8-Year-old Boy Beaten, Stripped Naked and tied to a tree in China for refusing to go School

In western countries the father would have likely been put in prison, but in China his actions were hailed as an example

Cultural differences: Several onlookers are said to have applauded the man's actions

Rex Features

A Chinese boy who was caught truanting by his father was stripped naked, tied to a tree and beaten with sticks by his irate dad.

In western countries, the father would have likely been put in prison, but in China this is discipline China this is discipline and was hailed as an example of what families should do to errant children.

The boy, eight, from Nanchong in Sichuan province, had skipped classes to play outside and had also failed to return home at night earlier in the week.

On Thursday, after his dad had driven frantically through the streets to try and find him, he caught up with him near a market.

In a rage, he grabbed the boy, stripped him, tied him to the tree and gave him the thrashing. 

A crowd gathered around and, while one or two said he should stop for the sake of the child, most apparently applauded.

"Some kids are too naughty and they have to be taught a lesson of such kind," said one eyewitness.

Another man, Xiu Ping, said: "I think most people sympathised with the dad.  You don't get anywhere in China today without an education and if this kid was on a path of truancy, then he would be a no-hoper.

"It was a tough beating and the kid was bawling his eyes out - but I bet he won't forget that lesson in a hurry.  And he will probably think the lessons he was skipping are easy by comparison."