In Chinese folk religion, the underworld court system where the dead face judgment is commonly called Diyu.
Diyu is the Chinese realm of the dead, often represented as a network of courts and prisons governed by underworld officials. Newly deceased souls may be examined by judges, confronted with the consequences of their actions, and assigned punishments or further destinations according to religious and popular traditions.
The imagery of Diyu developed through interaction among ancient Chinese beliefs, Buddhism, Daoism, and local religious practice. Its famous judges are often called the Ten Kings of Hell, who became especially prominent in medieval Chinese religious culture. The underworld is therefore depicted more like a bureaucratic judicial system than a single undifferentiated place.
Diyu should not be confused with Fengdu, a famous city associated with the underworld, or Penglai, an immortal-island paradise in Chinese mythology. Specific courts and punishments vary across texts, artwork, temples, and regional traditions.