Gods And Goddesses: Rulers of Hell

Feng Du is also referred to as the Chinese Hell, where there are multiple courts and rulers to each.  And for each ruler, there is also a specific wrong-doing they deal with done by people.

Qin Guang Wang is the ruler of the first court of Feng Du. It is Qin Guang Wang who decides whom gets to go right through Feng Du, or have to suffer through it for one’s wrong doings. Originally, Yen Lo Wang had the position of Qin Guang Wang, but Yen Lo Wang didn’t punish people as harshly and so Qin Guang Wang took over the position.

Qu Jiang Wang is the ruler of the second court of Feng Du. He punishes depravity and perversion by people. Those who have taken liberties with people’s lives (incompetent doctors, kidnappers, etc) are also punished by this god.

Song Di Wang is the ruler of the third court of Feng Du. He is the punisher of people whom have been drug addicts, blasphemers and murderers.

Wu Guan Wang rules over the fourth court. Forgers, counterfeiters, cheats and family matters are dealt with by this god.  He runs what is known as the Black Pool Hell, with the black referring to the deep red of blood.

The god of death and the ruler of the Fifth Court of Feng-Du (realm of the dead with all of the levels of Hells), Yen-Lo-Wang, was the formerly the King of the First Court of Hell but was accused of leniency. The Jade Emperor put another King of Hell in charge of judgement while putting Yen-Lo-Wang to the Fifth Hell. Yen-Lo-Wang is however not just in charge of what goes on in the Fifth Hell (gouging and boiling), but he himself rules over the whole of Feng-Du. Interestingly, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong, wiped his name out along with names of all the other monkeys known to him in the Book of Life and Death which granted them immortality much to Yen-Lo-Wang's displeasure.

Bian Cheng Wang takes care of the sixth court of Feng Du. Punishment for sexual sins are punished. Liars, gossipers and slanderers also are punished by Bian Cheng Wang, with bad hygiene also what this god deals with.

Tai Shan Wang takes control of the seventh court of Feng Du, dealing with arsonists, deceivers, terrorists and traitors.

Du Shi Wang rules the eighth court of Feng Du where those who betrayed their religion are punished. Du Shi Wang shows how ones family is doing before sending off to the ninth court.

Ping Deng Wang, ruler of the ninth court, looks at your case before sending you off to the tenth court.

Zhuang Lun Wang rules the tenth and final court of Feng Du. He decides your fate before allowing for rebirth. The goddess Meng Po is also there, ready to give her brew to cause amnesia.

Hell Notes

Hell notes are well known and used by many as an offering to their ancestors. Most hell notes have the ruler of Heaven and the worlds below (the world of Man and of Hell), the Jade Emperor, depicted on it. Some notes display the Eight Immortals, Buddha or dragons.

The popular story of hell notes and how they became called as they are today is all thanks to misinterpretation.  The story in question tells that zealous Christian missionaries went to China to convert the Chinese telling these people that all non-Christian Chinese will go to a place called Hell when they die. The Chinese thought that this English word ‘hell’ meant ‘afterlife’, thus the mix-up came to be.
Interestingly, there is a place called Feng-Du which is also called the ‘Chinese Hell’ due to the place being where one re-pays their wrong-doings, or ‘sins’, in life before being reborn.

What you can expect to see on a hell note is Chinese symbolism such as a carp (due to the Chinese word for ‘fish’ sounds similar to ‘have something left over’. as in extra cash for spending), often carps will be shown in pairs or held by children as symbols of good luck. Bowls filled with coins, red coral and gold ingots can also be seen on some notes, while others may have a lotus on it.

The traditional times to burn hell notes are The Festival of Pure Brightness and Hungry Ghost Festival. One may toss these notes in the air during funeral procession or leave it on a persons grave.  Interestingly, people use hell notes as symbolic money when doing money spells and some even use it to try to attract or even pay spirits when engaging in such things as necromancy.

You can get hell notes in Chinese based stores, particularly in major cities, but remember if that there are none in the store it is always good to ask where one can get hell notes. However, to the Chinese it is highly offensive to give a hell note to a living person as a gift as it can be seen as wishing death upon the person.