Hell
in Japanese and Chinese Buddhism

Representations of heaven and hell in Japanese Buddhism

The Jigoku zoshi “Hell Scrolls”, late 12th c. color on paper – multiple scrolls.
Click here for a link to the on-line interactive scroll found within the Nara Museum
Click here for a link to the on-line interactive scroll found in the Tokyo National Museum.
Hell on earth, late Heian era, Japan

Consider the following while viewing images
from these scrolls:
• What is the overall environment of hell?
• How are the people in hell depicted?
– How does this relate to the way people are
depicted in other scrolls we have seen?
• Who are the keepers of hell?
– Where do you think these images come from?
• Do you think depictions of hell are
standardized? Why or why not?

Hell scenes, woodblock print, Japan, 18th c
What imagery carries over?

Hell hanging scroll, Japan,
18th c. ink and color on paper.

10 Kings scroll, Dunhuang caves, China, 10th c. ink/color/paper

Rokudo
“The 6 Paths”
- 6 types of rebirth
1. Deva [heavenly being]
2. Asura [titan]
3. Human
4. Animal
5. Gaki [hungry ghost]
6. Hell dweller
*if you can break free of
this cycle, you can reach
enlightenment.

Sculpted image of Wheel of Rebirth,
Baodingshan, China, 12th
c, stone.

Baodingshan cave site, Dazu County, Sichuan, China

Heavens of the Pure Land at Baodingshan, 12th c., China

New soul being reborn in a lotus within the Pure Land.

Hell tableau at Baodingshan, late 12th c., China

King Yama [Jpn. Emma], overseer of all the kings & hells

Swordtree Hell – with woman in cangue at left and jailer center.

Hell of the Iron Wheel

Freezing Hell Hell of Feces and Filth

Iron Bed Hell [L] and Hell of the Iron Bed [R]
Karmic Mirror between the two.

Boiling Cauldron Hell

Hell of Being Cut in Two at the Knees
Woodblock print showing
judicial punishment of being
cut up. China, 18th
c.

Individuals being punished
through use of the cangue.

Hell for those who Sell Alcohol
Alcohol Sellers
Both images from Great Buddha Bend, Baodingshan.

Hungry Ghost ‘hell’, lowest level,
Hell tableau, Great Buddha Bend, Baodingshan.

Multiple manifestations of Dizang [Jizo] at Baodingshan
L and R: Dizang as monk; Center: Dizang as Bodhisattva

Jizo bosatsu
14th c., ink/color/silk – British Museum
Jizo bosatsu [Dizang bodhisattva],
13th c. gold leaf/wood – Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Gaki zoshi, “Hungry Ghosts Scroll”, late 12th c.
Ink/color/paper – Tokyo National Museum

The Gaki zoshi, “Hungry Ghosts Scroll”, late 12th c.
Ink/color/paper – Kyoto National Museum

Urabon-e [Ullambana] - The Buddhist Festival of the Dead

Meditation on death and decay
In looking at the following images, consider who the audience for them was.

Meditation on death and decay

Who was the audience for this work?