clothed, but can also target the soles of the feet, palms, back of the thighs, or, less commonly, the knuckles, back, shoulders, or front of the body. The sensation is a sharp sting that fades into a lingering burn, and the cane can produce intense pain without much force. Welts of varying severity are a typical result.
Historically, caning was widespread in the 19th and 20th centuries as a judicial penalty and school punishment. While outlawed in much of Europe, it remains legal in many countries for home, school, religious, judicial, or military use, and is still practiced in some places where it is no longer legal.
In judicial settings, a long, heavy rattan cane is used, making the punishment much harsher than school caning. This practice was a feature of several British colonial legal systems, and while Britain itself did not use the cane as a standard court sentence, it was used judicially in some contexts (e.g., in prisons). Today, judicial caning persists in some post-independence nations, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei retain it for male offenders only, with a maximum of 24 strokes on the bare buttocks for healthy men under 50. It is mandatory for many violent or drug crimes, as well as immigration violations, sexual offences, vandalism (in Singapore), and prison rule breaches. Malaysia also has religious courts for Muslims that can order a milder caning for both sexes. In Indonesia, caning was introduced in Aceh after its 2005 autonomy, where sharia law allows the cane on the clothed upper back for Muslim men and women; since 2022, non-Muslims in Aceh have been given the option of alternative punishments (e.g., fines or community service) instead of caning. African countries using judicial caning include Botswana, Tanzania, Nigeria (mostly in the north), and for juveniles only, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. Others, like Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, used it until the late 20th century, while some Caribbean nations use birching instead. High-profile cases include the 1994 caning of American student Michael P.
- Type
- Corporal punishment method
- Implement
- Rattan cane
- Common targets
- Buttocks, soles of feet, palms, back of thighs
- Historical use
- Judicial and school discipline in British colonies and elsewhere, with some judicial use in Britain itself (e.g., in prisons)
- Current use
- Legal in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia (Aceh), Botswana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Eswatini, Zimbabwe
Lore & Background
Caning consists of administering strokes to the body, typically with a rattan cane, applied to the bare or clothed buttocks, soles of the feet, palms, or back of the thighs. The cane delivers a sharp sting followed by a lingering burn, and can produce welts. It is distinct from a walking stick, which is thicker and more rigid. Judicial caning, using a long, heavy rattan, was a feature of some British colonial judicial systems, and while the cane was not used as a standard court sentence in Britain itself, it was used judicially in some contexts (e.g., in prisons). In Southeast Asia, it remains in use for male offenders in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, with a maximum of 24 strokes on the bare buttocks for healthy males under 50. In Aceh, Indonesia, caning is applied to the clothed upper back; since 2022, non-Muslims have been given the option of alternative punishments (e.g., fines or community service) instead of caning.
Reader's Guide
Caning has significant historical and contemporary relevance as a form of corporal punishment. It was widely used in judicial and school settings across the British Empire and beyond, and persists in several countries today. Judicial caning in Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei is mandatory for many offenses, including violent crimes, drug offenses, and vandalism, and has attracted international attention in cases such as that of Michael P. Fay. In Aceh, caning was introduced under sharia law for Muslims. School caning remains routine in some former British territories and is also practiced illegally in others. The practice raises ongoing debates about human rights, child protection, and the effectiveness of corporal punishment. The Convention on the Rights of the Child obliges member states to protect children from all forms of physical violence, yet caning continues in many places. Its legacy includes a complex interplay of legal, cultural, and educational factors that vary widely by region.
Did You Know?
- In Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, healthy males under 50 can be sentenced to a maximum of 24 strokes of the rattan cane on the bare buttocks.
- In Aceh, Indonesia, caning is applied to the clothed upper back under sharia law, and since 2022 voluntary caning for non-Muslims has been de facto removed.
- In the UK, all corporal punishment in private schools was banned in 1999 for England and Wales, 2000 in Scotland, and 2003 in Northern Ireland.
More in Pain 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced