Haw Par Villa - The Ten Courts Of Hell

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I hope you have not been kept waiting for too long for the second and final installment of my Haw Par Villa trip. You can read the first part here if you have not already done so.

The focus in today's post is also the main highlight of the park which is the Ten Courts Of Hell.

I actually made a second trip back to hell as the photos did not turn out well (I didn't realize my hands were shaking too much) during the first visit.

I vividly remember visiting it as a child and the graphic nature of the exhibits gave me endless nightmares but precisely because of this, it further ingrain the notion in me not to do bad deeds.

I guess that is the purpose of this exhibit; to remind us to be a better person and not to commit crimes. I recommended all parents to bring their kids (especially naughty ones) here at least once so they will learn to behave themselves.

Be forewarned that the photos you are about to see are pretty gruesome and morbid therefore you are advised to exercise caution if you want to proceed reading further.

*Reader's Discretion Is Advised*

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"The sea of bitterness has no boundaries, turn back and you will find shore"

I believe the phrase means not to sink any deeper (with your mistakes) and to stop while you still can. In short, it means "turn back before it's too late" which I think applies in this situation. 

Stop reading while you still can before it's too late.

If not, your journey to hell begins now...

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The entrance is guarded by Horse Head and Cow Face

The Ten Courts of Hell are housed in this dark cave-like tunnel.To enter it, you have to walk past Horse Head and Cow Face.


First Court Of Hell
Yama: King Qinguang

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In the first court of hell, King Qinguang conducts preliminary trials and each prisoner is judged according to his deeds in his past life. The 'good' are distinguished from the 'evil' and the King recommends appropriate rewards or punishment.

Punishment is then carried out in the various Courts.

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Those with virtuous conduct in their past life will be led over the 'Golden Bridge' to reach paradise. Those whose past good deeds outweigh crimes committed will be sent to the 'Silver Bridge to reach paradise.

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Those who were evil doers in their past life will be sent to repent before the 'Mirror of Retribution' and then taken to a subsequent Court of Hell to be punished.


Second Court Of Hell
Yama: King Chujiang

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Crime: Inflicting physical injury, Conman, Robbers
Punishment: Thrown into volcanic pit

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Crime: Corruption, Stealing and Gambling
Punishment: Frozen into blocks of ice

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Crime: Prostitutes
Punishment: Thrown into a pool of blood and drown

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Third Court Of Hell
Yama: King Songdi

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Crime: Ungratefulness, Disrespect to elders, Escape from prison
Punishment: Heart dug out

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Crime: Drug addicts and Traffickers, Tomb robbers,
Urging people into crimes and Social unrest
Punishment: Tied to red hot copper pillar and grilled

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Fourth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Wuguan

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Crime: Tax dodger, Refusal to pay rent, Business fraud
Punishment: Pounded by stone mallet

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Crime: Disobedience to one's siblings, Lack of filial piety
Punishment: Grounded by large stone

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'Wang Si' Town (Town of Wrongful Deaths)
This accommodates those who were wronged and driven to their death. They would be asked to view how their enemies receive retribution. They would then be judged on their past deeds and given appropriate punishment.


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Fifth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Yanluo

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Crime: Plotted another's death for his property or money,
Money lenders with exorbitant interest rates
Punishment: Thrown onto a hill of knives

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'Viewing Home Tower'
The 'Viewing Home Tower' is for the evil doers to see how their relatives and families are suffering as a result of their wrong-doings.

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Sixth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Piencheng

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Crime: Cheating, Cursing, Abducting others
Punishment: Thrown onto a tree of knives

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Crime: Misuse of books, Possession of pornographic materials, Breaking written rules and regulations, Wasting food.
Punishment: Body sawn into two

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Seventh Court Of Hell
Yama: King Taishan

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Crime: Rumor mongers, Sowing discord among family members,
Punishment: Tongue pulled out

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Eighth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Dushi

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Crime: Lack of filial obedience, Causing trouble for parents
or family members, Cheating during examinations
Punishment: Intestines and organs pulled out

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Crime: Harming others to benefit oneself
Punishment: Body dismembered

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Ninth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Pingdeng

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Crime: Robbery, Murder, Rape, Any other unlawful conduct
Punishment: Head and arms chopped off

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Crime: Neglect of the old and the young
Punishment: Crushed under boulders

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Tenth Court Of Hell
Yama: King Zhuanlun

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In the Tenth Court, there is the 'Wheel of Reincarnation' and the 'Pavilion of forgetfulness'.

After serving their sentences, prisoners arrive at the Tenth Court where King Zhuanlun passes his final judgement.

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The prisoners are then brought to the 'Pavilion of Forgetfulness' where an old lady 'Meng Po' hands them a cup of magic tea which upon drinking, makes them forget their past life.

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They will then go through the 'Wheel of Reincarnation'. Depending on the prisoner's past life, he would be reborn either as a human or an animal.

Some would be reborn into a life of ease and comfort while others into sorrow and sufferings.

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Samsara

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I have never felt so relieved to embrace the hot sun

Haw Par Villa is not your usual walk-in-the-park park. Some of the sculptures may be outright weird or frightening but there is a lesson to be learned behind every one of them. I hope this park will get to be preserved and educate future generations on morality and ethics.

Bring life to the park by visiting it with your friends or bring the kids here during the school holidays. It's free! Hopefully, we can see Haw Par Villa regain its former glory.

Due to the lack of business, the canteen here is not in operation so you might want to have your meal first before coming over or bring some light snacks along. *FYI, the only washroom in the entire park is located here at the canteen (pictured below).

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Take note that the vending machines near the Ten Courts of Hell only accept $2 notes while the ones at the entrance do accept coins. I am not too sure about the ones outside the washrooms though.

A 500ml bottled drink costs $1.50 at the vending machines here while a 1.5l Coke costs $2.20 at the supermarket (just for your reference if you are on a budget and trying to save cost).

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Another warning: Be careful of the stairs here as I nearly tumbled down the narrow steps. I admit that I did not watch where I was going but the steps were indeed narrower than the length of my foot.

For more photos, click here.


Admission to Haw Par Villa is free. Take the Circle Line train and alight at Haw Par Villa Station (CC25) which brings you directly to the foot of the park (just turn right when you exit the station).

Find out more about the man behind the Tiger Balm business and his contributions to Singapore (especially towards the Chinese community) in this two part documentary:
- Part 1
- Part 2


HAW PAR VILLA (虎豹别墅)
262 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 118628

Opening Hours: 9am - 7pm daily

GPS Coordination: 1.285506, 103.7831439


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