Indian mythology
The origin of ancient Indian Rebecca can be traced back to at least around 2000 BC. At that time, a branch of ancient Aryans began to rule northern India, where they created the caste system of Vedic culture and initiated the Vedic period in Indian history. Aryans wrote Vedas in languages older than Sanskrit, the earliest being Rigveda. In Rigveda, Yan Luowang lived in heaven, where all souls after death went to see Yan Luowang. Yan Luowang has two messengers. They are two dogs. These two messengers often patrol the human world. When they find someone dying with their sense of smell, they will take his soul to heaven. King Yamaraja is the original source of Yan. Aryans developed Brahmanism, which is the predecessor of modern Hinduism in India. The Vedas are the classics of Brahmanism, so the belief of God Yamaraja has been inherited and changed in Brahmanism. Brahmanism believes in samsara, believing that God Yamaraja is the legendary first person to die. Later, Yamaraja was transferred from heaven to earth, and was regarded as a god who specially supervised the behavior of the deceased and gave rewards and punishments. Then it developed into the king of the dead in all death and hell, that is, the master of hell, with many subordinates. With further evolution, Yamaraja finally became a god who made the dead suffer and humiliated their souls.
Chinese mythology
Folk belief
In China folklore, Bao Zheng became the embodiment of justice. Some people think that after his death, he will become Yan Luowang and continue to try triad cases. Others think that he "judges the world by day and the underworld by night", that is to say, he judges cases on earth by day and becomes Yan Luowang at night, and judges cases in the underworld. After death, the soul goes to the underworld to be judged by Bao Zheng. If it is really framed, Bao Zheng will bring him back to life; If he is really guilty, he will be sent to hell to be punished. King of hell
According to folklore, there are four kings of Yan: besides Bao Zheng, there are Han Qinhu, Fan Zhongyan and Kou Zhun. On the other hand, there are three princes, namely Bao Zheng, Fan Zhongyan and Kou Zhun. First, Han Qinhu, a general of the Sui Dynasty, and Han Qinhu, a general of the early Sui Dynasty, were said to have killed a tiger at the age of 13, so they were named catching a tiger. In the war of unifying China in Sui Dynasty, they first crossed the river and entered Jianye (Nanjing), which made great contributions. Sui Shu, presided over by Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong), described that on the eve of his death when he was seriously ill, "his neighbor's mother was caught (catching a tiger, Tang Dynasty). Therefore, the word "tiger" is omitted, and the guards under the door are very prosperous. Some are the same kings, and their mothers have different requirements for them. Among them, they said, "I'm here to see the king." Suddenly, they disappeared. Someone else was ill and suddenly came home and said, "I want to pay homage to the king." They asked around, "which king is it?" Answer: "Yan Luowang", the escaped son wanted to give him a good scolding, but said: "It is enough to live as a pillar and die as Yan Luowang. "He died of illness for a few days." Twenty-four History is too taboo about ghosts and gods, and rarely records the story of Yin and Yang, but this biography records the legend that Han Qinhu died for Yan Luowang, which shows that this legend was quite popular in the early Tang Dynasty. He also vividly described that after Chen was destroyed, he was invited by five generals to be the Lord of the underworld, and Han promised to take three days off. Emperor Wendi of Sui held a farewell banquet. On the third day, a purple man and a flying man came to meet him in black clouds, claiming to be "heaven and earth, to take the king." So he bid farewell to the imperial court and his family, and went to the underworld to be a Yan Luowang. It still evolved from Sui Shu. Second, Kou Zhun, a famous figure in the Northern Song Dynasty, learned from the people and was straightforward. Only honest people can often make people miss each other, which is probably one of the reasons why he can stand out from the ranks of many civil and military ministers. It is said that his beloved concubine Tao Xi said before she died: "I am afraid to show my feelings;" There's no harm in saying anything if you want to leave today. The public should be the master of the world, Jambu-di Pa Wang Ye (Architectural Sketch). When Kou Zhun, who was with Wang Keqin, saw the crowd, he said, "Yamaraja is in charge." (Hanshu Mingtan) It can be seen that he was Yan Luowang's confidant before his death, and he really became Yan Luowang after his death. Probably this statement has been circulated before his death. It says "Yan Luowang Today" (popular compilation). Third, Fan Zhongyan, a famous figure in the Northern Song Dynasty, is also known for his honesty and integrity. Fan Zhongyan was praised by the people for his good official voice before his death. So after his death, some people said that he was "in the underworld", "saw the teacher's right to kill" and "when a person dies, he sees Yamaraja". Isn't Wen an official for this? "("China people "there was a legend. "It is said that Bao Zheng is a ghost Yan Luowang, which was very popular in the Song Dynasty." Song people's Biography of Bao Zheng said: A young girl is also known by her name, which is called Bao's system. The capital said: the joints are not enough. And Yamaraja's Bao Lao (Fan Yanqiao's Tea and Tobacco Break). As a result, there were many stories about Bao Zheng's trial in Xiayinsi during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Shi Yukun: In "Three Heroes and Five Righteousness", there is also an incident in which Bao Zheng plays Yamaraja to try Guo Huai's "civet cats for princes". Bao Zheng is outspoken and strict in law enforcement, so he is naturally the best candidate for Yan Luowang in people's ideal artistic conception. Oriental legend culture tells the story of the present world, and the netherworld will affirm the injustice of the world. Lin Heng, with a lower rank, died in Xiuzhou, a well-known city. According to Hong Mai's "Jane Yi Bing Zhi", he said that he was "an official all his life, and he was ill at his own risk". He is a bold and honest official, so people also worship him as the king of hell.