18th century

Third King of the Underworld (Songjae)

Songjae, the third of the Ten Kings of the Underworld, sits in judgment of the deceased on the twenty-first day after death, writing his decision onto the scroll held by his assistant. Below are scenes of some of the punishments that have been meted out. The names of the donors and priests of the temple for which this work was made appear in the rectangular cartouche at the bottom. Such paintings on silk were usually displayed in Korean temple complexes in the building known as Myeongbu-jeon (Hall of the Underworld Court).