Enma

Enma, or Enma-Daiō, is a deity in East Asian Buddhism and folk belief who governs the afterlife and serves as the judge of the dead. The name derives from the Sanskrit Yama, the god of death, and is rendered in Chinese as Yanluo Wang and in Japanese as Enma Daiō.

Origins and role: The figure originated in Indian Hindu and Buddhist texts and was integrated into Buddhist cosmology as the ruler of the afterlife. In East Asian traditions, Enma is depicted as a stern judge who weighs the deeds of souls and determines their rebirth based on karma. In Japanese temples he is often presented as the chief judge or overseer of the underworld, sometimes presiding over a celestial court of the dead.

Iconography and worship: Enma is typically shown seated on a throne, with a severe expression, sometimes accompanied by guardians or demon attendants. He is commonly depicted with a staff or a rope and is a common fixture in temple sculpture, frescoes, and votive images across Japan and China. Rites and legends associated with Enma appear in folk tales and Buddhist sutras, reinforcing moral instruction about karma and the consequences of acts in life.

Cultural significance: Beyond religious imagery, Enma appears in literature, film, and modern media as a symbol of judgment and the afterlife, reflecting the enduring appeal of the archetype of a ruler who judges the soul.