The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Ten Courts of Diyu" by the artist "Therion"

The lyrics to Therion's "Ten Courts of Diyu" depict Diyu, the Chinese purgatory, and serve as a grim depiction of posthumous judgment and karmic retribution.

The Image of Diyu:

The song portrays Diyu as a "labyrinth of hopeless existence," filled with "underground chambers" located "on the very edge of darkness, beyond reason." This imagery creates a sense of despair, inevitability, and terror that awaits sinners after death.

The Judgment of the Ten Kings of Yama:

In Diyu, the ten kings of Yama, stern and wise judges, rule and pass sentences upon the souls of the deceased. Their "justice, revealing your sentence," speaks to the inevitability of retribution for committed sins. No one escapes judgment, and each will receive what they deserve.

Karmic Retribution:

"The place where our universe transitions into the afterlife" is the boundary between life and death, where "the hopes of blind sinners are dashed." Here, the souls of the "forsaken, brought forth anew" await their fate, determined by their earthly actions. The image of a "downpour closing in on the rising sun" symbolizes the weight of sins that the soul carries into the afterlife.

Reincarnation and Repentance:

Despite the despair, a glimmer of hope emerges. "Incarnation, return, rebirth" is a mention of reincarnation, the possibility of starting a new cycle of existence. The call to "let everyone's voice be heard as you repent in silence!" suggests that sincere repentance can influence one's posthumous fate.

The repetition of the phrase "Send to the courts of Diyu!" reinforces the sense of inevitable judgment and punishment that awaits sinners.

Overall, the lyrics to "Ten Courts of Diyu" are a dark yet mesmerizing depiction of the afterlife, drawing upon Chinese mythology. It serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death, the importance of living a righteous life, and the power of karma.