YAMA
YAMA
Real Name: Yen-Lo Wang
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Diyu, aka Fengdu, Feng-Tu) god (Xian; see comments)
Occupation: Death god, King of Diyu
Group Membership: Xian (gods worshipped by the Chinese)
Affiliations: Horse-Face (馬面), Ox-Head (牛頭), Yama Kings (see comments), an unidentified scribe
uncertain relationship to Lord Tuan (formerly Yu-Ti);
uncertain relationship with other death gods and/or gods of the dead, such as Ahpuch (Ahau/Mayan), Anubis (Heliopolitan/Egyptian), Arawn (Tuatha da Danaan/Celtic gods), Chibiabos
(Anasazi/Native American gods), Damballah
(Dam-Ayido; Vodū/African), Emma-O (Amatsu-Kami/Japanese), Eriskegal
(Annunaki/Mesopotamian), Erlik
(Tenger/Mongolian), Hela (Asgardian/Norse), Hina (Akua/Oceanic gods), Kâli (Daevas/Hindu
gods), Narahdarn (Aboriginal gods), Ndriananahary
(Buluku; Vodū/African gods), Osiris
(Heliopolitan/Egyptian), Pikulos (Dievas/Slavic gods),
Pluto (Olympian/Graeco-Roman),
Seth (Heliopolitan/Egyptian), Tuonetar (Kavelas/Finnish), Vichima (Incan gods),
Yama; (Daevas/Vedic);
formerly Crom (Tuatha da Danaan/Celtic);
likely some relationship with Mephisto and other Hell-Lords (Asmodeus,
Beelzeboul, Hellstorm,
Lucifer, Murray, Olivier,
Satan
(Marduk Kurios), Satannish,
Thog)
Enemies: Iron Fist (Daniel Rand-K'ai)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Yanluo Wang (閻羅王), Yánwáng (閻王), King Yan, Yán Luó Wáng (閻羅王), Son of Heaven, King of Hell
Base of Operations: Diyu (aka Fengdu, Feng-Tu)
First Appearance: Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica (2009)
Powers/Abilities: Yama possesses the conventional powers of the Xian (Gods of China) including superhuman strength, speed, longevity and durability, although his physical strength and durability surpasses that of the average male Taoist god.
As god, Yama no longer ages and cannot die by conventional means. Yama is immune to all terrestrial diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If Yama is wounded, then his godly life force will enable him to recover at a superhuman rate. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates Yama or disperses a major portion of his bodily molecules to cause him to die. Yama's flesh and bone are about two times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the god's superhuman strength and durability.
He oversees the underworld, presides over the ten layers of Diyu, or the Chinese-Buddhist (and apparently K'un-Lun-associated) Hell, and judges the fate of the dead. He is one of the most feared gods of the Xian.
He is extremely swift and can change shape, adopting a more conventional human form (although shadowed to the point of being almost black) as well as the form of a large wolf-man, at least.
At least in his wolf-man form, he is extremely fast (Iron Fist noted that death comes quickly) and possessing sharp teeth and claws.
Height: Unrevealed (variable)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately )
Eyes: Apparently white (presumably variable)
Hair: Unrevealed (seen only with some sort of headdress and only
black showing around it); white eyebrows and mustache; presumably
variable
See comments for a description of an alternate appearance
History:
|
(Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica: Xian entry/Iron
Fist: The Living Weapon#8 (fb) - BTS) - Yama presided over the eighteen
levels of the Diyu (aka Fengdu, Feng-Tu, the underworld associated with
the Xian and apparently with K'un-Lun (see comments).
(Iron Fist: The Living Weapon#8 (fb) - BTS) - Via the Randall Gate, the Fooh seemingly sent Daniel Rand to Diyu so he could seek out his mother, Heather. (Iron Fist: The Living Weapon#8) - In the form of a shadowy man wearing a douli (a conical sun hat), Yama greeted him. Without revealing his own identity, Yama greeted Daniel, telling him it was good to see him again, as all had been to Diyu and all returned there to have their souls cleansed for rebirth. Daniel told him that he did not come there to be reborn, but that he rather came to find someone, and Yama asked him if he was sure about that. Daniel specified that he was talking about his mother, and Yama told him that the amount of time one spent there was at the discretion of the Yama and was dependent on the severity of the sin. Yama asked about this sinner to help narrow the search of the eighteen realms, asking if she would fit in the First Level: The Chamber of Tongues, where tongues were ripped out for gossip and lies; the Chamber of Scissors, where demons turned ring fingers into necklaces, for those who destroyed the marriages of others; and the Forest of Copper Columns, for arsonists and vandals. Daniel interrupted, insisting that his mother was a good and loving woman, and Yama asked then why was she still there, which he confirmed by noting her calling. Hearing screams for a nearby pagoda, Daniel rushed in and was attacked by the soldiers of this hell-realm, whom he swiftly overpowered and/or destroyed. Daniel then returned to Yama -- still unaware of his identity -- and told him to take him to his mother's captor, "this Yama," or I'll do the same to you. |
|
Replying, "If you wish to speak to Yama, all you need do is ask...for I am Yama!", he adopted a giant and monstrous wolf-man form and attacked Daniel. Narrowly evading Yama's first strike and realizing he would not be able to dodge him for much longer, Daniel punched his fist through Yama's head, apparently slaying and then skinning him and wearing his hide. (Iron Fist: The Living Weapon#8 - BTS) - Wearing Yama's pelt, Daniel fought his way past more of the soldiers of hell and located his mother. |
Comments: Created by unknown people;
adapted to the Marvel Universe by Anthony Flamini and Gus Vasquez.
It is
exceedingly unlikely that Iron Fist truly slew Yama. It is more likely
that it was a trial of Rand's mettle and that Yama either feigned
destruction after considering him worthy or else just regenerated
thereafter.
Or, the whole thing could have been just a vision that Iron Fist experienced.
Past stories hae differed on whether the gods and godly realms associated with K'un-Lun are the same as those of the Chinese Gods and their realms. The Iron Fist: The Living Weapon series supports them as being the same, as Heather Rand was previously seen in the Feng-Tu realm associated with K'un-Lun, and this story showed her in the Chinese realm of the dead Diyu (aka Feng-Tu and Fengdu).
(Deadly Hands of Kung Fu#21 (fb) - BTS) - Lord Tuan died and
became first among the Yama Kings of Feng-Tu.
--I don't know how he fits in
with Yama. Perhaps there are 10 Yama Kings who all serve under Yama
(Yanlao Wang)
Also, sources I've seen range
from 5 levels/chambers of Hell to as many as 18. Ten is a common number
of realms described.
Additional myth information per https://mythopedia.com/topics/yan-wang
In Chinese mythology, Yan Wang (閻王) is the King of Hell. Yan Wang oversees the underworld, presides over the ten layers of Diyu (地獄), or the Chinese-Buddhist Hell, and judges the fate of the dead. He is one of the most feared gods in the belief system.
Yan Wang was originally a Hindu god named Yamaraja who first appeared in the Rigveda. With the advent of Buddhism, stories of Yan Wang spread throughout East Asia. The legend of Yan Wang gradually evolved as the original myth mixed with local beliefs, a process known as religious syncretism. Yan Wang can be found in just about every culture where Buddhism is practiced and is an important figure in countries like Tibet, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Although he maintained his role as Lord of the Dead in China, Yan Wang’s appearance drastically changed to adapt to the dominant Han-Chinese culture.
Attributes
King Yan has a fearsome appearance with great big, bulging eyes, deep red skin, a severe expression, and a long, black beard. He is usually depicted wearing traditional Chinese robes and a judge’s cap inscribed with the word “king” (王) on it.
Family
Yan Wang doesn’t have any known family. Instead, he is always accompanied by his scribe who carries a calligraphy brush and a large book that contains the name and date of death for every person that ever lived and will ever live. The two fearsome guardians of Hell, Ox-Head (牛頭) and Horse-Face (馬面), also like to keep Yan Wang company and are tasked with the job of bringing recently-deceased souls before him so that he can determine their fate.
Mythology
In the Chinese-Buddhist belief system, there were ten layers of Hell known as Diyu (地獄). Similar to Dante’s Inferno, each layer was progressively more terrifying than the last, and was presided over by a lord. Yan Wang, the most powerful Hell deity, ruled over all of Diyu. The eighth century Buddhist poet, Hanshan, warned the living to lead virtuous lives so they could avoid being punished by Yan Wang:
"I urge you, put an end to your comings and goings; never vex him, old Yan Wang. Lose your footing, and you’ll fall into the three evil paths Your bones will be ground into powder, having been pounded one thousand times! For a long time you’ll be a person in Hell Forever cut off from the ways of this life.
Unlike the Christian belief system, there was no way to avoid going to Diyu after death. The good news was that souls were not damned to be punished for all of eternity. The type and length of punishment was determined by the severity of one’s crimes.
Virtuous souls were sent to live in Heaven for a certain amount of time before returning to Earth as a human or exiting the cycle of reincarnation. Sinful souls were then thoroughly questioned by Yan Wang and asked if they considered the spiritual consequences of their actions. After admitting they did not, sinners were then condemned to wander aimlessly through the mazes of Hell, of which, there were plenty, before arriving at their punishment.
Hypocrites were condemned to be steamed to death in large metal pots. Arsonists were bound and tied to pillars of red hot, glowing copper. Murderers who stabbed someone to death were doomed to eternally climb mountains of razor sharp knives. The cruelest and lowest level of Diyu was reserved for those who have committed the most heinous of crimes, called the Five Grave Offenses, which included matricide, patricide, the killing of an enlightened being, shedding the blood of a Buddha, or creating a schism within the Buddhist community. These sinners were dealt with personally by Yan Wang, and were doomed to become lesser animals or insects in their next life.
However, Yan Wang himself was not immune to the punishments of Hell. He was a soul doomed to live in Diyu just like everyone else. When he was not passing judgment, Yan Wang was strapped down to a scorching hot metal surface three times a day while a stream of molten metal was poured down his throat, which explains why his skin was so red.
Despite the fact that he’s decidedly terrifying, Yan Wang was not an evil deity. In fact, in some versions of Yan Wang’s myth, he’s demoted to the status of Fifth King of Hell because he was too lenient. In some interpretations, Yan Wang was actually seen as a title, not a singular person. Once a King of Hell served out his sentence in Hell, he’s able to reincarnate on Earth again or leave the cycle entirely. In some texts, mortals were rewarded with the position of King of Hell after they committed honorable deeds.
Pop Culture
After a death, it’s traditional for people to burn “Hell money” (also known as joss paper) so that their friends and family will be well provided for in the afterlife. Souls that are wandering the mazes of Hell are said to still need money to buy food and other goods to help them along their journey. Burning joss paper is considered to be a very normal part of the funeral and grieving process. Yan Wang’s likeness is often seen on “Hell money.”
Because of his popularity and his status as a universal death god across Asia, Yan Wang has been featured in a number of shows. Most notably, he was a character (King Yemma) in Dragon Ball Z and is called King Enma in Yokai Watch.
Some additional information courtesy of Anthony Flamini
The only characters he's really associated with are Ox-Head & Horse-Face, guardians of the underworld of Diyu in "Journey into the West" as well as the other nine "Yama Kings" who administered the other lesser chambers/levels of Chinese hell during the Tang Dynasty ... Qinguangwang (秦廣王), Chujiangwang (楚江王), Songdiwang (宋帝王), Wuguanwang (五官王), Bianchengwang (卞城王), Taishanwang (泰山王), Pingdengwang (平等王), Dushiwang (都市王) & Zhuanlunwang (轉輪王).
Chris Claremont referring to the Dragon Kings as "Yama Kings" in Marvel Team-Up #64 (see clarifications) was probably a reference to the Buddhist Yama (Claremont had a habit of borrowing names from Buddhist & Chinese folk mythology for Iron Fist characters even when the characters being named had only a tenuous connection to their mythological namesake). Even more specially, some Chinese texts described "Ten Courts of Hell" which were each presided over by one of the "Ten Yama Kings." So Claremont's use of the name was most likely inspired by that.
Thanks to Loki for providing a cleaned-up main image, and thanks to Loki and Anthony Flamini for providing additional mythological information and references.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Yama should be distinguished from:
First posted: 06/11/2025
Last updated: 06/11/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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<Myth history> - Yama is the vengeful god of death, judging the dead and overseeing the underworld.
