(Original work of Brilliant Beach, reproduction is strictly prohibited)
In the tenth chapter of "Journey to the West", the soul of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty traveled to the underworld, and the judge took him on a tour, which introduced the names of the eighteen levels of hell. They are in order. : Diaojin Hell, Netherworld Hell, Fire Pit Hell, Fengdu Hell, Tongue Pulling Hell, Skinning Hell, Torture Hell, Punching Hell, Car Collapsing Hell, Ice Hell, Shelling Hell, Intestinal Extraction Hell, Oil Pot Hell, Dark Prison, Daoshan Prison, Blood Pond Prison, Abi Prison, and Weighing Steel Prison. Each of the eighteen levels of hell has different punishment methods, and its cruelty is so heinous that it is no wonder that Li Shimin was so frightened.
Where did the eighteen levels of hell in the novel come from? This is a question that this article will explore.
As we all know, the word hell comes from this Buddhist culture. The Sanskrit word is Niraja. Its original meaning is nothingness and no joy, and it is translated into the word hell. It was first seen in the "Bodhisattva Origin Sutra", which includes "You should know that if I After living for hundreds of thousands of lives, he explained that all sentient beings in such a hell cannot be exhausted, and there are all kinds of sufferings in such a hell. Now you should listen to the words "hungry ghosts suffer all kinds of sufferings". From then on, the word hell began to spread in the land of China.
In many Buddhist scriptures, the levels of hell are not the same. For example, in the Chang Agama Sutra, hell is divided into eight hells , and the first hell is divided into sixteen levels. The eight major hells are named in the "Zengyi Agama Sutra" respectively: the first is the hell of living, the second is the black rope hell, the third is the other harm hell, the fourth is the weeping hell, the fifth is the weeping hell, and the sixth is the abi. Hell, the seventh is the Flame Hell, and the eighth is the Great Flame Hell.
With the development of Buddhism, the levels and names of hells gradually evolved from the eight levels in the Chang Agama Sutra. In the Myoho Lotus Sutra Xuan Zan, hell is divided into three categories, namely the fundamental hell, the peripheral hell and the lonely hell. The fundamental hell is composed of eight hot hells and eight cold hells . The eight hot hells are the first-class living, the second black rope, the third collective, the fourth howl, the fifth big howl, the sixth burning, the seventh extreme burning, and the eight endless; the eight cold hells are one blister, the second blister is broken, and the third is drinking 哳Zhan, four Hao Haofan, five tigers and tigers, six green lotus, seven red lotus, and eight red lotus. However, these statements were gradually forgotten and replaced by the so-called "eighteen levels of hell" theory.
The theory of the eighteen levels of hell is found in "The Buddha Speaks of the Eighteen Mud Plow Sutra". This book first proposed the theory that there are eighteen levels of hell. These eighteen levels of hell are Guangju Prison, Juxulue Prison, Sangjudu Prison, Lou Prison, Fangzhu Prison, Caowubici Prison, and Du Prison. Lunanda Prison, Bulu Banhu Prison, Wujingdu Prison, Niludu Prison, Wuluo Prison, Wuman Prison, Wuji Prison, Wuhu Prison, Xujianju Prison, Modugan Zhihu Prison, District Bu Tu Prison and Chen Mo Prison.
Comparing "The Buddha Speaks of the Eighteen Mud Plow Sutra" and "Journey to the West", we can find that there is a big difference between the names of the eighteen levels of hell in the Buddhist scriptures and "Journey to the West". How is this difference formed? Judging from the current research results, this is due to the author of the novel combining the Buddhist hell theory, the Taishan underworld theory of the Han nationality, and ancient Chinese folk beliefs. This also shows the author's attainments in Buddhism and folklore .
Reference books: "Journey to the West", "Bodhisattva Origin Sutra", "Chang Agama Sutra", "Miaofa Lotus Sutra", "Buddha Says the Eighteen Mud Plow Sutra"
