Kyokan Jigoku: Inside Japan’s Hell of Eternal Screaming
When travelers think of Japan, images of serene Zen gardens, bustling neon streets in Tokyo, and peaceful shrines usually come to mind. However, beneath the surface of this harmonious culture lies a terrifyingly detailed cosmology of the afterlife. Among the most fearsome destinations in Japanese Buddhist mythology is Kyokan Jigoku (叫喚地獄), known in English as the “Hell of Screaming.”
Far removed from the vague concepts of the underworld found in many Western traditions, Kyokan Jigoku is a place of specific, visceral punishment. It serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of earthly actions. For the cultural traveler, understanding this aspect of Japanese belief offers a fascinating, albeit macabre, window into the moral fabric of historical Japan.
The Origins: From Yomi to Jigoku
To understand Kyokan Jigoku, one must look at the evolution of the afterlife in Japanese history. Before the arrival of Buddhism, indigenous beliefs—recorded in ancient chronicles like the Kojiki (712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE)—described a place called Yomi-no-kuni. Yomi was a shadowy, polluted land of the dead, but it was not necessarily a place of judgment or torture based on moral sin; it was simply where souls went.
With the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century, the concept of the afterlife changed dramatically. The Japanese adopted the idea of Naraka (Jigoku), a purgatorial realm consisting of Eight Great Hells (and Eight Cold Hells). These were detailed extensively in texts like Genshin’s Ojoyoshu (The Essentials of Rebirth), written in 985 CE. The Ojoyoshu vividly illustrated the horrors awaiting sinners to encourage the populace to seek salvation through the Amida Buddha. Kyokan Jigoku is the fourth of these Eight Great Hells, representing a significant escalation in suffering.
The Legend: Punishment of the Wailing
Kyokan Jigoku is not for the faint of heart. According to Buddhist sutras, this hell is reserved for those who have committed three specific sins: murder, theft, and the consumption of intoxicants (alcohol).
In the hierarchy of the Eight Hells, the suffering increases tenfold with each descent. Kyokan is situated below the Hell of Crushing and above the Hell of Great Screaming. The legends state that sinners here suffer for a duration that is incomprehensible to the human mind—often cited as 4,000 years, where one day in this hell equals thousands of years on Earth.
The Tortures
Because this hell specifically targets those who lost their inhibitions through alcohol and harmed others, the punishments are ironic and brutal.
- The Boiling Cauldrons: Souls are often depicted being thrown into massive cauldrons of boiling water or molten lead. The heat is so intense that the condemned shriek in agony, giving the realm its name: The Hell of Screaming.
- The Demonic Wardens: The Oni (demons) of Kyokan are relentless. They chase sinners across grounds of burning iron, whipping them with rods of fire.
- The Cycle of Pain: Unlike the permanent damnation in some Western theologies, Jigoku is temporary but incredibly long. Sinners are tortured until they “die,” only to be revived by a cool wind to suffer the process all over again until their bad karma is exhausted.
Modern Culture: Hell in the 21st Century
While the literal fear of boiling cauldrons has faded for many in modern secular Japan, the imagery of Kyokan Jigoku remains a potent cultural force.
In contemporary media, the concept of specific hells has been popularized by anime and manga. Series like Hozuki’s Coolheadedness (Hozuki no Reitetsu) offer a dark comedy perspective on the bureaucracy of Japanese hell, featuring Kyokan Jigoku as a workplace for demons. Similarly, Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl) explores the themes of vengeance and damnation that align with these ancient beliefs.
Furthermore, the term “Jigoku” is frequently used in Japanese idioms. A commute on a crowded train might be described as tsukin jigoku (commuting hell), a linguistic remnant of these ancient terrors.
Traveler’s Tips: Where to Glimpse the Underworld
For travelers fascinated by the macabre or the spiritual, there are safe ways to “visit” these hells without bad karma:
- Beppu “Hells” (Jigoku Meguri): Located in Oita Prefecture, Beppu is famous for its hot springs. The “Hells of Beppu” are spectacular hot springs for viewing rather than bathing. One of them, Kamado Jigoku (Cooking Pot Hell), features boiling mud and water that evoke the imagery of Kyokan.
- Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo): As Tokyo’s oldest temple, it houses various artworks. While not always on public display, the temple archives contain scrolls depicting the afterlife.
- Rokuharamitsu-ji (Kyoto): This temple is dedicated to Kannon but is historically significant for its collection of statues and connection to the concept of the realms of existence.
- National Museums: The Tokyo and Kyoto National Museums frequently rotate exhibits of “Hell Scrolls” (Jigoku-zoshi). These 12th-century scrolls are National Treasures that graphically depict the tortures of Kyokan and other hells with artistic mastery.
Sources & Further Reading
To deepen your understanding of Japanese mythology and the afterlife, the following texts are essential:
- The Ojoyoshu (The Essentials of Rebirth) by Genshin: The primary source for the visual descriptions of the Japanese Buddhist hells.
- The Kojiki and The Nihon Shoki: While these texts focus on the Shinto origins of Japan and the concept of Yomi (the gloomy underworld), reading them provides the necessary contrast to understand how foreign Buddhist ideas of judgment overlaid indigenous beliefs.
- Jigoku-zoshi (Hell Scrolls): Available in various art history compilations, these provide the visual reference for the descriptions found in the texts.