Fengdu, the “City of Ghosts, China
Fengdu, the “City of Ghosts,” is
situated about 110 mile (170 kilometers) downstream from Chongqing Municipality
on the north bank of the Yangtze River. It attracts tourists from all over
China to know about Chinese ghost culture and the afterlife. Visitors are
constantly reminded in that place that good is rewarded with good, and evil is
rewarded with torturous, and also to see what the Chinese would call a “model
of hell.” Fengdu became known as Ghost City in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) when
two Imperial court officials married and settled on Ming Mountain to practice
Taoist teachings. The couples’ surnames combined Yin and Wang “King of Hell” in
Chinese. They supposedly became immortals. Thus was born Fengdu City of Ghosts
–
There are many statues of ghosts
and of devils in the temples which describe the after-life where people who
disobey ancient Chinese morals are punished in every horrifying ways. We
can see for example Big Demon Ghost – Fengdu – is one of the Big Ghosts
guarding the steps leading up to the Pass to Hell
In the Chinese faith of the afterlife, the person
who died must undergo three important tests to enter the netherworld. These
tests are taken at three different places –
Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge (the
'Bridge of Helplessness')
Ghost Torturing Pass
the Tianzi (son of heaven)
Palace.
These three locations are among
many attractions in this scenic area.
Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge (the 'Bridge of Helplessness')
This stone bridge was built during
the Ming Dynasty and is a test for Good and Evil. It has three arches and only
the middle one is used for testing people. There are different protocols for
crossing the bridge depending on sex, age, marital status. At the bridge demons
allow or forbid passage. The good are allowed to pass while the evil will be
pushed to the water below. This is now done as a tourist attraction and
performers characterized as demons momentarily stop tourists on the bridge but
finally allow them across.
Ghost Torturing Pass
In that place they present
themselves for judgment before Yama, King of Hell. In this area there are large
sculptures of demons.
The Tianzi (son of heaven) Palace.
That test is done at the entrance
to Tianzi Palace where the dead must stand on a certain stone on one foot for
three minutes. According to legend a virtuous person will be able to do it
while an evil person will fail and be condemned to hell. Tianzi Palace is the largest
and oldest building and it is three hundred years old.
A more recent addition is the Last Glance to
Home Tower (also called Home Viewing Pavilion) which was built in 1985 and is
placed where according to legend the dead could have one last look towards
their home and families.
