1.
GV Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok (2 shots)
0.06

2.
MV Monks lining up to receive portions of rice (2 shots)
0.21

3.
MV PAN Buddha sculptures inside temple
0.34

4.
SV AND CU Grotesque sculptures in grounds of Pai Rong Wua temple of people in chains being dragged to court (2 shots)
0.53

5.
MV Rice cheat being cut in two (sculptured group) (2 shots)
1.01

6.
SV Figure of woman sinner sitting in grass with sign daubed across chest
1.04

7.
MV Sculptures of sinners hanging by their feet
1.09

8.
MV Drunkards being boiled in huge pot (2 shots)
1.25

9.
GV ZOOM IN TO MV Figures of adulterers being forced to climb prickly tree
1.31

10.
MV Hell guard and dog at base of prickly tree
1.34

11.
MV Hell guards with spears and bows and arrows (2 shots)
1.39

12.
MV Woman adulterer at top of prickly tree being attacked by bird
1.41

13.
MV Man adulterer on prickly tree with spear in his side and being attacked from below by dogs
1.44

14.
MV Woman climbing prickly tree dripping with blood
1.46

15.
MV Man figure on prickly tree
1.47

16.
MV PAN Adulterers climbing tree with iron beaked birds at top
1.55

17.
MV Other adulterers looking on
1.57

18.
MV Sinner killing tortoise PAN TO women fighting over lover
2.10

19.
MV Sinner who killed fish being punished PAN TO drunkard being forced to drink molten iron
2.24

20.
MV Judge sentencing sinner as record clerk pleas for mercy (2 shots)
2.29

21.
GV PAN Hell City Garden
2.53



Initials OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The belief in life after death is a feature of many of the world's major religions, with the good and faithful being rewarded in heaven, while wrong-doers are punished in hell.

SYNOPSIS: The Buddhist religion is one that believes in life after death. In Thailand, as in other countries where Buddhism is found, the monks preach that those who obey Buddhism's moral code will be rewarded. But for people who break the code, there will be a life of suffering in hell. A graphic reminder to people of the fate that awaits them for breaking the moral code can be found at Supanburi, about 140 kilometres (90 miles) from Bangkok.

In the grounds of the Pai Rong Wua temple, the punishments awaiting sinners have been captured in concrete. The statues show people who have lied, killed, stolen, committed adultery and become drunkards receiving punishment in hell.

Those who have cheated in rice dealings will be sawn in half.

All sinners are dragged before a court to hear their punishment, which in the case of drunkards means being boiled in huge copper pots or being forced to drink molten iron. The guards of hell are there to make sure none escape.

Adulterers are forced to climb a huge prickly tree with vicious dogs snapping at their heels. The hell guards with spears and bows and arrows also make sure there is no rest for the wicked. Those who do climb to the top of the huge tree then find they are attacked by iron-beaked birds. The sinners are forced to climb up and down the free for thousands of years.

Altogether there are more than 100 statues at the Pai Rong Wua temple, many of them several times life-size. Apart from the grotesque statues, the temple is also known for a huge statue of the Lord Buddha which is said to be the largest bronze statue of Buddha in the world. The statue took more than 12 years to build.

Presiding over the garden of hell is a statue of a king who has a book containing a complete record of the sins of the dead. There's also a book for those who have not yet died. For the Thais and foreign visitors it presents a vivid picture of what life after death would be like for those who sin against the teachings of Buddha.