Originally, banishment was an alternative to death granted by the Emperor, but it evolved to become a for mal punishment between 468AD to 472AD during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Song Dynasty.

• 六朝的流徙刑主要仍是一种代刑的地位，是皇帝给予死刑犯或者严重罪恶的牵连犯的一项恩宥。