Jigoku E No Nippon Shi in Color (Takarajimasha Shinsho)

[Machine Translation] Every Japanese person must have heard at least once of the tale of hell, in which a person crosses the Sanzu River after death and is judged by the great king Enma, and falls into hell depending on his or her bad deeds during life, such as killing, stealing, illicit sexual intercourse, lying, and evil eye-witnessing. From "Jigoku Zoshi" and "Gakki-zoshi" to "Juohzu," "Rikudo-e," "Kitano Tenjin Engi," "Tateyama Mandala," and "Kumano Kanshin Jukai Mandala. Based on the hell paintings, which are national treasures and important cultural properties, depicting the traditional hells of Japan, why were such atrocious scenes depicted? What have the Japanese feared and sought salvation from? The meaning behind the scenes will be revealed.

人は死ぬと三途の川を渡り、閻魔大王の裁きを受け、殺生、盗み、邪淫、嘘、邪見などの生前の悪業によっては地獄に堕ちるという地獄のものがたりは、日本人なら誰でも一度は聞き覚えがあるはず。『地獄草紙』『餓鬼草紙』から『十王図』『六道絵』『北野天神縁起』、さらに『立山曼荼羅』『熊野観心十界曼荼羅』まで。日本に伝わる阿鼻叫刊の地獄の模様を描いた国宝、重文の地獄絵をベースに、なぜそのような残虐な情景が描かれたのか?日本人は何を恐れ、何に救いを求めてきたのか?そこに秘められた意味を解き明かす。