There was a cave outside the county town of Fengdu in Sichuan Province. It was unfathomable. It was said that this was the entrance to Hades of the King of Hell.
The torture instruments there were made by smiths on earth. When the shackles and fetters became worn from excessive use, they were thrown out of the cave entrance. The county magistrate would order new ones to be placed at the cave entrance. The new shackles and fetters would disappear overnight. Expenditures for Hades were clearly recorded in the accounting books of the county government.
During the Ming Dynasty, Hua Gong, who was an imperial inspector, came to Fengdu County for an inspection. He did not believe what people told him about the cave. So, he decided to enter the cave to see for himself. People tried to talk him out of the adventure but he did not listen. Taking two bailiffs with him, he went down into the cave, using candles to light the way. They had covered one li or so when the candles went out. Looking up, he saw a wide road which was lined by a palace of a dozen tall and spacious rooms. Some officials were sitting in it – all in a row. They looked serious, wearing official robes and holding chaowu. There was an empty seat at the eastern end of the row. Seeing Hua Gong coming, the officials went down the steps to greet him and asked: “So you’ve come. How have you been getting along since we parted?” Hua Gong asked:”Where am I?” They answered: “Hades.” Hua Gong was startled and wanted to retreat.
The officials, pointing to the empty seat, said to him: “That is your seat. How can you leave here now?” Hua Gong was very frightened and begged for leniency. The officials said: “How can you escape your fate?” They showed him some documents on which was written that so and so returns to the nether world at such and such a date. Seeing this, Hua Gong felt as if a basin of icy water had been poured on him and he began to shiver all over. Thinking of now he had his old mother and young son to support, he was in tears. After a while, a general in golden armor and with a yellow-silk edict came. The officials greeted his coming with kowtows and joyful shouting. Having finished reading the edict, the general turned to Hua Gong and congratulated him:”Now you can hopefully go back to the human world.” Hua Gong was very happy and asked why. The officials told him: “The edict of the King of Hell declared amnesty in the nether world. Your case can be handled accordingly.” Then they showed Hua Gong the road leading to the entrance of the cave.
Hardly had Hua Gong taken a few steps when he was enveloped in darkness. He could not see the road and was in a sorry plight. Suddenly, a divine general, with an imposing bearing, appeared. He was red-faced and long-bearded and the light emanating from him lit up the road for a few steps at a time. Hua Gong went up to him and asked for help. The general said:”You just keep chanting Buddhist scriptures and you can get out.” After this, the general went away. Hua Gong thought to himself that he had forgotten most of the Buddhist writs but still remembered the Jingang Scripture(Diamond Sutra). So, putting his palms together and closing his eyes, he began to chant. Suddenly he felt a shaft of light lighting up the road ahead. But when he came to the part he did not remember well, darkness returned. He stopped and racked his brains for the forgotten sentences for quite some time. When he finally remembered, the road was lit up again. In this way, he emerged from the nether world. But there was never any sign of his two attendants.
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