Most children expect a day of carefree fun and enjoyment when visiting a theme park. Singapore’s Haw Par Villa, however, aims to educate its visitors. That is, through grotesque and terrifying 3D displays of Buddhist hells.
The brainchild of Tiger Balm brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, the “Buddhist amusement park” is loosely based on Buddhist notions of hell, according to the park’s website. The park features 1000 statues and 150 dioramas illustrating Confucianism, Chinese mythology, and Buddhist cosmology, and include a man drowning in a “Filthy Blood Pond,” demons stabbing and decapitating a new member, and a giant anime tiger in a red dress holding Tiger Balm products—perhaps for some reader, his or her idea of hell.
The best part? Park admission is free. The only cost is the nightmares you will endure after your visit.
Thank you for subscribing to Tricycle! As a nonprofit, we depend on readers like you to keep Buddhist teachings and practices widely available.