Houtu
The earth that holds mountains, rivers, and all life.
Chinese Underworld Atlas
Atlas
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29 entries
Meet the figures of the underworld.
Deities, guardians and attendants, grouped by their narrative roles.
Figures
Major deities5
Emperor Fengdu
A solemn sovereign of the northern shadow realm.
Emperor Dongyue
From Mount Tai, a watch over life and death.
Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva
A continuing vow of care, in human grief and the darkest worlds.
Taiyi, Heavenly Lord Who Relieves Suffering
A compassionate light reaches into the underworld.
Figures
The Ten Kings10
King Qinguang
The first court opens the records of a life.
King Chujiang
The second court in the Ten Kings tradition.
King Songdi
The third court examines a life's obligations.
King Wuguan
The fourth court weighs dealings and obligations.
King Yanluo
The familiar judge of the fifth court.
King Biancheng
The sixth court beside the city of interrupted lives.
King Taishan
The seventh king carries an older mountain name.
King Dushi
The eighth court in this atlas's chosen sequence.
King Pingdeng
The ninth court invokes equal accountability.
King Zhuanlun
The tenth court turns the journey toward rebirth.
Figures
Judges and guardians5
Figures
Guides and attendants8
White Impermanence
A smiling guide at the boundary of life.
Black Impermanence
Dark robes and a promise kept across two worlds.
Ox-Head
A three-pronged fork guards the shadowed gate.
Horse-Face
Standing beside Ox-Head between the two worlds.
Granny Meng
One bowl of soup, and a farewell to the past.
Yaksha
Fierce spirits with more than one allegiance.
Underworld Bailiffs
Messengers, escorts, and patrols of the unseen offices.
General of the Five Paths
At the crossroads of the next existence.
Figures
