“Namo Amitabha!” I pressed my palms together and bowed to the Magistrate!
Ayù: “Magistrate, I have seen City God Temples and countless small shrines enshrining Earth Gods in the mortal world. What exactly distinguishes the City God from the Earth God? If there is a City God, I hope you may take me to visit him.”
The Magistrate: “The duties of City Gods and Earth Gods serve much the same purpose. Their primary task is safeguarding mortals and granting them safe travels. The title ‘Earth God’ has grown especially popular among people over the past thousand years and has been passed down through generations. I briefly explained the responsibilities of Earth Gods previously. As worldly affairs in the mortal world keep evolving, the netherworld has appointed more Earth Gods to oversee and protect mortal beings accordingly.
“Within the netherworld stands the City God’s Mansion. The City God holds the highest rank here, with numerous netherworld clerks serving under him, part of whom are Earth Gods. All Earth Gods receive orders and assist the City God. The City God takes charge of all records concerning the transmigration of every soul across Jambudvīpa. Inside the mansion lies the Palace of Hidden Virtue, which exclusively documents major virtuous deeds of mortal people. It also serves as a secondary central archive storing transmigration files of all mortal people.
“If you wish to know where you lived in past lives, your former status, whether you were male or female, and any great good deeds you performed, as long as your successive rebirths took place within Jambudvīpa, the City God can recount every identity and karmic imprint accumulated through your cycles of reincarnation in full detail. Naturally, this does not mean the City God remains unaware of your circumstances if you are not reborn in Jambudvīpa. It is simply that, should you take rebirth in other lands, those places lie outside the scope under the City God’s jurisdiction and record‑keeping.
“The City God of this netherworld was dispatched by the Heavenly Court when the netherworld was first founded. You may interview him in person soon to resolve your doubts. Now follow me, and we shall tour the mansion. It stands at the far eastern reaches of the netherworld.”
Ayù: “I am deeply grateful to you, Magistrate. Thank you for leading the way.”
My heart brimmed with joy at the prospect of meeting the legendary ancient City God. I pondered what questions I ought to ask him. Ashamed of being an ordinary mortal lacking virtue and worthy conduct, I rethought my plan. Instead, I wished to inquire about the Nether Sovereign Yama King, the supreme ruler of the underworld: why did he take up the position of judging souls in hell? Everyone trembles in fear before him, and I hoped to get clarity on this matter shortly. We drew near, and the sprawling ancient edifice came into view. We gently landed on level ground.
The stately, antique brown City God’s Mansion unfolded before our eyes. Its gatekeepers were not yakshas, but two warriors dressed in ancient attire and armed with traditional weapons. They greeted the Magistrate with respectful smiles and bows.
They bowed low and said: “The Left Door God greets you, Magistrate! The Right Door God greets you, Magistrate!”