Ten Rulers of Hell Stelae (Song Dynasty)

Two vertical stone slabs are divided into multiple horizontal registers, each featuring a seated deity-judge wearing a traditional Chinese official's cap and robes. Within their respective arched niches, these Rulers of Hell sit behind desks or tables, flanked by subordinates and attendants who hold documents or ritual objects. The carvings are in high relief with rhythmic, stylized drapery folds and formal, stoic facial expressions. The bottom of the left stele features a blue rectangular sign with white text that reads '请勿触摸'.

These stelae represent the synthesis of Buddhist concepts of karma and the afterlife with traditional Chinese bureaucratic structures, specifically reflecting the 'Ten Kings' (Shiwang) belief system which emerged during the Tang and Song dynasties to govern the fate of the deceased.