Yamla

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Yamla (or Yanluowang) originated in India and later reached China with the spread of Buddhism. When Buddhism rose in popularity during the Tang dynasty (618 - 906 A.D.), the image of Yamla was adapted to local belief systems, and the deity was adopted into a set of 10 kings of hell, who rule over the 18 levels of Diyu (地獄), the Chinese underworld. Yamla hosts the level with oil pots, in which bandits, murders, kidnappers, cheats, thieves, and those who frame are thrown.

Poem: In Diyu

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BY Wen Yu Yang

Content Warnings: Torture, mutilation, violence and gore. 

Qinguangwang (秦廣王) guides honourable souls across the golden bridge to pure land; Chujiangwang (楚江王) supervises three levels, one for slicing tongues, one for cutting fingers, one for hanging and scorching bodies; Songdiwang (宋帝王) supervises two levels, one with mirrors that force truths, one with baskets that steam bodies; Wuguanwang (五官王) supervises three levels, one with burning bronze pillars, one with mountains made of swords, one with ice pool; Kachengwang (卞城王) supervises three levels, one with the pit of bulls, one with the graphite blocks, one with the mortar and pestle; Taishanwang (泰山王) supervises three levels, one with the blood seas, one with the city of cells, one with the parting of flesh and bone; Pingdengwang (平等王) supervises the two levels, one with the fire mountain, one with quern-stones; Dushiwang (都市王) supervises the level of saws; Zhuanlunwang (轉輪王) supervises the reincarnations of souls after their sentences.

Just, the ten Kings of Diyu are.

Between          them

          your                fate

                                              will be.

Will you be led 

across the golden bridge?

Or will you be held 

between the levels of hell?

Of blades and metallic trees

is where the swishing

                 and

                             hanging

                                                     is.

Of mirrors and steaming baskets 

is where the surfacing 

                 and

                              pressing

                                                     is.

Of iced pools and sword mounts and burning bronze pillars 

is where the frosting

                 and

                             crawling piercing

                                         and

                                                     hugging searing 

                                                                                         is.

Of hot pots and boiling oil

is where the frying 

                 and

                             crisping

                                                     is.

Of pits and graphite and pestle 

is where the kneading 

                 and

                             smashing

                                                     is.

Of cells and blood seas 

is where the gurgling 

                 and

                             parting (flesh) (bone) 

                                                                             is.

Of stone mills and the fire mountain 

is where the grating 

                 and

                             grilling

                                                     is.

 

Of saws 

is where the sawing

                                    is.

At the end

                                                  is where the again is.