The spirit leaves the body
Human spirit is described through the spiritual soul, 魂, and physical soul, 魄. At the end of life, underworld officers, 鬼差, guide the spirit away from the physical body.
The journey
The Afterlife Journey
Traditional beliefs about the spirit’s journey and the ceremonial rites that offer guidance, protection and peace.
← Back to After Life来世之旅
The path beyond
this lifetime.
Beliefs about the afterlife differ between religions and between families. In Hinzen’s teachings, the underworld is not simply a place for people who have done wrong. It is a place of passage and judgement through which every spirit travels before moving to its next stage.
The underworld is governed principally by DongYue Emperor 東嶽天齊仁聖大帝 and FengDu Emperor 地府北陰酆都大帝. Its journey is commonly understood through three parts: the Path of the Afterlife, the Ten Courts and the Eighteen Hells.
The beginning of the journey
From the physical world
to the underworld.
The Town God
The spirit first reaches a portal into the underworld associated with the local Town God. The Town God confirms the spirit’s identity and records before the journey continues.
Cow Head and Horse Face
These two officers receive the spirit and guide it through the Gate of Ghosts, 鬼門關, towards the Path of the Afterlife, 黃泉路.
The home-viewing platform
The spirit follows a guiding light through dark and winding paths towards a high platform. Tradition teaches that a kind-hearted spirit may be permitted to look back upon family and home.
The Ten Courts · 十殿
Judgement,
atonement and passage.
Each court is governed by its own Emperor and considers a different part of a person’s conduct. The weekly homecoming observances explain why families traditionally prepare food, prayers and symbolic offerings at particular intervals.
秦廣王The first six daysQinGuang Emperor＋
The first court receives and identifies the spirit. The Sin Mirror, 孽鏡台, reveals actions from the person’s lifetime before the spirit continues. Those requiring no further judgement may pass directly towards the tenth court.
On the seventh day, 首七, the spirit may return home briefly accompanied by underworld officers.
楚江王From day 7ChuGiang Emperor＋
This court considers acts such as fraud, causing harm to others and the taking of non-human life.
The second-week homecoming observance, 二七, takes place around day 13.
宋帝王From day 14SongDi Emperor＋
This court considers disrespect towards elders, dishonesty and the instigation of harmful disputes.
The third-week observance, 三七, takes place around day 20.
伍官王From day 21WuGuan Emperor＋
This court considers unpaid commitments or debts, deception, and knowingly breaking the commandments of one’s religious path.
The fourth-week observance, 四七, takes place around day 27.
閻羅王From day 28Yama Emperor＋
Often mistaken for the sole ruler of the underworld, Yama rules the fifth court. Judgement includes denying cause and effect or karma, obstructing good deeds, and disrespecting religious practice or ministers.
The fifth-week observance, 五七, takes place around day 34.
變成王From day 35BianCheng Emperor＋
This court considers acts of blaming or showing serious disrespect towards the Gods.
The sixth-week observance, 六七, takes place around day 41.
泰山王From day 42TaiShan Emperor＋
This court considers the misuse of bodily remains, turning people against their families, provoking conflict and malicious speech.
The final seventh-week observance, 末七, takes place around day 48.
平政王Around day 100PinZheng Emperor＋
This court considers serious disrespect towards parents and parents-in-law. The spirit remains connected with this court until the first-year observance.
A family remembrance is traditionally observed on the hundredth day.
都市王Around the first anniversaryDuShi Emperor＋
The ninth court considers the gravest offences and other serious wrongdoing. The spirit remains here until it is permitted to move onward.
The first anniversary forms an important point of remembrance for the family.
轉輪王At the third-year observanceZhuanLun Emperor＋
The tenth court does not judge further acts. It directs each spirit towards the appropriate next path after all required sentences and atonement are complete.
In traditional counting, the year of passing is included as the first year.
The Tenth Court
Three bridges,
towards the next path.
The Golden Bridge
Traditionally attributed to TangTianZi 唐天子. Those who have achieved enlightenment or lived without sin cross towards heaven to receive their rewards.
The Silver Bridge
Traditionally attributed to WangShiNu 王氏女. Those whose lighter wrongdoing has been atoned for may cross towards the six realms of reincarnation.
NaiHe Bridge · 奈河橋
Associated with DiZangWang Bodhisattva 地藏王菩薩. After crossing, the spirit reaches MengPo’s platform and drinks 孟婆湯, allowing memories of the previous life to fade before reincarnation.
The six realms · 六道輪迴
The next
reincarnation.
Heaven · 佛道Demi-Gods · 阿修羅道Human · 人道Hell · 地道Hungry Ghost · 餓鬼道Animal · 畜道
According to the judgement of the previous life, each spirit is directed towards its destined realm and the beginning of its next life.
Practical funeral arrangements
Religious guidance,
connected with funeral care.
Hinzen has come together with Everlay through the same people and shared leadership. Hinzen provides the religious teachings, ministers and traditional ceremonies, while Everlay provides complete funeral director services. This close partnership allows the ceremonial and practical arrangements to be considered together from the very beginning.
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