This painting depicts King Dosi, the Ninth King among the Ten Kings of Hell who judge the sins of the deceased. On the first anniversary of a person's death, the deceased are judged by King Dosi. He records the sins of those whose place of reincarnation has not yet been determined and then forwards this record to King Odojeollyun (the Tenth King).
In the center of the painting, King Dosi is shown seated on a chair with a backrest, positioned behind a table. He is surrounded by assistant judges, various lower officials, and grim reapers who support the judicial process. The lower part of the painting portrays scenes of judgment and punishment: judges weigh scrolls inscribed with offenders’ sins on a scale to assess the severity of their crimes, and the deceased are confined in the icy Hell of Frozen Mountains.
Because this painting does not include any indication of its creation date or region, precise information is difficult to determine. However, several features suggest its origin. The rounded top of the chair’s backrest, adorned with dragon-head decorations on either side; the technique of dividing the composition into scenes using cloud-shaped motifs; and the arrangement of the Hell scenes all resemble Ten Kings of Hell paintings commonly produced in Gyeongsang-do Province during the 18th century. Additionally, the omission of a background and the subdued color palette indicate that it was likely created in the early to mid-18th century.
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King Dosi (The Ninth King of Hell)