Because it restricted a person's movements, it was common for people wearing cangues to starve to death as they were unable to feed themselves.

[1] At times, the cangue was used as a general means of restraining prisoners along with manacles and leg chains; this was true particularly of those with grave sentences or low social standing.

The Great Ming Legal Code [zh] (大明律) published in 1397 specified that a cangue should be made from seasoned wood and weigh 25, 20 or 15 jīn (roughly 20–33 lb or 9–15 kg) depending on the nature of the crime involved.

Often the cangue was large enough that the prisoner required assistance to eat or drink, as his hands could not reach his own mouth, or even lie down.

The selling of ritual cangues was a major source of income for Chinese temples and continues to be one in Taiwan.