King Chu Jiang (Second Court)

King Chu Jiang, ruler of the Second Court of the Underworld, specially judges souls who—during their earthly lives—maimed others, committed adultery, theft, or fraud. He presides over the Living Great Hell and its subsidiary hells, where such transgressions are punished. According to the Jade Calendar Scripture, if a person repents and performs virtuous deeds while still alive, their karmic penalties may be reduced. His name may derive from the syncretic integration of beliefs associated with the rivers and regions of ancient Chu. In folk tradition, he serves as a moral warning against deceit and treachery; worshippers honour him on his birthday—the 1st day of the 3rd lunar month—and the broader belief system of the netherworld thus fosters ethical conduct and social harmony.