Nov 25, 2013
地獄草紙 Handscrolls of Buddhist Hell 12th Century, Japan.
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地獄草紙 Handscrolls of Buddhist Hell 12th Century, Japan.
The more things change...
Reading Caroline Hirasawa's "The Inflatable, Collapsible Kingdom of Retribution: A Primer on Japanese Hell Imagery and Imagination" and came across this gem:
The late twelfth-century Anjûin Jigoku zôshi graphically demonstrates the brutal torturers awaiting sinners. The text in between each painting, based on descriptions of the Hell of Screams from Zhengfa nianchu jing, explains the sins summoning each torture: killing, stealing, sexual offenses, and selling alcohol mixed with water.
I just love that selling alcohol mixed with water is a punishable offense on par with killing and stealing. And it's somewhat understandable, too, right? I mean, we've all been in that bar with the shitty watered-down drinks at one point or another in our lives. Bringing back the old-school fear of hell might be a way to combat that problem.
"I know you watered down the bourbon, Johnny, and you're going right to fucking hell!"