Japanese Idea of Hell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 23, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 40.

Japanese Idea of Hell.

ONE of the curious articles exhibited at Tiffany's is a scarf of gray Canton crape, which portrays the infernal regions, according to the Japanese idea. The scarf is nine yards long, and half a yard wide. The first scene represents Satan on earth seeking new victims. The arch-fiend appears as a sulphuric, yellowish-green demon, with protruding horns, cloven feet, and a demoniacal expression, luring his victims into his net, and plunging them into fiery depths. They appear to fall into a nest of burning scorpions, where they are tantalized by a glimpse of their friends enjoying themselves in a lake of cool water. Then in the next scene Satan takes the form of an immense dragon, with his human victims crouching at his feet. They are mercilessly dragged into court, and the judge is represented as condemning them to be tied to rocks and to have red-hot lead poured down their throats. They are then chased by hyenas through a field of open knives and other sharp instruments. The victims are next portrayed as being tortured by having their limbs sawed off, and by being thrown into a revolving wheel of fire. Satan next appears to be looking out for new victims on a field of battle. Some of those victims are made to hug red-hot stove-pipes, while Satan himself, with a smile, is fanning them. Others are swimming in seas of blood, surrounded by laughing demons. Others still are seated in a cauldron of red-hot sulphur, having their tongues pulled out. Some are represented as carrying heavy burdens of coal and throwing it into the fire to burn new victims. His Satanic Majesty is next represented as feeding his subjects with rice, presumably to give them strength with which to endure greater tortures.—New York Tribune.