Dazu Rock Carvings Baodingshan Great Buddha Bay Niche 20: Illustration of the Hells

CHINA, Chongqing, Dazu; Southern Song dynasty

Situated in the lower tier of the niche, this carving of the Eighteen Hells is divided into two rows. Along the upper row, ten hells are depicted. They are, from right to left: the Hell of Blade Mountain, the Hell of Boiling Cauldron, the Hell of Freezing Cold, the Hell of the Sword Tree, the Hell of Pulling out Tongues, the Hell of Poisonous Snakes, the Hell of Cutting and Crushing, the Hell of Dismemberment, the Hell of Iron Beds, and the Hell of Darkness. Balances with the inscription “karmic scales” are above the Hell of Freezing Cold. A hanging mirror with the inscription “karmic mirror” can be seen above the Hell of Iron Beds.
There is a statue of Zhao Zhifeng, the sponsor of the carving, in the center of the lower row. On each side of the figure are carvings of four hells. The hells, from right to left, are: the Hell of Cutting Knees, the Hell of Avici (the lowest level and longest lasting hell), the Hell of Hungry Ghosts, the Hell of the Knife Boat, the Hell of Iron Wheels, the Hell of the Boiling Cauldron, the Hell of Spears and Weapons, and the Hell of Excrement. There are scenes about the Hell of Cutting Knees which depict intoxication, absent-minded actions, and a parent and child, sibling, or husband and wife who do not recognize each other. An inscription reading “the Hell of Cutting Knees” is on the bottom right.
The carvings are simple and precise, and the resulting images are vivid and easily recognizable. For example, in the Hell of Darkness, a blind person gropes with his hands. In the Hell of Freezing Cold, two figures crouch on the snow with their knees brought up to their chests. All of the carvings in this niche aim to encourage practitioners to avoid bad deeds and to cultivate merit in order to ensure they do not end up in one of these torturous hells.