Execution After Autumn(秋后问斩):
In Chinese, it is pronounced as: qiū hòu wèn zhǎn，Written as:

“Execution After Autumn” is an idiom originating from ancient Chinese legal systems, signifying the enactment of capital punishment after the autumn season. This idiom has historical and systemic foundations.
In ancient China, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the implementation of the death penalty followed a strict procedure. According to legal stipulations, those sentenced to death typically awaited execution until after autumn. This practice was rooted in the agricultural significance of autumn, a season of harvest and relative social stability, coupled with the conducive weather for carrying out sentences. Moreover, the ancient system included an “Autumn Judgment,” indicating that autumn was the time for the review and final decision on capital cases.
Specifically, the judicial system required that death sentences receive the emperor’s approval. Each autumn, local officials would report capital cases to the imperial court for the emperor’s review. Execution would proceed after autumn only if the emperor sanctioned it. This procedure ensured careful deliberation over death sentences and helped prevent miscarriages of justice.
Therefore, “Execution After Autumn” is not merely a temporal directive but also reflects a systematic design within the ancient judicial system, emphasizing a cautious approach to life. In modern usage, this idiom is sometimes employed metaphorically to suggest settling scores or assigning responsibility after a significant event.