Landmarks at Mr Mingshan bear horrific names -Last Glance at Home Tower, Nothing-To-Be-Done Bridge, and the Ghost Torturing Pass, the three trials for ghost who wanted to enter the netherworld.
Temple of Heng and Ha
The origin of the two vajras can be traced back to ancient Indian Buddhism. In one classic Chinese legend, they were transformed into two guardians with supernatural strength. Guardian Heng could roar or bellow a dazzling light and Han a yellow wind. A ghost who had misbehaved when alive would be knocked down by the light and wind, and prevented from entering the nether world.
Nothing-to-Be-Done Bridge
This three-arched marble bridge is acknowledged to be the second inspection point. A ghost who could stride across it in three steps was considered as a virtuous man while those who could not were considered villains. They would drop down into the river below, and would forever more be deprived of choosing a new life.
Ghost Torturing Pass
Ghost Torturing Pass is the last test before entry to the nether world. Temples display instruments of torture and horrible demon images. Two devilish guards (Shopkeepers) kept a basin of water into which customers threw their coins; if the coins sank they were genuine, but if they floated, the coins were ghost money and unacceptable. For the sum of one dollar, visitors can obtain a 'Passport to Heaven', stamped by the local magistrate and the abbot.
On the other side of the Bridge, Mt. Shuangguishan is reputed as being This World, which is considered a fairyland of tranquility and harmony with lush greenery. There stand some commemorative buildings such as Confucius Temple, Luming Temple, Yuming Spring and En'lai Pavilion, consecrated to Zhou En'lai.
The Ten Courts of Chinese Hell
Court 1: Mirror of Retribution. Ruled by QIN-GUANG-WANG.
Court 2: The Pool of Filth and the Hell of Ice. Ruled by QU-JIANG-WANG.
Court 3: Black Rope Hell and the Upside-Down Prison. Ruled by SONG-DI-WANG.
Court 4: The Lake of Blood and the terrible Bee Torture. Ruled by WU-GUAN-WANG.
Court 5: Sixteen Departments of Heart Gouging. Ruled by YEN-LO-WANG.
Court 6: Screaming Torture and Administrative Errors. Ruled by BIAN-CHENG-WANG.
Court 7: Torture by Mincing Machine. Ruled by TAI-SHAN-WANG.
Court 8: Hot Suffocation Hell. Ruled by DU-SHI-WANG.
Court 9: Iron Web and Office of Fair Trading. Ruled by PING-DENG-WANG.
Court 10: The Wheel of Rebirth. Ruled by ZHUANG-LUN-WANG.