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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 298 —<br />

X. TENTH COURT.<br />

President: Cliwan-lun-wang jjji| 1$fc 3E-<br />

The Tenth Court <strong>of</strong> Hades is governed by Chwan-lun-wang<br />

WlftBEi or tne " Kin & <strong>of</strong> the Revolving Wheel" (1).<br />

It is situated<br />

at the foot <strong>of</strong> the Wuh-tsiab-shih rock ^ j;# ^g" LU (2), and is<br />

perfectly square, each side being 7000 feet long. It contains 81<br />

Boards, all well furnished with tables, chairs and benches, for the<br />

accommodation <strong>of</strong> the numerous <strong>of</strong>ficials<br />

(3), who transact the<br />

important business <strong>of</strong> transmigration.<br />

All discarnate souls, whether they have passed through the 9<br />

previous hells, or been dispensed therefrom, must appear before this<br />

Tenth Court. The good and evil which they<br />

have done in their<br />

previous existence, are then examined, and it is determined in what<br />

class <strong>of</strong> beings and in what place they must be reborn. Buddhism<br />

holds there are only six forms or ways <strong>of</strong> existence, through which<br />

living beings can pass, and under which every thing that has life<br />

must be classed (4). These classes are gods, men, Asuras (demons<br />

(1) His birthday is celebrated on the 17 tb <strong>of</strong> the fourth month. It is he<br />

who determines transmigration. Chinese Superstitions. Vol. I. p. 133 ; Vol.<br />

V. p. 582.<br />

(2) Wuh-tsiao-shih ffi jrM fi. Literally the "Rock <strong>of</strong> Purification". It<br />

is the same as Mount Meru,<br />

the fabulous centre <strong>of</strong> the Buddhist world. It is<br />

surrounded by 7 concentric circles <strong>of</strong> rocks, and is supposed by some to<br />

correspond to the Himalaya. Wieger. Moral Tenets and Customs in China,<br />

p. 400. note 27. — Monier Williams. Buddhism, p. 120. — Hardy. Manual <strong>of</strong><br />

Buddhism, p. 1-36 (The Buddhist Universe).<br />

(3) These were men <strong>of</strong> unblemished character in previous lives. They<br />

consented not to be reincarnated in order to help in the underworld.<br />

After five years, if they are faultless, they obtain promotion. If they<br />

commit mistakes, and let souls escape, they are degraded and sent back to<br />

the world to be reborn as men. Wieger.<br />

China, p. 383.<br />

Moral Tenets and Customs in<br />

(4) Monier Williams. Buddhism, p. 121. — Chinese Superstitions. Vo .<br />

VII. p. 257. note 2; p. 258.

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