Touhou Wiki
Register
Advertisement

地獄の王

King of Hell

閻魔

Yama

主な危険度:  極高

Usual threat level: Extremely High

遭遇頻度:   低

Frequency of encounters: Low

多様性:    低

Diversity: Low

主な遭遇場所: 彼岸

Main place of encounters: Higan

主な遭遇時間: 不明

Main time of encounters: Unknown

特徴

Characteristics

閻魔は何れも幻想郷に住む妖怪ではないが、稀に幻想郷にも現れるのでここで紹介する。

Because the Yama are not any of the youkai who reside in Gensokyo, and also because they rarely appear in Gensokyo, they will herein be given an introduction.

その昔、今の様に人間が多くなかった頃は転生は確実に行われており、七(追加で三)回(*1)に渡る十王(*2)審判で一回でも合格すれば転生と非常に甘い物だった。

In times past, when there were comparatively fewer humans, the cycles of spiritual transmigration were operated with great reliability. The policy of crossing over seven times (plus 3 additional times)(*1) was carried out by the Ten Kings (*2). If the first judgement was succesful, then the cycles of spiritual transmigration would be as gratifying as the sweetest of desserts.

だが、徐々に人間の数も増え、裁判官の人手が足りなくなると、十王全てが当時最も力のあった閻魔王を名乗り、審判を一回だけに減らす事で。深刻だった人手不足を解消した。

However, the number of humans increased little by little, leading to a lack of judicial manpower, at which point the Ten Kings called upon the most powerful of Yamas of the day to reduce the number of pending trials insofar as was possible. And thus the shortage in personnel was resolved.

また、全国のお地蔵さんから閻魔様の仕事をしたい者を集い、お地蔵さんがあった場所の死者の審判を任せた。

Additionally, from all over the country, those who arrived via Jizou (the bodhisvattas for children, travellers, and the underworld) and were interested in serving as Lord Yamas had a meeting, wherein the deceased who had died in proximity to Jizou were entrusted with the vocation of being judges.

殆どの閻魔様は、古いお地蔵さんである。

As it was, the Lord Yamas became mostly composed of old Jizou.

今では、閻魔の人数が非常に多くなった為、死神、地獄の鬼と共に地獄の公的組織「是非曲直庁」を作り統制を取っている。

In present times, to address the issue of humans outnumbering judges, shinigami, oni from Hell, together with the official organization 「The Ministry of What's Right and What's Wrong」 have taken up the business of operations and oversight.

是非曲直庁

The Ministry of What's Right and What's Wrong

この組織のトップが、十人の閻魔王である(*3)。

At the top of this organization, there preside 10 yamas.(*3)

その下には裁判官と鬼神長が居て、各裁判官には数人の死神が付き、鬼神長は数名の鬼が付く。

Below them are lesser judges and fierce administrative demons. Each and every judge also commands several shinigami, while each of the fierce administrative demons similarly commands a number of lesser oni.

このうち、裁判官までが閻魔と呼ばれるのである。

Within this place, all lower ranks including lesser judges may consult with the yamas.

まず、死神によって彼岸に連れてこられた幽霊は、自分の住んでいた場所を担当している裁判官の所まで連れて行かれる。

First, for the spirits who have been brought along by shinigami via Higan, they will be taken to the court of the lesser judge who matches up with the spirit's previous station in life.

審判は裁判官一人で行われ、死者の意見を聞く事無く(*4)独自の判断で判決を下し、冥界か天界か地獄に振り分けられる。

Each shall have only one lesser judge presiding, who will pass judgement without heeding the testimony of the deceased (*4), and thus divide the souls towards Heaven, Hell, or the Netherworld as each outcome dictates.

鬼神長は、地獄に堕ちた幽霊を虐める鬼の長である。

The fierce administrative demons will take charge as the souls fall down to Hell and will command the lesser oni in their torment of the deceased.

様々な拷問設備が作られているが、現在、財政難により整備は不十分である。

A wide array of torture devices could be used, but current economic conditions mean that many of these contraptions are in serious need of maintenance and repair.

組織の主な収入源は、三途の河の渡し賃、及び中有の道の屋台である。

The organization's primary sources of income will be fares from those crossing the Sanzu River, as well as confection stands and food carts operating on the Road of Liminality.

閻魔の審判

The Judgement of Yama

生前の悪行が読み上げられ、内容や量によって判決が言い渡される。

Misdeeds committed while still living will be read loudly and clearly, the details and the numbers will be considered, and the judgement will then be announced.

一度判決が下されると、覆される事は無い。

Once the judgement has been passed down, there's nothing along the lines of revoking or appealing the decision.

判決は、その後の幽霊の行き先が決まるだけであって、よく言われる「嘘を吐くと閻魔様に舌を抜かれる」というのはデマであるが、閻魔様側もそのデマを脅しのネタに使う事が多い。

While this judgement will determine the final destination of the spirit, there are often lies (those who lie to the Lord Yama have their tongues pulled out) spoken in the process, the Lord Yama keeps at his side an extensive archive of past lies with which to threaten the deceased regarding risks and dangers.

死者の数が多過ぎる為、審判は流れ作業で行い、非常に簡潔に終わる。

To address the issue of an excess of deceased subjects, the judging proceeds in an assembly-line fashion, executed with extraordinary speed.

二交代制で絶え間なく審判が行われ、休みの時間はのんびり彼岸ライフを楽しむのである。

Two alternating shifts unceasingly pass down judgements, with a carefree and enjoyable break during the religious observances of Equinoctial Week.

*1 元々は七回だったが、七回全てで問題有りと判断されても、三回の追加審判があった。

1: The number was originally seven times, but all of these "seven times" cases had problems, and so three additional judgements were implemented.

*2 秦広王・初江王・栄帝王・五官王・閻魔王・変成王・泰山王・等王・都市王・五道転輪王の十王。

2: King Shinkou the Immovable, King Shoukou the Enlightened One, King Soutei the Wisest, King Fukan of Virtuous Conduct, King Enma the Merciful Savior, King Henjyou of the Future, King Taizan of Medicine and Healing, King Byoudou of Mercy and Compassion, King Toshi of Strength and Wisdom, and King Gotoutenrin of Limitless Light and Life make up the Ten Kings.

*3 トップが沢山いる時点で、組織としてどうなのか。

3: When the number of those holding the top position start becoming too numerous, what will the Ministry do then?

*4 死人に口なし。

4: Dead men tell no tales. [Translators' Note: Possibly meaning that the deceased can say nothing that the judges don't already know of.]

Advertisement