Diyu

Diyu, commonly translated as the Chinese underworld or hell, is a collective term for the realm of the dead in traditional Chinese religion and folklore. The word dìyù literally means "earth prison" and does not denote a single fixed location; instead it refers to a hierarchical system of punishment and judgment for souls after death. In Chinese Buddhist and Daoist cosmology, Diyu is administered by a series of bureaucratic officials, often envisioned as ten courts presided over by a king or kingly judges, with Youdu serving as the capital. Souls are believed to be weighed for their earthly deeds, with punishments that correspond to the nature and severity of sins; upon completion of sentences the soul may be reincarnated or released for a future life, depending on karmic balance and ritual acts of redemption.

Key figures commonly associated with Diyu include Yanluo Wang (the King of Hell) and other underworld judges; these figures appear in religious texts, temples, and popular fiction. The concept shows syncretism among Daoism, Chinese folk religion, and Mahayana Buddhism, with differences in emphasis and ritual practices across regions and periods.

In cultural practice, Diyu imagery appears in temple art, literature, and media, shaping popular conceptions of morality, punishment, and the afterlife. The idea of Diyu has also informed modern Chinese discussions on law, justice, and moral accountability, even as secular views on death and the afterlife diverge from traditional beliefs.