Humanities & Social Sciences 1 (2017 10) 117-123 ~ ~ ~ УДК 82-343, 299.5, 398.41 Journey to the Land of the Dead: Traditional Chinese Beliefs in Trials before the Last Judgment Alexander G. Storozhuk* Saint-Petersburg State University 7/9 Universitetskaia nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia Received 30.11.2016, received in revised form 15.12.2016, accepted 12.01.2017 The article covers the traditional Chinese issue of the so-called “post-mortal journey” of a soul (or aggregate of souls) to the place of the Final Judgment, carried out by the Infernal Supreme Jury. <...> The main goal of the research was an attempt to recreate a clear and consistent outline of this journey, having been fixed in the number of texts and traditional ritual forms throughout the centuries. <...> The research is based on the comparative-historical method, founded on texts of the Chinese folksy religion and on the modern temple practices. <...> As a result the produced outline gives the detailed characteristics of a great many minor gods and deities, believed to register, examine and convoy the newly deceased souls to the Inferno. <...> The results of the survey may be useful for studies in the traditional Chinese religion, literature, art as well as for the comparative philosophic researches. <...> Main conclusions of the research are: “Minor gods of death” – a soul’s first post-mortal guides and guardians – play a greater role in folksy beliefs than the headmasters of prominent departments of the Inferno. <...> These spirits become independent and unique phenomena no matter what classical religious traditions they ascend to. <...> In spite of being fearsome cruel these spirits happen to be somehow surprisingly attractive and dear to a common believer (which can be proved with the evidences from both: traditional Chinese customs and modern mass-culture). <...> Introduction Death in a great many cultures is closely associated with the concept of a post-mortal journey that a soul undertakes from the place of death to the Land of the Dead. <...> All rights reserved * Corresponding author E-mail address: a.storozhuk@spbu.ru – 117 – idea of this journey is connected with special spirits that withdraw souls from a dead body, place them before authorities of the preliminary justice of the beyond, escort them during the last farewell visit to home and guide them to the Alexander G. Storozhuk. <...> Journey to the Land of the Dead: Traditional Chinese Beliefs in Trials before the Last Judgment entrance to Inferno – precisely to the county of Fengdu in Sichuan <...>