The sign warned of the graphic nature of the scenes inside the cave. Parental discretion advised. I’m sure Haw Par Villa’s Courts of Hell were shocking back in 1937 when it opened. The displays evoked only mild curiosity from my teenage sons.
Haw Par Villa was created by the Aw brothers, the founders of the Tiger Balm ointment company. It was briefly abandoned during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II but restored after the war. The sprawling park is now under the management of the Singapore Tourism Board.
The 10 Courts of Hell is a well-known component of the attraction. It functions as a Chinese equivalent to Dante’s Inferno, as each court graphically displays the punishments that await the dead based on the sins that they committed in life. There’s a twist though, as souls encounter the Wheel of Reincarnation at the last court and start all over again. The scenes might be scary for younger kids, but anyone who has seen movies like Lord of the Rings will be just fine.
I was somewhat familiar with a few of the tableaux, such as Madame White Snake, but many other scenes were confusing to me. The one below, for example:
To say that I don’t get it is something of an understatement.
This was one of those day trips that my kids had to be dragged to. Once we were there, though, they were fascinated by it. I’m glad I dragged them. We wandered around the park for a few hours, checking out each of the displays. The park has over 1,000 statues and displays. Around every corner was something new and strange. Like life-sized sculptures of kangaroos, looking very out of place in this Chinese garden.
Haw Par Villa is open daily from 9am to 7pm and is free to the public. It’s located at 262 Pasir Panjang Road.