10 stages in the Court of Hell at Haw Par Villa
(*Viewer Discretion Advised*)
*Please be forewarned, some of the photos in this post are graphic, and not for the faint of heart (or stomach).
Why is Haw Par Villa historically significant?
Haw Par Villa is well-known for its representations of the Ten Courts of Hell from Chinese folklore. It holds nostalgic significance for many Singaporeans who visited during childhood, as their parents used the opportunity to teach them about traditional Chinese morality.
This was a fascinating part of the Haw Par Villa theme park, in Singapore. It describes, in detail, the torture and punishment for each sin one commits in a lifetime.
As you enter the tunnel, you are greeted by the first court’s king. The following descriptions of each Court are excerpts taken from inside the cave:
First Court of Hell – Yama: King Qinguang
In the First Court of Hell, King Qinguang conducts preliminary trials and each prisoner is judged according to his deeds in his past life. The ‘good’ is distinguished from the ‘evil’ and the King recommends appropriate reward or punishment. Punishment is then carried out in the various Courts.
Those with virtuous conduct in their past life will be lead over the ‘Golden Bridge’ to reach paradise.
Those whose past good deeds outweigh crimes committed will be sent to the ‘Silver Bridge’ to reach paradise.
Those who were evildoers in their past life will be sent to repent before the “Mirror of Retribution” and then taken to a subsequent Court of Hell to be punished.
Second Court of Hell – Yama: King Chujiang
| Crime | Punishment |
| Inflicting physical Injury | Thrown into a volcanic pit |
| Robbers | |
| Corruption | Frozen into blocks of ice |
| Stealing and Gambling | |
| Prostitutes | Thrown into a pool of blood and drowned |
Third Court of Hell – Yama: King Songdi
| Crime | Punishment |
| Ungratefulness | Heart cut out |
| Disrespect Elders | |
| Escape from Prison | |
| Drug addicts and traffickers | Tied to a red hot copper pillar and grilled |
| Tomb Raiders | |
| Urging People into crime |
Fourth Court of Hell – Yama: King Wuguan
| Crime | Punishment |
| Tax dodger | Pounded by a stone mallet |
| Business Fraud | |
| Disobedience to one’s siblings | Grounded by a large stone |
“Wang-Si” Town
This accommodates those who were wronged and driven to their death. They would be asked to view how their enemies receive retribution. They would then be judged on their past deeds and given an appropriate punishment.
Fifth Court of Hell – Yama: King Yanluo
| Crime | Punishment |
| Plotted another’s death for his property or money | Thrown onto a hill of knives |
| Moneylenders with exorbitant interest rates (ha!) |
The Viewing Home Tower is for the evildoers to see how their relatives and family are suffering as a result of their wrong-doings.
Sixth Court of Hell – Yama: King Piencheng
| Crime | Punishment |
| Cheating | Thrown onto a tree of knives |
| Cursing | |
| Abducting Others | |
| Misuse of books | Body sawed into two |
| Possession of pornographic material | |
| Breaking written rules and regulations | |
| Wasting Food |
Seventh Court of Hell – Yama: King Taishan
| Crime | Punishment |
| Rumours-mongers | Tongue pulled out |
| Sowing discord among family members | |
| Rapists | Thrown into a wok of boiling oil |
| Driving someone to their death |
Eighth Court of Hell – Yama: King Dushi
| Crime | Punishment |
| Causing trouble for parents or family members | Intestines and organs pulled out |
| Cheating during examinations | |
| Harming others to benefit oneself | Body dismemberment |
Ninth Court of Hell – Yama: King Pingdeng
| Crime | Punishment |
| Robbery | Head and arms chopped off |
| Murder | |
| Rape | |
| Any other unlawful conduct | |
| Neglect of the old and young | Crushed under boulders |
Tenth Court of Hell – Yama: King Zhuanlun
In the Tenth Court, there is a ‘Wheel of Reincarnation’ and the ‘Pavilion of Forgetfulness’ (Men-Po Pavilion).
After serving their sentences, prisoners arrive at the Tenth Court where King Zhuanlun passes final judgement. The prisoners are then brought to the ‘Pavilion of Forgetfulness’ where an old lady “Men Po” hands them a cup of magic tea which on drinking makes them forget their past lives.
They will then go through the ‘Wheel of Reincarnation’ – Samsara. Depending on the prisoner’s past life, they would be reborn either as a human or an animal. Some would be reborn into a life of ease and comfort while others into sorrow and suffering.
With the morbid side of it aside, I found this exceptionally interesting! My lesson has been learned – I will not be misusing books, or cheating during examinations any time soon!
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Have you ever been to a cultural centre that depicted such graphic figures to get a message across? Have you been a good citizen and not ‘misused books’? When faced with the mirror of truth – will you appear pure or evil in your reflection?
Read more up on Haw Par Villa here!
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I remembered when I was 13 or 14 I forgot to pay back the food that I ordered then I feel so guilty about paying back right now I think that I need to pay back for what I have done
I have read so many articles or reviews about the blogger lovers but this article is really a
nice article, keep it up.
Cant wait to get there sounds fascinating
Great post. I’m going through a few of these issues as well..
Excellent post. I am dealing with some of these issues as well..
Last week we have been to Haw Par Villa theme park Singapore. Its must visit wonderful place
Is this place actually haunted like many people say?
Hi Trevor, that’s a good question! I suppose it really comes down to your own beliefs – the entire theme park (Haw Par Villa) seems a little haunted, but the 10 courts of hell definitely has a feeling of freight! 🙂 Are you planning on going?
I lived in Singapore as an armed forces brat from 1968-70, between the ages of 7 and 9. I remember going to Haw Par Villa as a kid, and seeing the 10 Courts of Hell (or torture chamber as we called it) frightened the living daylights out of me! I had to sleep with the light on for days afterwards. Even seeing those pictures now, as an adult, is fairly scary, so imagine what it was like for a little kid.
Nonetheless, thanks for the memories. 🙂
Hi BollingerBabe! That’s incredible that you got to see the park in its hay-day, though it sounds like you weren’t quite ready for what it had in store for you. Now it’s a slightly run down relic of a time nearly forgotten. Have you been back to Singapore since? You might not recognize it!
Glad to have stirred up some old memories – though I apologize if they weren’t your fondest! haha. Thanks for sharing your story with us 🙂
Hi Ian,
Sorry for the delay in my reply (tempus fugit). Yes, I’ve been back to “Singers” twice since then, in 1997 and in 2010. I agree – it has changed (sadly) beyond recognition. I did manage to find the house where we used to live (!!) in Sembawang and spoke to the current owner (via his next door neighbour, who acted as interpreter) and told him the story. He was fascinated and invited me inside! Amazing. The house was still quite recognisable, so it was a nice (and quite emotional) trip down Memory Lane.
As we left, I dredged my mind for the last of the few Hokkien words I could remember before saying to him “Kum xia” – thank you.
For those who are interested, there are some 3D images of Haw Par Willa at the link below:-
http://www.singaporegallery.com/3dpairs/3dpairsalbumhawparvilla.html
very cool, deepscene! Thanks for sharing this cool perspective on Haw Par Villa! How does one see it in 3D?
It’s easy Ian.
Read the viewing instructions at the lower portion of this page:- http://www.singaporegallery.com
No viewing aid or glasses are required.
This simple kill is worth acquiring and it stays with you for life. 🙂
Oops the typo above… should read “this simple skill…”. sorry.
mine is already learned. when i was young.i have a lot of bad habits of cheating And cursing my own parents with such foul language. But i also neglected my youngest brother when i was young. but with the lesson from the ten hell courts image display.
I’ve finally learn that i should not abuse my own brother and i shall not misuse the books,I’m free of possession of pronographic Materials and i shall not curse ah ma with such language anymore. And i will always be respectful and i will always be grateful and obedient man for my parents.
I hope it’s not too late to do good deeds.
because i’m still doing the dharmma class.
so i shall do even more better deeds. without doing the crimes for hell. i shall do good deeds for the heaven.
And whenever i shall do deeds,one thing is certainly. I’M FREE!! From crimes and i’m free from pornographic material possession. never rob anyone’s cash and belonings again forever.
I think that all this is just try to scare people there re not such thing. Elderly people like to scare other especially during ancient time.
I think that all this is just try to scare people they re not such thing. Elderly people like to scare other especially during ancient time.
Interesting – there’s a similar sort of place in Korea, though it’s well off the beaten path and you’d only find it if you were really looking for it. It’s called Bugok Hawaii, and while they’re stone and not colored, they’re totally worth visiting.
Very cool Chris! Thanks for sharing your story – I have yet to get over to Korea, but I’ll be sure to ask you for all your tips when I finally make it there!! 🙂