Chinese Buddhist Watercolor Scroll of Diyu.

$2,000.00

Item Number: 147739

China:, c. 1880-1900.

Rare original Chinese watercolor scroll of the realm of the dead. Watercolor on paper, wooden rollers at top and bottom. The scroll measures 62.5 inches by 30.25 inches. In very good condition.

In Buddhist cosmology, diyu refers to a realm or afterlife where beings experience karmic retribution for their actions in previous lives. While diyu is most commonly associated with Chinese Buddhism, its concept bears similarities to ideas of purgatory in other religious traditions. In Buddhist belief, diyu is not a permanent destination but a temporary state where individuals undergo purification through suffering before being reborn, depending on their accumulated karma. The realm is often depicted as comprising various levels or "hells," each designed to reflect different types of offenses, with punishments intended to cleanse the soul and allow it to progress toward enlightenment. The portrayal of diyu has evolved over time, blending indigenous Chinese beliefs with Buddhist doctrine, and it plays a significant role in both devotional practices and cultural expressions of morality, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct and repentance.