Oh! Bloody Hell

Recently I visited the famous Tiger Balm Gardens (now Haw Par Villa; henceforth referred so) in Singapore. It was different experience and I want to highlight one particular feature of this place. The "Ten courts of Hell" in Buddhism and Chinese mythology. Rather I describe them in words, I am going to post a bunch a pictures I shot at this place.

All the photographs were shot by me on Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone. Hence the quality of the pictures aren't comparable to a high end camera. Before you further proceed, I need to warn that some of these images are very graphic and might not be a pleasant scene.


The walking area towards the "Ten Courts of Hell" is designed in such a way to create an appearance as though you are stepping towards real hell.

Heads of the sinners can be seen on the hills

Some mythical characters

Hu Fa Shi Zhe - As per novel Feng Shen Pang, Hu Fa Shi Zhe or Hu Fa Da Jiang Jun is described as having a greenish face with  eyes as large as lanterns. He is believed to have control over ghosts and devil. He also upholds the laws of the Ten Courts of Hell.
I have no idea who the other dude (with long hat) is.

Di Zang Wang (at centre) along with "God of Earth" (Portrayed as the old man on left, wearing an ancient gown on which is embroidered the word "Shou" or longevity)
Di Zang Wang also knows Ksitigarbha Buddha, is a Buddhist Bodhisattva who is in charge of the Tenth Court of Hell.

The entrance to "Ten Courts of Hell" is claimed to be guarded by the mythical creatures.

The entrance to the Ten Courts of Hell.
On the sides you will see horse-faced and ox-headed mythical creatures, the guards or escorts of the nether world.

Closer look of Horse-Faced Guard

Closer look of Ox-Headed Guarded

First Court of Hell

King Qin Guang

The "good" going into silver and gold bridges

Sinners going towards the "mirror of retribution"

Second Court of Hell

King Chu Jiang

Thrown into volcano pit

Drowned in the pool of blood

Frozen into block of ice

Third Court of Hell

King Song Di (center)
Tied to red hot copper pillar and fried (right)
Heart  cut-out (left)

Fourth Court of Hell

King Wu Guan (center)
Sinner being pounded by a stone mallet

Grounded by a large stone

Those who were wronged and driven to their death were
asked to view how their enemies receive retribution

Fifth Court of Hell

King Yan Luo

Thrown onto a hill of knives

Sixth Court of Hell

King Pien Cheng (center)
Sinner's body sawed into two

Thrown onto a tree of knives

Seventh Court of Hell

King Tai Shan
Sinner being pounded by a stone mallet

Tongue pulled out

Thrown into a wok of boiling oil

Eight Court of Hell

King Dushi (center)
Body dismembered

Intestines and organs pulled out

Ninth Court of Hell

King Ping Deng.
Head and arms chopped off. Body crushed under boulders

Tenth Court of Hell

King Zhuan Lun

Sinners receiving their magic tea which makes them to forget their pasts

Wheel of Reincarnation

No one knows what happens/exists after life. But for the sake of argument, let's assume the above said things are true. By now, you know what kind of castigation awaiting for you after life. Well, I know mine.