The Chin Swee Cave Temple is situated about 4,600 feet above sea level in Genting Highlands, just down the hill from the Resorts World casino, theme park and hotel complex.
It is a Buddhist temple which venerates a Chinese Buddhist monk named Chin Swee who is usually depicted with a black face due to his miraculous survival from a fire with nothing more serious than soot blackened skin.
There is quite a lot to see in this place including the pagoda with its nine levels and 285 steps which give an excellent view of the surrounding area. There are a number of stone statues of various Lohan, disciples of Buddha.
The most interesting feature of the temple is the Ten Chambers of Hell. These are a series of grottos cut into the hillside containing life-sized figures depicting the grisly scenes which many Chinese Buddhists believe await sinners after death.
The Ten Chambers operate like this:
- First Chamber. This is a kind of sorting office where the actions of the newly deceased are reviewed.
If you have been a good person you will go straight to the Western Pureland of Great Bliss (heaven)
On the other hand if you have committed good and evil in equal measure during your life, you will be reborn in this world. You proceed directly to Chamber 10 where you will be allocated a new rebirth.
If you have committed more evil than good you will be sent to one of the other chambers of hell to receive your punishment.
- Second Chamber. Deals specifically with kidnappers, property squatters or people who cause bodily harm to others.Doctors who cheat their patients or carry out malpractice, adulterous couples and those who commit suicide before completing their filial obligations are punished here.
- Third Chamber. Those who disobey seniors, the dishonest, disloyal, immoral, cheats, prison breakers, seducers, forgers, false accountants and thieves will find that there are no soft community service sentences here.
- Fourth Chamber. This hell is for tax evaders, purveyors of fake medicines, cheating salesmen, bullies, deceivers, litter-bugs and those not taking care of the poor and elderly.
- Fifth Chamber. Known as the howling hell, this is reserved for the miserly, those who like to fight and gamble, people who are jealous of the kind hearted, rapists, killers, human rights abusers, shooters of poultry and birds and destroyers of water sources.
- Sixth Chamber. The great howling hell is for those who disrespect Buddha and other Gods, violate ethical practices, vandals and food wasters.
- Seventh Chamber. The heating hell is reserved for those who live lavishly, commit unethical business practices, raid tombs, have abortions, mislead juveniles, bully the weak and fabricate the truth.
- Eight Chamber. Intense heating hell. For those who cause fear, panic, sadness or worry to their parents or in-laws.
- Ninth Chamber. The ultimate torment chamber! For those who set fire to homes, destroy others’ property, cause confusion, engage in abortion services, entice young men and rape young girls.
- Tenth Chamber. This chamber is for those who are going to be reincarnated. The controller will determine whether you will be reborn rich or poor, male or female and so on based on the merits and demerits of your past actions.
You will then be given a drink which will wipe out all memory of your past life.
This article first appeared in Thrifty Traveller.