Who are the ten kings of the underworld exactly?

There are ten halls of Yama in hell. Yama, that is, Yama (Demon) King, was originally the god of Nightma (Yama) in the Vedic era of India. He was regarded by ordinary people as the god of death or the main god in charge of the underworld. Later, this idea was mixed into Buddhism and introduced into our country. The combination of Taoist beliefs gave rise to the theory of the Ten Kings of the Underworld. In a broad sense, 'Yam Luo' refers not only to King Yama, but also to the entire netherworld (hell); the ten palaces of Yama refer to the ten kings of the underworld.

The belief in the Ten Kings of the Underworld began around the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. However, there are many different theories about the origin of the Ten Kings. According to Volume 4 of the Shimen Zhengtong and Volume 33 of the Buddha's Tongji, when the monk Daoming of the Tang Dynasty traveled to the underworld, he saw the Hades in the ten halls judging the sins of the dead respectively. Empress Wei then narrated them one by one. This belief spread throughout the world. world. However, according to the record of the effect of the statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "The Samana Zhi (Zhi) You of Qingtai Temple was inspired by Ksitigarbha", it is said that in the Tianfu Year of the Later Jin Dynasty (936~944), a West Indian Zhiyou came to China and brought the Earth Treasure with him. There is a picture of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and a sutra of merits and virtues of the original vows. There is a picture of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the center, and the images of the ten kings are on the left and right sides of the picture. From this point of view, the Ten Kings may be passed down from India. However, the names of the Ten Kings used in the article are mostly from our country, and their images are often dressed in ancient Chinese Taoist uniforms. From this, it can be speculated that the theory passed down from India seems insufficient. accepted. In addition, the "Seven Classics on the Preparation of Ten Kings' Lives" circulated after the end of the Tang Dynasty also contains the circumstances of the trial of the Ten Kings. According to the forty-fifth volume of the Records of the Buddha, Ouyang Xiu suffered from many illnesses in his early years. He once saw the ten kings of the underworld in a dream and asked about the benefits that monks could gain from writing sutras. After he woke up, he recovered from his illness and became more respectful to the Buddha.

In the general folk beliefs of our country, the thought of hell is deeply influenced by Buddhism, especially the "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vow Sutra". Therefore, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is regarded as the supreme master of hell and is called the Lord of the Netherworld. , under which he has jurisdiction over the ten palaces of King Yama, namely: the first palace is King Guang of Qin, the second palace is King Chu (Chu) Jiang, the third palace is Emperor Song, the fourth palace is King Wuguan, the fifth palace is King Yama (Sen), and the sixth palace is Bian (Bian). ) City King, Taishan King of the Seventh Palace, Pingping King of the Eighth Palace, City King of the Nine Palaces, and Wheel-turning King of the Tenth Palace. Each of these ten kings has different duties, judging the sins committed by the deceased in the human world and imposing punishments.

This belief in the Ten Kings, which combines Buddhism and Taoism, has become very popular after being introduced to Japan. Today, Japanese temples collect paintings and sculptures of the Ten Kings. Most of their images are in Chinese style, and many of them are Designated as a Japanese national treasure. In addition, the paintings of the Ten Kings stored in Dade Temple and Faran Temple in Japan were painted by Lu Xinzhong, a southern Buddhist painter in the early Yuan Dynasty of my country.

As for the theory of the local places of the ten kings, according to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Ten Kings Sutra, the ten kings are all transformed from the local Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For example, the local place of King Qin Guang in the same palace is not the same. King Ming Dynasty, the place of King Chujiang in the second hall is Sakyamuni Tathagata, and the places in the other three to tenth halls are Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Medicine Master Tathagata, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Amitabha Tathagata, and Amitabha Buddha. .

As for the names of the Ten Kings, according to the "Ten Kings' Offering" in Volume 33 of the Buddha's Tongji, there are six names of the Ten Kings that can be tested in the classic biographies, that is, in The names of the two kings, Yama and Wuguan, can be seen in the Sutra, King Pingping can be seen in the Huayan Induction Biography, King Chujiang and Qin Guang are recorded in the Yijian Zhi, and Tai is recorded in Volume 2 of the Ancient and Modern Translated Classics. Records of the Mountain King. In addition, the King of Five Senses can also be found in Volume 12 of the Initiation Sutra, Volume 12 of the Purity Samadhi Sutra, Volume 49 of the Different Appearances of Sutras, etc. King Yama is even more widely seen in various sutras and treatises. According to the Mingbao Ji cited in Fayuan Zhulin Volume 26 and the Taishan Atonement Sutra of Jin Gong, King Taishan was originally called the King of Taishan Prefecture. In addition, in Shan Dao's praise of rituals, he cited two gods, the Five Paths and Taishan. Among them, the Five Paths Gods are equivalent to the Five Paths Wheel-turning Kings.

Although the belief in the Ten Halls of Yama is a mixture of Buddhist belief and Chinese folk belief, this belief has been deeply rooted in the people since ancient times. In addition to promoting the truth, it also plays the role of warning the world and encouraging good deeds.

Ten Halls of the King of Hell

One Hall of King Qin Guang. The main duties of King Qin Guang are in charge of life and death in the world, good and bad luck in the underworld.

When a good person dies, he or she will go to heaven or be reincarnated into a wealthy family. If a worldly person who has made half of the merits will be sent to the Ten Palaces of Hell after death, he will still be reincarnated into the human world and become an ordinary mortal again.

For those who have more evil than good, they must go to the Nie Mirror Platform after death. On the right side of the Nie Mirror Platform Hall, the platform is about one foot high. The mirror is ten meters wide and hangs to the east. There is a horizontal plaque on it that reads: Seven characters: There are no good people in front of the evil mirror, especially ghosts who have done many evil things in the upper world. They can see all the evil in the upper world by themselves, just like a silent movie coming to life on the screen, and then according to the evil they committed, the ghost will He was sent to the Hell of the Second Hall to be tortured. At that time, he knew that he could not bring ten thousand taels of gold, and he had been guilty of sins all his life. It was too late to regret.

The scope of such people who do many evil things is very wide, such as: benefiting themselves at the expense of others, bullying the weak, harming the kind, ungrateful, rebellious and unfilial, prone to killing, abusing animals, seeking wealth and life, stirring up trouble, creating Murderous crimes, as well as all acts of heart-wrenching and harming others, are all sins. They should be taken to the second hall to receive the punishment they deserve based on actual information.

Another thing to note is that regardless of the kindness of his parents in raising him, he casually commits suicide for very little things. Except for being a god after death because of his loyalty and filial piety, he will go to hell to suffer. These people who commit suicide casually, or commit suicide due to anger and stimulation, all have to go to the second hall to find out their past merits and demerits. They still have to be punished according to their crimes when they enter hell. However, some people who commit suicide still have their ghosts lingering in their hearts. If he is unwilling to do so, he often appears in his dead state in the middle of the night, causing the world to see him frightened to death. The king of hell in the palace should send ghost messengers with green faces and fangs to take him to various prisons to be tortured, and he will never be reincarnated.

If people in the world sincerely kneel down to the west on the first day of the second lunar month every year, promote Buddhism from the heart, save all living beings, show compassion and relieve the poor, they will surely be able to prolong their lives and enjoy eternal happiness.

The second palace is the King of Chujiang. He is in charge of the bottom of the sea. There is a hell under the fertile rocks in the south. This level is five hundred leagues wide and has the following sixteen minor hells: 1. The minor hell of black clouds and sand; 2. The minor hell of excrement and mud; 3. The minor hell of five forks; 4. The minor hell of hunger; 5. The minor hell of thirst. ; 6. Small hell of pus and blood; 7. Small hell of copper axes; 8. Small hell of multiple copper axes; 9. Small hell of iron armor; 10. Small hell of Youliang; 11. Small hell of chicken; 12. Small hell of gray river Hell; Thirteen, the small hell of cutting; Fourteen, the small hell of sword leaves; Fifteen, the small hell of fox and wolf; Sixteen, the small hell of ice.

Three palaces of Song emperors. Yangshi is a human being. The greatest virtue is not to think about the king. People’s lives are paramount. Those who claim the position and enjoy the fortune. Not a loyal minister. Regardless of people's lives. Scholars and common people forget their righteousness when they see benefits. The husband is unjust. The wife is unhappy. You should love your successor and be your heir. Have been favored. More than enough property. Those who have failed to do well and return to their clan. A slave is the master of the house. The book service soldier is responsible for the commander of his own official. The partner bears the financial burden to the owner. Or criminal escape and military escape. Asking for bail due to custody. Those who are burdened with official duties, relatives, etc. Traveling for a long time without repenting. Although doing good deeds. It is inevitable to suffer all kinds of hardships, such as paying attention to Feng Shui, preventing funerals, building graves and digging coffins. If not, stop cultivating and change the hole. Damage to the bones and bones, loss of money and food. Lost clan graves. Tempting to break the law. Instigating litigation. Write an anonymous document announcing the divorce. Forged contract letter. Recovery of money bonds. No note, no set of monograms. Add changes to accounts. Those who cause harm to future generations and other incidents should be investigated to determine the seriousness of the crime. Let the powerful ghost servants enter the big prison, and send him to the small prison of He Zhong to suffer. The fourth beating from full transfer. Increase the sentence and go to jail.

The King of Four Palaces and Five Senses. He is in charge of the bottom of the sea. To the east lies the Great Hell under Wo Shi. This weight is also five hundred yojanas wide, and there are also sixteen smaller hells: 1. The smaller hell of pools; 2. The smaller hell of cantharides and bamboo sticks; 3. The smaller hell of pouring boiling soup on hands; 4. The smaller hell of fluid flowing from the palms; 5. , the small hell of breaking tendons and removing bones; 6. the small hell of skin brushing on weir shoulders; 7. the small hell of locking skin; 8. the small hell of squatting on the peak; 9. the small hell of iron clothes; 10. the small hell of pressing down with wood, stone, earth and tiles; 11. The little hell of the sword's eye; the little hell of 12, the flying ash in the mouth; the little hell of 13, the little hell of pouring medicine; the little hell of 14, the slippery fall; the little hell of 15, stabbing the mouth; the little hell of 16, the little hell of being buried in rubble.

The Emperor Yama of the Five Palaces said. I used to live in the first hall, but I died out of pity. After repeated releases, the sun returns to the snow. The descending tune is in charge of the bottom of the sea and under the fertile rocks in the northeast. Call the Great Hell. And sixteen heart-breaking small hells. All ghost offenders who have been sent to this hall have suffered in various prisons for many years. They have been in the first four halls and have been found to have no serious faults. Each period is seven days. When I arrived at this palace, I found out that I had not done any evil.

On the fifth or seventh day of the corpse's life, none of them were incorruptible. The ghosts and criminals all said that they had unfulfilled good wishes in this world, or that they were building temples, bridges, and streets. Open rivers and dig wells. Or the collection of letters advising people to do good has not been completed. Or the number of lives released is not full. Or the parents are not prepared to honor their children, support them in life, raise them in death and bury them. Or receiving a favor but not repaying it. All sorts of things to say. I beg you to be released and returned to the sun. All vows. You must be a good person, I heard. You wait. His evil deeds were obvious in the past. Gods and ghosts know you. Today the boat is late to repair the leak in the middle of the river. It can be seen that there are no resentful ghosts in the underworld. There are few people in the world to blame. A person who truly practices virtue. Rare in the world. There is a ghost prisoner coming to this hall today. If you look into the mirror of evil, you will see that they are all evil types. Needless to say, they have the head of an ox and the face of a horse. You can take a look at it when you are escorted to a high platform. The platform set up. It's called Wangxiang Terrace. The face is like a hunched back. In three directions: east, west, south. The bay is eighty-one miles straight. The back is like a bow string, and the sword tree in the north is the city. The platform is forty-nine feet high. Daoshan is a slope. Build sixty-three levels, a kind person. This stage is not accessible. The merits and demerits are equal. Has passed away. Only evil spirits. Wangxiang is so close that both men and women can see and hear it. Listen to the conversation of young and old. If the will is not followed, the decree will not be followed. Everything changes. He corrected things one by one and earned money hard. No transport left. The man wants to marry again. The woman wanted to have bigamy and her property was withheld. The distribution is difficult to achieve evenly, and the accounts have always been clear and unclear. It's hard to live without a penny. There is no evidence that they deserve to die, they bully each other, they are prevaricating, they all make mistakes, and they all blame others for death. Relatives from the three parties make grudges and comments, and their children keep things private. A friend breaks his promise. A few of them missed their former love, cried while caressing the coffin, and sneered twice, which resulted in even more evil consequences. Men were tortured by officials, and women suffered from strange diseases. The child was betrayed. A woman is raped. All the karma is gone and the house is set on fire. Household affairs, big and small, are suddenly exhausted. Evil is repaid. Not only ghosts, but all ghosts after hearing it. Imprisoned into the Great Calling Hell. Find out carefully what evil you have committed. Then he will be sent to the Sixteen Small Hells of Killing the Heart to suffer. In a small hell. Each buried wooden stake. The bronze snake is a chain. The iron dog makes a fool of himself. Binding hands and feet. Use a small knife. Open the stomach and open the abdomen. Hook out his heart. Cut carefully. The heart is eaten by snakes, and the intestines are eaten by dogs. Suffer all day long. Relieves pain and completes skin. Separately sent to the other hall.

The King of Biancheng in the Sixth Hall. He is in charge of the bottom of the sea. Directly north, under the Wo Shi. Scream great hell. It is five hundred leagues wide. There are sixteen other small hells around: 1. The small hell of kneeling on iron sand; 2. The small hell of being soaked in feces and mud; 3. The small hell of grinding and bleeding; 4. The small hell of holding in the jaws with pliers; 5. The small hell of kidney-cutting rats biting; 6. A small hell of locusts burrowing through thorn nets; 7. A small hell of beating flesh with a hammer; 8. A small hell of splitting skin and beating; 9. A small hell of holding fire and shutting the throat; 10. A small hell of mulberry fire baking; 11. A small hell of excrement. Hell; 12, the small hell of cows and horses; 13, the small hell of scarlet orifices; 14, the small hell of shelling off the head; 15, the small hell of cutting off the waist; 16, the small hell of peeling the skin and pulling the grass.

The King of Taishan of the Seven Palaces is in charge of the bottom of the sea. Under the fertile rocks in the northwest, there is a hell of heat and anger. The surrounding area is five hundred leagues wide, and there are sixteen smaller hells: 1. The small hell of swallowing oneself; 2. The small hell of chest-piercing; 3. The small hell of flute legs and fire pits; 4. The small hell of Quan Kangfa; 5. The small hell of dogs A small hell of biting the shin; 6. A small hell of crying at the dog's pier; 7. A small hell of opening the forehead; 8. A small hell of crouching on top of the stone; 9. A small hell of the bustard pecking up and down; 10. A small hell of dragging the Wupi pig. ; 11. A small hell of hanging armor and feet; 12. A small hell of pulling out the tongue and piercing the cheek; 13. A small hell of having the intestines pumped; 14. A small hell of being trampled by a mule and chewed by a cat; 15. A small hell of burning fingers; 16. Oil The cauldron is boiling in a small hell.

Eight Palaces Urban King. At the bottom of the sea, under the stone of Zhengsiwo, there is a great hell of great heat and anger. This hell is five hundred leagues wide in length. There are also sixteen small hells: 1. The small hell of crashing cars; 2. The small hell of stuffing pots; 3. The small hell of breaking into pieces; 4. The small hell of holes; 5. The small hell of Jianzhu; 6. The small hell of Changqi; 7. The small hell of severed limbs; 8. The small hell of frying the internal organs; 9. The small hell of burning the marrow; 10. The small hell of crawling the intestines; 11. The small hell of burning; 12. The small hell of opening the eyes; 13. The small hell of cutting out the breasts; 10. Four, the small hell of breaking the top and prying the teeth; fifteen, the small hell of cutting; sixteen, the small hell of the steel fork.

The King of Equality in Nine Palaces. He is in charge of the bottom of the sea. Under the fertile rocks in the southwest lies the Abi Hell. The circle overlaps and extends eight hundred yojanas wide. Within the dense iron net.

There are also sixteen minor hells: 1. The minor hell of breaking bones and burning the body; 2. The minor hell of cramps and beating of bones; 3. The minor hell of crows eating the heart and liver; 4. The minor hell of dogs eating the intestines and lungs; 5. The minor hell of being splashed with hot oil. 6. The small hell of pulling out the tongue and teeth; 7. The small hell of taking out the brain and filling it; 8. The small hell of steaming the head and scraping the brain; 9. The small hell of sheep convulsing into salt; 10. The small hell of wooden clamps; 11. The small hell of grinding the heart. Small hell; 12, the small hell of being drenched in boiling soup; 13, the small hell of wasps; 14, the small hell of scorpion hooks; 15, the small hell of ants eating for food; 16, the small hell of purple and red poisonous snakes boring holes.

The Wheel-turning King of the Ten Palaces

The Wheel-turning King of the Ten Palaces. The palace is located outside the Netherworld's fertile rocks, facing the five turbid places of the world due east. There are six gold, silver and jade wooden plank Naihe bridges. He is responsible for solving ghosts in each palace. It is determined separately and sent to the four major continents where the men and women should be reborn in rich, poor and lowly families with a long life. Detailed release name by name. Every month, we report to the first palace, register and submit to Fengdu, and the yin rhythm of the mortal fetus is dampened. If there are no legs, two legs, four legs, many legs, etc., then they will die; the wheels are turning and grinding. Or life and death in the seasons. Or live and die. Overturn transformation. It is not certain to kill. For sure kill and so on. The general order is to transfer to the robbery place. Check the transgressions. The rewards will be distributed to all parties, and they will be gathered in Fengdu at the end of the year.

Every Yangshi was a Confucian scholar of Yi. The monks chanted sutras and hooked up to the underworld. Chant biblical mantras. As a result, no punishment can be used in the prisons. Those who repay suffering. Arrive at the main hall. Note by name. And draw pictures of their true appearance. It's called the Fallen Book of Life. He was escorted to Meng Po Zunshen (Wangtai, You District). Drink the soup. Pai was reborn as a human being. Reincarnation dies in the womb, may be reborn for one or two days, or may be reborn for a hundred and ten days. Or it may lead to death in one or two years. After forgetting the mantra of the three teachings. The first hall. More powerful soldiers were sent to each prison to investigate the evildoers. Compensate for suffering. Anyone who realizes that his merits and demerits are equal and has suffered enough. Too little merit and too many souls. It is determined that men and women are beautiful and happy. Where to send it to rich and poor families? Immediately turn it over to (You District Wangtai) and come to the main hall to call the roll and distribute it. A Confucian scholar who read the Book of Changes in the human world. The monks chanted sutras and hooked up to the underworld. Chant biblical mantras. As a result, no punishment can be used in the prisons. Those who repay suffering. Arrive at the main hall. Note by name. And draw pictures of their true appearance. It's called the Fallen Book of Life. He was escorted to Meng Po Zunshen (Wangtai, You District). Drink the soup. Pai was reborn as a human being. Reincarnation dies in the womb, may be reborn for one or two days, or may be reborn for a hundred and ten days. Or it may lead to death in one or two years. After forgetting the mantra of the three teachings. The first hall. More powerful soldiers were sent to each prison to investigate the evildoers. Compensate for suffering. Anyone who realizes that his merits and demerits are equal and has suffered enough. Too little merit and too many souls. It is determined that men and women are beautiful and happy. Where to send it? Those from rich and poor families. Immediately turn it over to (You District Wangtai) and come to the main hall to call the roll and distribute it. Reborn in the human realm.

Women repeatedly begged and confessed that they had grievances that they had not avenged. Be willing to be a hungry ghost. Don't want to be a human being. Yan asks why. Most of them are girls, or chaste women, because they are found to be evil in nature, or they are greedy for beauty, or they are greedy for money. Pretending to be coquettish and making all kinds of advances, she plotted to seduce him into adultery. He lied that he had no wives and concubines, so he vowed to hire a central matchmaker to marry him. There may be someone who deceives the maid. Taking her as a concubine, or making a false promise to support her in old age. Or allowing her to raise her ex-husband's children, etc. Being tricked by mistake. Obediently obedient. After giving gifts out of integrity. The delay is long. Instead, he made bad remarks and made a fool of himself. To make father and brother aware. Neighbors are despicable. There is no justice. Seeking death in shame and anger. Or those who die due to depression are known to be traitors with a negative heart. This subject should be passed. This hatred is hard to get rid of. Weeping and begging for mercy. Check carefully to find out the truth. But it's time to live a long life, but it's not the end yet. Bingyi's grandfather's remaining virtues have not been extinguished. The aunt of this palace, the prospective woman, took the ticket and her soul entered the examination room. Obstruction and violation of rules. Change the name on the list. Waiting for the day to die again. They must have seduced the dead ghost into the house and asked for their lives. Still checking and judging in the first hall.

On April 17, everyone in the world will swear to have faith and act in accordance with the Jade Calendar. Those who often talk about the above words to others. In the next life, he will go to the Yang world and become a human being. Not to be looked down upon. You will not suffer any disasters such as official punishment, water, fire, or physical injuries.

Ksitigarbha, whose Sanskrit name is Ks!itigarbha, is transliterated as Ksitigarbha. Land means residence; Zang means hiding. That is, after receiving the instructions from the Buddha, he became a Bodhisattva who vowed to save all sentient beings in the six realms before becoming a Buddha in the era of Buddhalessness between the death of the Buddha and the enlightenment of Maitreya Bodhisattva. Regarding the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Volume One of the Ten Wheels of Ksitigarbha Sutra (Major 13.722, Part 1) states: "Be patient and motionless, like the earth; meditate deeply, like a secret treasure", so it is called Ksitigarbha. Volume 1 of the Dafangguang Ten Wheels Sutra uses Ksitigarbha as the meaning of terma (treasure buried in the ground); Volume 4 of the Treatise on the Treasure Nature of the Ultimate Vehicle uses terma in the earth as a metaphor for "Tathagata Treasure".

According to the preface to the Ten Wheels Sutra of Dafangguang and the first volume of the Sutra of Chasing Good and Evil Karma, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva manifested the body of the Brahma King and the Emperor Shikama due to the power of his great compassion vows in the past. , the voice-hearer body, the body of King Yama, the body of the lion, elephant, tiger, wolf, ox, horse, even the Rakshasa body, the hell body and other countless different kinds of bodies, to teach and transform living beings, and especially to commemorate the suffering living beings in the evil world of five turbidities, and to disappear in response to the requests of living beings. Disasters increase blessings and mature the good roots of sentient beings. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva often manifests countless incarnations to save all living beings, so it is also called Thousand-body Ksitigarbha.

There are many versions of the origin story of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. According to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's original vows scripture, it is recorded that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was the son of a great elder long ago in the past. He was the son of a great master, and he developed a heart of respect and admiration for his master and son. , in order to realize this solemn appearance, I vow to save all sentient beings from the sins and sufferings of the six paths for the next uncountable calamity. It is also said in the same sutra and article that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was a Brahmin girl in the past inconceivable asamkhya kalpa. In order to save his mother from hell, he made offerings to her mother and made blessings. He also vowed to save all sinful and suffering sentient beings throughout the future kalpas. The same Sutra on the Karma of All Living Beings in Jambudvipa also cites two theories: (1) Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was the king of a country in the long past, and the people in his country committed many evils, so he vowed to save all sentient beings from sin and suffering and achieve enlightenment. Otherwise, you will not want to become a Buddha. (2) Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was a woman named Guangmu in the long past. Her mother fell into hell and suffered. Guangmu wanted to save her and vowed to save all sinful and suffering sentient beings. After all sentient beings became Buddhas, Only then can you achieve enlightenment. All the sayings mentioned above are widely spread in the world along with Ksitigarbha's belief. Therefore, Buddhism often describes it with words such as "Only when all sentient beings are saved can Bodhi be realized; before hell is empty, I swear not to become a Buddha" and "If I don't go to hell, who will?" Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s vast vow of compassion and compassion.

There are many kinds of images of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The third volume of Mahavairocana Sutra has the image of Bodhisattva, and is decorated with crowns, necklaces, etc. The first grade of Dafangguang Ten Wheel Sutra is in the form of a Samana. The most widely circulated image is that of the inner secret Bodhisattva, who appears in the shape of a recluse on the outside, holding a jewel in his left hand and a tin staff in his right hand, sitting or standing on a lotus.

In Esoteric Buddhism, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the main deity of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the womb world mandala. He is in the shape of a Bodhisattva, holding a lotus in his left hand, with a wish-fulfilling banner on the flower, and a jewel in his right hand, sitting on the lotus. superior. The secret names are the Compassion Vajra and the Wish Vajra. The samaya is shaped like a pearl or a building on a lotus flower. The seed is [fan(i)] (i, 伊), or [fan(ha)] (ha, 哈). There are two types of mantras. Generally, "Nan Mo San Man Do Bo Tuo Nan He He He Wei Suo Mo Yi Sha He" is commonly used. The seal is the flag seal; in the sixth volume of the Dharani Sutra, the seal is the Dharmakaya Seal and the Dharma Seal. In addition, in the mandala of the Vajra Realm, the Vajra Banner Bodhisattva among the four close relatives of the Tathagata in the South has the same body and name as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. In addition, according to the Eight Great Bodhisattva Mandala Sutra, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of the eight great Bodhisattvas. It may be said that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Guanyin, Shizhi, Nagarjuna and other Bodhisattvas are all the attendants of Amitabha, and are called the Five Amitabha Buddhas. It is also said that the Dharmagarbha Bodhisattva when Amitabha Buddha is in the cause position is the same body as the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the belief in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been extremely prosperous in our country. For example, in the Sui Dynasty, the belief and practice of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was based on the Ten Wheels of Ksitigarbha Sutra and they advocated the theory of "generating the Buddha and spreading the Dharma" and the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's confession method. It was called the Third Order Sect at that time. In addition, Chang Jin of the Song Dynasty wrote a book called "Efficacy Records of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva", which included thirty-two miraculous deeds of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva from the Liang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. Due to the popularity of this belief, people at that time repeatedly painted images of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and placed them in temples or private halls for worship and worship. The more famous example of this is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on the wall of the east corridor of Shanji Temple in Deyang County, Hanzhou in the Liang Dynasty. picture.

Our country’s Buddhist circles regard Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as one of the four great Bodhisattvas. According to legend, the place where he preaches the Dharma is in Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Province. According to the 20th volume of biographies of eminent monks in the Song Dynasty, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was born into the Silla royal family. His surname was Jin and his given name was Qiaojue. Bad, enter the tower with your whole body. The Flesh Body Hall in Mount Jiuhua is said to be the place where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva attained enlightenment.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva saves all sentient beings with the power of his compassionate vows. He is especially compassionate towards the sinful and suffering sentient beings in hell. To save them, King Yama is generally regarded as the incarnation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. For example, in the Sutra of the Ten Kings of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Initiation of Causes and Destinations, it is mentioned that the homeland of King Yama is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Another example is that in our country's folk beliefs, the thought of hell is deeply influenced by the "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vow Sutra". Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is regarded as the supreme master of hell, and is called the Lord of the Netherworld. Under him, he governs the ten palaces of Hell. Recently discovered in the Thousand Buddha Cave in Dunhuang, the Map of the Ten Kings of Ksitigarbha is painted with images of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the ten kings, and is accompanied by an inscription of its creation in the eighth year of Taiping and Xingguo's reign (983) in the Song Dynasty.

According to the Ksitigarbha Ten Wheel Sutra, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has countless inconceivable special merits and virtues that cannot be measured by all worldly voice-hearers and alone enlightened beings. The Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Original Vows states that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has already attained the fruition status of the Ten Grounds, but in order to teach and transform sentient beings, he is still in the realm of the Sound Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas and does not want to become a Buddha. The same sutras are cited together. If you sincerely recite the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, or worship and offer images, statues, etc. of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you will be able to escape from all sorrows, avoid falling into evil paths, and obtain ten or twenty-eight kinds. Benefit.

In Japan, the belief in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva began in the middle period of Heian and has flourished to this day. This belief penetrated into folk belief after the Kamakura period. For example, Jizo Bodhisattva appeared in Saiheyuan as the savior of children, and he was praised and praised. Another example is Ksitigarbha who nurtures children, and Ksitigarbha Zi'an specializes in rescuing and raising children. In addition, there are also many people who pay homage to the Six Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (the Bodhisattva who teaches the Six Paths), the Life-Enhancing Ksitigarbha, and the Victorious Army Ksitigarbha. (Vajra Samadhi Sutra, Dafang et al., Volume 57, Old Translation of Huayan Sutra, Volume 44, Mahabaja Sutra Volume 1, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Dharani Sutra, Mahavairocana Sutra Volumes 1 to 4, Ksitigarbha Sutra Ritual, preparatory study of the Seven Sutras of the Ten Kings, Volume 9 of the Buddhist Sutra of Immortal Transformations, Volumes 5, 10, and 13 of the Mahavamna Sutra, Volume 14 of the Fayuan Zhulin, Volume 10 of the Jingde Lantern Record 1) ((See: Six Ksitigarbhas) 1259, "Life-enhancing Ksitigarbha" 2878, "Ksitigarbha Yama" 6340) p2318

FROM: Buddha's Light Dictionary