The concept of hell. (Taoism)
Today, we travel to a world which many of us know, from popular movies, stories and haw par villa. It’s non other than the Taoism concept of hell. It’s a colorful culture with plenty of deities for every aspect of human life. A deity for even animals, plants and elements. Without further ado, let’s go into the underworld, according to Taoism.
Taoism, also known as Daoism, is a Chinese philosophy and religion that emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world. While Taoism does not have a concept of hell in the same way that other religions do, it does have a belief in an afterlife and a system of rewards and punishments for one's actions.
In Taoism, the afterlife is seen as a continuation of the present life, and the soul is believed to live on after the physical body dies. The soul is seen as being composed of three elements: Hun, Po, and Shen. Hun is the spiritual aspect of the soul, Po is the physical aspect, and Shen is the mental aspect. These three elements are believed to separate at death, with the Hun and Po continuing on to the afterlife.
The afterlife in Taoism is seen as being divided into different realms or levels, depending on the individual's actions during their lifetime. These levels are not seen as permanent destinations, but rather as transitional states that the soul passes through on its journey to ultimate enlightenment and liberation.
One of the realms that the soul may pass through in the afterlife is known as the Underworld, or 地狱. This realm is not exactly a hell, but rather a place of judgment and purification. The soul is judged by the Ten Kings of Hell, who assess the individual's actions during their lifetime and assign them to a particular level of the Underworld. The levels of the Underworld are not seen as punishments, but rather as opportunities for the soul to purify itself and overcome its negative karma.
The Ten Kings of Hell are also known as the Ten Yama Kings, and they are based on a Buddhist concept. However, in Taoism, the Ten Kings of Hell are seen as being subordinate to the Jade Emperor, who is the supreme deity of the Taoist pantheon.
The levels of the Underworld in Taoism are based on the idea of the Five Phases, which are a system of correspondences between different elements of the natural world. The Five Phases are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, and each level of the Underworld corresponds to one of these elements.
The levels of the Underworld are also associated with various punishments and tests, which are designed to help the soul purify itself and overcome its negative karma. These punishments and tests are not seen as eternal, but rather as opportunities for the soul to learn and grow.
In conclusion, the Taoist concept of hell is not the same as the concept of hell in other religions. The Underworld in Taoism is not a place of eternal punishment, but rather a realm of judgment and purification. The levels of the Underworld are based on the Five Phases and are associated with various punishments and tests, which are designed to help the soul purify itself and overcome its negative karma. Ultimately, the goal of Taoism is not to avoid punishment in the afterlife, but rather to live in harmony with the natural world and to cultivate inner peace and enlightenment.