This paper discusses the pervasive belief in Buddhist hell amongst common Buddhist laities in the Southern Dynasties, based on various records of miraculous responses. It is this belief in hell that changed and influenced the Chinese traditional culture unobtrusively and imperceptibly, by infusing the Buddhist notions of karma and samsara. The basic patterns of belief in hell in the Southern Dynasties were as follows: if one did evil things during a lifetime, one would suffer in hell after death; but when finished expiating sins, the deceased could ascend to the heaven and become reborn. As a response to the demand to end the sufferings in the hell as soon as possible, many Buddhist practices were added into the system of beliefs in hell, such as chanting, setting up an altar and praying, worshipping Buddhist statues and scriptures, as well as a Buddhist master who was in charge of releasing the souls of evil ghosts from purgatory. The author argues that the beliefs in hell in the Southern Dynasties, not only integrated almost all the Buddhist practices at that time, but also led to many new Chinese Buddhist elements.
