Avici Hell: The Infinity of Japan’s Deepest Buddhist Abyss
When travelers imagine Japan, they often picture cherry blossoms, serene Zen gardens, and bustling neon streets. However, beneath the calm surface of Japanese spirituality lies a cosmology that is as terrifying as it is fascinating. Among the various realms of the afterlife in Japanese Buddhism, none is more feared than Avici Hell (known in Japanese as Abi Jigoku). Often associated with the concept of “Mugen” or infinity, this is the lowest level of the underworld, reserved for the most grievous sinners.
For cultural travelers and folklore enthusiasts, understanding Avici offers a glimpse into the moral fabric that has shaped Japanese history, literature, and even modern pop culture. Join us as we descend into the abyss to explore the infinity of Avici.
The Origins: A Sanskrit Nightmare
The concept of Avici originates from ancient Indian Buddhism, eventually traveling through China to Japan. The word Avici is Sanskrit for “without waves” or “interruption.” This etymology is the key to understanding the horror of this realm: it is a place where suffering has no pause, no respite, and no end in sight.
In the Japanese Buddhist worldview, the afterlife is often depicted as a bureaucracy overseen by King Enma (Yama), the judge of the dead. There are Eight Cold Hells and Eight Hot Hells. Avici is the eighth and deepest of the Hot Hells. While other hells have specific durations—albeit lasting eons—Avici is often described as effectively eternal due to the sheer magnitude of time required to purge the karma accumulated by its inhabitants.
The Legend: The Five Immediacies and Infinite Pain
What lands a soul in such a terrifying place? According to the Ojoyoshu (The Essentials of Rebirth), a seminal 10th-century text by the monk Genshin, Avici is reserved for those who commit the “Five Heavy Sins” or Gogyaku. These include:
- Patricide (Killing one’s father)
- Matricide (Killing one’s mother)
- Killing an Arhat (an enlightened being)
- Injuring a Buddha
- Creating a schism in the Sangha (community of monks)
The defining characteristic of Avici is the concept of Mugen (infinity/limitless). The suffering here is categorized by the “Five Immediacies” (Muken), which implies that there is no gap in time, space, or instrument of torture.
Legends state that the fall alone to reach Avici takes 2,000 years. Once there, the sinner’s body is stretched to fill the entire fiery cavern, ensuring that nowhere is safe from the flames. Unlike other hells where one might die and be revived to suffer again, the torture in Avici is a continuous, unbroken stream of consciousness defined by agony. It is the ultimate manifestation of karma: infinite consequences for crimes that disrupt the fundamental order of the universe.
Avici in Modern Culture
The terrifying concept of Mugen and Abi Jigoku has deeply permeated Japanese pop culture. It serves as a potent metaphor for endless despair or determination.
- Anime and Manga: Fans of Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) will recognize the term “Mugen” (Infinity) from the famous Mugen Train arc. While the context differs, the word carries the weight of endlessness derived from these Buddhist concepts. Similarly, series like Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl) draw directly from the imagery of Enma and the dark boats ferrying souls to the underworld.
- Literature: Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s famous short story, The Spider’s Thread (Kumo no Ito), depicts a sinner in the depths of hell (implied to be Avici or a similar stratum) who is given one chance at redemption by the Buddha. The story vividly illustrates the selfish human nature that leads souls to these realms.
Traveler’s Tips: Glimpsing Hell in Japan
While you certainly don’t want to visit the real Avici, adventurous travelers can visit several “Hell” sites in Japan that depict these Buddhist landscapes safely from the mortal coil.
1. Beppu “Jigoku Meguri” (Hells of Beppu)
Located in Oita Prefecture, Beppu is famous for its hot springs. The “Hells” here are for viewing, not bathing. The blood-red waters of Chinoike Jigoku (Blood Pond Hell) offer a visceral visualization of what the Buddhist underworld was thought to look like.
2. Mount Osore (Osorezan)
Located in Aomori Prefecture, this is considered one of the three most sacred places in Japan. It is physically barren, smelling of sulfur, with a bleak, rocky landscape that locals have long believed to be the entrance to the afterlife. It is a somber, hauntingly beautiful place to reflect on impermanence.
3. Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo) and Rokuharamitsu-ji (Kyoto)
Many older temples feature Jigoku-zoshi (Hell Scrolls). These ancient scroll paintings vividly depict the torments of Avici and other hells. They were historically used to teach moral lessons to the illiterate masses. Keep an eye out for special exhibitions where these delicate scrolls are displayed.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in the textual history of these concepts, the following works are essential:
- Ojoyoshu (The Essentials of Rebirth): Written by the monk Genshin in 985 AD, this text provided the graphic descriptions of hell that influenced Japanese art for a millennium.
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): While primarily a Shinto creation myth and history, this 8th-century text documents the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, setting the stage for the syncretism that allowed concepts like Avici to take root alongside native beliefs.
- The Abhidharma-kosa: An ancient Buddhist text that details the cosmology of the universe, including the dimensions and locations of the Eight Great Hells.