A Study of Rokudo-juo-zu (Six Realms of Rebirth and Ten Kings of Hell) of Soji-ji Temple in Wakayama-city

摘要

"Rokudo-juo-zu (Six Realms of Rebirth and Ten Kings of Hell) of Soji-ji Temple" was composed in Japan in 16th Century in accordance to the religious state of the country at that time. This is the Japanese version of the "juo-zu(Ten Kings of Hell) of Seikado", which was composed in China in the 14th Century. There were 5 alterations made from the original Chinese piece, which are as follows; ① The additional drawings of "True-form Budda"in the Ten Kings of Hell. ② The additional drawings of the "Six Realms of Rebirth". ③ The 3 additional drawings which are -reflections on the "Mirror of the Court", -scattering the images that suggest a mountain on the motives of the "Throne-screen", -"Degrees of Ages"expressed here as mountain paths. ④ Altering the fashion of the deceased to Japanese style so that one can recognize them as their own ancestors. ⑤ Adding the family of the deceased holding a memorial service. The alterations mentioned above are all in the hope that mercy will be bestowned in the judgement given by the Ten Kings of Hell. It also takes metters on step further by emphasizing that families should pray for the deceased so that after travelling the "Six Realms of Rebirth", they can without fail reach the final destination of the "Pure Land". The emphasis given also matches the direction of the developments the "Rokudo-juo-zu of Soji-ji Temple" has made since the 13th Century.