Martyrs of Vietnam
It is estimated that 130,000 and 300,000 Christians were martyred in Vietnam between the 16th century and 20th centuries. Many were priests, nuns, brothers, lay faithful, and foreign missionaries. Most though were native Vietnamese killed by their own government and countrymen. People who were suspected of being Catholic were forced to deny their faith by trampling on a crucifix, and if they did not obey, they were arrested and often put to death.
The tortures received by these individuals are considered by the Catholic Church to be among the worst in the history of Christian martyrdom. The torturers often drugged their victims, hacked off limbs joint by joint, tore flesh with red hot tongs, and used ropes pulled at each end to strangle the victims. Christians at the time were also branded on the face or forehead with the words tả đạo, 左道, meaning "false religion" with Christian families and villages obliterated in the persecutions.
This image depicts a young Vietnamese boy branded with tả đạo shown at the moment of his martyrdom by brutal strangulation. It collectively recalls all known and unknown Martyrs of Vietnam.