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🏮 The Chinese Underworld & 黑白无常 ⚫⚪

This is a really fascinating representation of ancient Chinese beliefs about the underworld.

The Chinese underworld is vast and complex. It has a judicial system, multiple courts, ministers, generals, and kings who govern it — very much like an imperial bureaucracy. ⚖️📜

The two figures represented here are called 黑白无常 (Hēi Bái Wúcháng) — Black and White Impermanence.

They appear when someone dies and escort the soul to the underworld for judgment.

⚪ 白无常 — White Impermanence

His name is 谢必安 (Xiè Bì’ān), which can be interpreted as “Those who repay (or honor) will be safe.”

He is tall and slender, with a pale face and often a long tongue. He usually wears a permanent smile and a tall hat with the phrase:

一见生财 (“Fortune upon first sight”)

This phrase is ironic and symbolic — it can imply that those who respect the divine order and live virtuously will receive good fortune.

White Impermanence is often associated with a gentler aspect of death and sometimes with Yang qualities.

⚫ 黑无常 — Black Impermanence

His name is 范无救 (Fàn Wújiù), which can be interpreted as “Those who commit wrongdoing will not be spared.”

He has a stern or fierce expression and a more imposing presence. His tall hat often bears the phrase:

天下太平 (“Peace under Heaven”)

This symbolizes cosmic order — wrongdoing will be corrected so that balance can be restored.

Black Impermanence is often associated with a harsher aspect of death and sometimes with Yin qualities.

📖 The Legend of Their Origin

According to popular legend, the two were sworn brothers in life.

One day they arranged to meet at a bridge, but heavy rain caused one of them (often said to be Fan Wujiu) to drown while waiting. Overcome with guilt and loyalty, the other (Xie Bi’an) took his own life.

Moved by their loyalty, 阎王 (Yánwáng) — the King of the Underworld — appointed them as officials of the afterlife.

Their title “无常” means “Impermanence,” reflecting the Buddhist idea that all things are transient. ☯️

🪵 What Are They Holding?

In their right hand they often carry a 哭丧棒 (kūsāng bàng) — a mourning stick.

Originally used in funeral processions, it symbolizes grief, ritual authority, and the guiding of the deceased. In their hands, it represents their role in escorting souls and maintaining the transition between worlds. 🕯️

In their other hand, they may carry a 令牌 (command tablet).

This tablet represents official authority granted by higher powers such as King Yan or other underworld judges. It functions as a credential, proving they are acting under legitimate orders. 📜

🧠 What Do They Say?

In the scene, they state that they have come to retrieve the deceased’s:

三魂六魄 (Three Souls and Six Spirits)

According to traditional Chinese belief:

The six spirits (魄) are tied to the physical body and dissipate after death.

The three souls (魂) continue onward, undergo judgment, and eventually reincarnate.

They declare that they act under the authority of 阎王 (King Yan).

Although later traditions describe Ten Kings of the Underworld (十殿阎罗), Yanluo Wang was originally the primary ruler of the underworld in earlier Buddhist-influenced tradition. Over time, the system expanded into ten courts.

So it makes sense that Black and White Impermanence would say they act “by order of King Yan.”

🔁 What Happens Next?

They escort the three souls to the underworld, where they undergo judgment.

Based on karma — the moral consequences of one’s actions in life — the soul is then sent to one of the Six Realms of Rebirth (六道轮回).