Influences A Supplement to the Journey to the West

the headless ghost of yue fei confronting deceased spirit of qin hui in hell. 19th-century chinese hell scroll.

the supplement s episode of torture of qin hui in hell has many elements appeared in earlier fictional literature. idea of serving adjunct king of hell first mentioned in collection of oral traditions called popular tales of record of 3 kingdoms (三国志评话), literary ancestor of romance of 3 kingdoms. 1 of 5 such compilations printed in newly published, illustrated pinghua (新刊全相评话) series during reign of yuan emperor yingzhong (1321-1323). later popularized in feng menglong s stories of old , new (古今小说，1620), collection of original works , earlier oral traditions. tale entitled sima mao disrupts order in underworld , sits in judgment poor han dynasty scholar named sima mao passed on promotion various government posts in favor of wealthy men underhandedly pay positions. sima writes poem criticizing celestial hierarchy , claims better job @ righting wrongs king of hell. jade emperor of heaven wishes punish sima blasphemy, embodiment of planet venus talks him letting scholar act king of hell twelve hours test worth. sima given yama s throne under stipulation enjoy success in next life if solves hell s difficult cold cases, damned never reborn human realm if fails. tries 4 cases involving famous han dynasty personages—han xin, peng yue, liu bang, etc.—and passes sagely verdicts. great deed, sima , wife born wealth in next lives.

portions of story dealing yue fei s retribution appeared in several storytelling compilations, including fifteenth-century work imitative collection of stories (小品集), , in folklore biography on general named restoration of great song dynasty: story of king yue (大宋中興岳王傳, c. 1552). feng menlong later used such oral tales when adapted aforementioned story sima mao write humu di intones poems , visits netherworld, included in collection. poor yuan dynasty scholar named humu di (胡母迪) fails gain government post because cannot pass imperial exams. after bout of drinking, humu writes series of poems criticizing heaven not punishing wicked , states torture qin hui murder of yue fei if king of hell. irreverent remarks, humu s soul dragged chinese underworld of diyu. there, king yama orders underworld official take humu on tour of various tortures of hell in order witness firsthand result of karmic retribution. 2 first come qin hui s personal hell punishments similar mentioned in supplement. destroyed body blown proper form sinister whirling wind after each punishment has been metered. official explains after 3 years of continuous torture, qin reborn on earth manner of animals, including pigs, slaughtered , eaten until end of time. 2 view tortures of other wicked people before returning yama s palace. after having tea souls of righteous men waiting on rebirths, yama sends humu world of living satisfied heavenly hierarchy doing job. humu becomes official in hell upon death years later.

eastern peak temple statues representing department of rain gods .

a modified version of former tale appears in yue fei s later folklore biography story of yue fei (1684). story rich, drunken song dynasty scholar named hu di (胡迪) writes blasphemous poem , himself dragged hell remarks king yama. taken on tour , attends punishment of deceased qin hui, includes same tortures , endless karmic rebirths animals. qin s damaged body is, again, put proper form magical wind. hu returns yama s palace convinced quick judge ways of heaven , hell. yama allows hu write out formal charges against qin , family. meanwhile, in manner similar supplement, soul of yue fei brought hell. learns reason suffered untimely death because went against ways of heaven in former life. qin hui brought before yue summarily beaten iron rods charges brought against him. after seeing general off hell, king yama orders demon return hu s soul world of living in order avoid earthly body decomposing. lives life of charity , dies in 90 s.

the story of qin s torture in hell known daoist eastern peak temple, famous statuary representations of celestial hierarchy, has small hall dedicated yue fei in likeness of former prime minister being led off underworld demon. important note yue fei s headless ghost prominent fixture in religious chinese hell scrolls.