雖然這篇信堂判官鄉民發文沒有被收入到精華區:在信堂判官這個話題中,我們另外找到其它相關的精選爆讚文章
在 信堂判官產品中有137篇Facebook貼文,粉絲數超過0的網紅,也在其Facebook貼文中提到, //周日話題:當司法淪為政治壓迫的儀式,反抗是否仍然可能? 2021/9/5 【明報專訊】在今日香港,每日讀着匪夷所思的法庭新聞,畫幼童畫冊要還押,一句有無限詮釋的口號就係分裂國家情節嚴重,大概除了有權拘捕和有權審判的人以外,已無人相信政治案件還有公平審訊的可能。 然而莊嚴肅穆的法律程序,每日...
同時也有27部Youtube影片,追蹤數超過28萬的網紅コヤッキースタジオ,也在其Youtube影片中提到,裁判は何かしらの被害を受けたから起こすもの。 しかし、中にはいちゃもんレベルのひどい訴えも… 実際に起きた“とんでもない理由”で訴えられてしまった 理不尽な裁判を紹介します… ■コヤチャン・コヤスタのオリジナルグッズが多数あるオンラインショップ「TKF ONLINE」も見てね! 新ステッカーも登場...
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- 關於信堂判官 在 來吧!焙焙!/ Come On! Bay Bay! Instagram 的最讚貼文
- 關於信堂判官 在 Nelson TANG, Chak-man 鄧澤旻 (日文) Instagram 的最讚貼文
- 關於信堂判官 在 政經八百 Instagram 的精選貼文
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- 關於信堂判官 在 譚蕙芸 Facebook 的最佳解答
- 關於信堂判官 在 Facebook 的最佳解答
- 關於信堂判官 在 コヤッキースタジオ Youtube 的精選貼文
- 關於信堂判官 在 巴打台 Youtube 的最佳貼文
- 關於信堂判官 在 溫馨小品陳秀足 Youtube 的精選貼文
信堂判官 在 來吧!焙焙!/ Come On! Bay Bay! Instagram 的最讚貼文
2021-09-24 17:06:29
【獨立創作青年的成長故事:關於這次策展書籍的一些隨筆──杜斯妥也夫斯基、屠格涅夫、福克納、李維】 7. 杜斯妥也夫斯基,《罪與罰》 讀碩士班一年級的時候,也就是我二十一歲的時候,我還修了一堂影響我很深遠的當代政治思想課。老師在第一堂課剛好就隨口問:所以,大家讀過什麼書啊?比方說,有沒有讀過柏林的...
信堂判官 在 Nelson TANG, Chak-man 鄧澤旻 (日文) Instagram 的最讚貼文
2021-08-03 12:36:59
〈肥西〉 這天作了個怪夢: 一星期前,我在夢境中這樣旁聽過。 「守護大嶼聯盟」於2018年10月14日,在政總東翼舉行論壇,反對「明日大嶼」填海。控方案情指,姚松炎發言後8名蒙面者「搶咪」及包圍姚,其中時任葵青區議員周偉雄遇襲;屈指一算,事隔超過兩年半,其中3人被傳召到法院應訊。 肥西是案中的...
信堂判官 在 政經八百 Instagram 的精選貼文
2021-08-02 15:57:13
#政經八百政治標記 〔#看劇學政治 #從《Law School》看台韓違憲審查怎麼運作〕 《Law School》是一部以韓國最高學府法學院作為背景的法律劇,講述教授在模擬法庭課堂上離奇死亡,導致現場學生與教授都成為嫌疑犯,必須站上真實的「法庭」讓真相大白的故事。 劇中縝密地透過諸多案件的穿針...
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信堂判官 在 コヤッキースタジオ Youtube 的精選貼文
2021-05-24 18:00:11裁判は何かしらの被害を受けたから起こすもの。
しかし、中にはいちゃもんレベルのひどい訴えも…
実際に起きた“とんでもない理由”で訴えられてしまった
理不尽な裁判を紹介します…
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信堂判官 在 巴打台 Youtube 的最佳貼文
2020-12-23 10:30:03香港今日社論2020年12月23日(100蚊獅子頭)
https://youtu.be/vtlobriBNM4
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明報社評
香港昨天本地確診病例有所下降,即使來自病毒變種的英國的外來感染病例也只有兩宗,一天或者短期的數據,未必足以說明這就是第四波走向消退的趨勢,衛生署表示「審慎樂觀」,在採取足夠和周密的應對措施後抱樂觀態度未嘗不可,但見諸英國出現病毒變種而倒瀉籮蟹,特區政府也應該未雨綢繆,必須及早準備並公布應急方案,既要有備無患,同時也可以令市民對醫療系統爆煲的擔心釋懷。特區政府過去幾個月的控疫手段時鬆時緊,政策執行不徹底,導致第四波疫情爆發,而今已經出現在社區多頭爆發,各種感染群組蔓延,更令人擔憂的是環境傳播的途徑防不勝防,而政府在執行防疫抗疫的手段多有「甩漏」,例如密切接觸者死後確診還等不到移送檢疫中心的安排、唾液送檢後收不到報告等等漏洞。
蘋果頭條
壹傳媒創辦人黎智英被指違反工業邨用地租賃條款,本月3日被控欺詐,還柙候訊,黎智英當時申請保釋被拒。黎原本已排期向高等法院申請保釋,惟國安處於保釋聆訊4天前,再起訴黎另一條勾結外國或境外勢力危害國家安全罪的罪名,被解往西九龍裁判法院提堂,再遭下令要還柙至明年4月16日再訊,至上周五(18日)更將黎轉到高度設防的赤柱監獄繼續還柙。黎今(23日)向高等法院申請保釋候審。原定上周二(15日)向高等法院申請保釋的黎智英,於本月11日突被警方加控「勾結外國或者境外勢力危害國家安全」罪,增加其保釋的難度。今日黎智英將就欺詐案向高等法院申請保釋外出候審,相信屆時將合併處理欺詐及《國安法》兩案的保釋。
東方正論
司法制度,千瘡百孔。沒有鬼死不得人,沒有漏洞就不會有漏網之魚。繼反對派前立法會議員許智峯流亡外國,昨日又有一名年輕黑暴分子棄保潛逃,警察拉人,司法放人,浪費執法者的努力,亦變相鼓勵犯法分子逃避法律制裁,一而再,再而三發生,是巧合還是制度上出現問題?昨日被揭潛逃的中五學生曾志健,去年10月1日在荃灣街頭示威遭警員開槍射傷左胸,曾經危殆但保住性命,始終被追究法律責任,他與一名理工大學博士生同被控暴動罪,曾又涉嫌襲擊對他開槍的警員,被控兩項襲警罪。
星島社論
去年十月一日國慶中五男生「健仔」曾志健在荃灣參與示威活動期間左胸中槍受傷,他事後和廿六歲理大博士生邱宏達分別被控暴動及襲警等罪,曾志健於今年十月在區域法院提訊時表明「應該會認罪」,惟案件昨再度提訊時,「健仔」卻沒有現身法庭,法官高勁修即時頒布拘捕令,通緝他歸案。案件由去年在裁判法院首次提堂至昨聆訊,裁判官李志豪、法官郭偉健和高勁修均允許曾志健保釋期間毋須交出旅遊證件。據悉,曾志健的地址已換了新住客,而當局至今未有他的出境記錄。
經濟社評
本港全面封關?食肆全禁堂食?正當英國出現變種病毒,人心惶惶之際,本港有立心不良網民卻趁機散播惡毒謠言,指政府會實施更嚴厲防疫措施,試圖製造恐慌。疫下市民信心不穩,港府控疫措施不但要到位,更要時刻監察網上言論,當發現不實資訊,須馬上「打假」澄清,以免拖控疫後腿,更要嚴肅追究造謠擾亂社會的壞人。昨晨網上瘋傳政府下午舉行記者會,推更嚴厲防疫措施,包括午夜起全面封關,所有食肆禁堂食等,並呼籲市民在公布前盡快購買食物和日用品。 -
信堂判官 在 溫馨小品陳秀足 Youtube 的精選貼文
2018-11-14 14:42:32「天堂」與「地獄」就在你的「一念之間」,
人生卻又是由無數個一念之間組成的,
「改名改姓,不如改觀念。」
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信堂判官 在 Facebook 的最佳貼文
//周日話題:當司法淪為政治壓迫的儀式,反抗是否仍然可能?
2021/9/5
【明報專訊】在今日香港,每日讀着匪夷所思的法庭新聞,畫幼童畫冊要還押,一句有無限詮釋的口號就係分裂國家情節嚴重,大概除了有權拘捕和有權審判的人以外,已無人相信政治案件還有公平審訊的可能。
然而莊嚴肅穆的法律程序,每日仍一絲不苟地進行着,用優雅文句專業術語寫判決,將一個個公民未審先送入監獄、重判異見者;但,偶爾,如果認罪認得早、求情信夠可信,如果警員證供真係矛盾到超過人類可接受範圍,還是會有好消息。
也還有法律界權威說,香港法治95至99%運作正常。
誠然,在一般人的想像中,司法淪陷並不是現在這樣,要到法官對政權言聽計從,警、檢、官全部都係佢嘅人,一條龍將異見者直送監獄個個判足10年才算——香港還遠遠沒到那一步,辯方仍可據理力爭、與控方互有攻防,有些法官還會講斥責控方/警方證人的人話;而「小勝」仍有,暴動、非法集結不是輕判、甚至無罪,國安案都有得保,政權眼中釘鄒幸彤昂首走出法院。公平審訊不可得,但「較佳」結果仍可能,官始終有「好壞」、「釘放」,律師辯才經驗都有高低長短,辯護策略、技術性疑點,求情內容……從輕發落,仍然可期。
但what if 這套仍有「希望」的司法制度,才對威權政體最有利?一啖砂糖一啖屎來回反覆,不斷將針對全社會的恐懼擴大,同時向被告發放「未絕望,仲有變數」的信息。
手足的一線生機,令司法也彷彿仍未徹底崩塌;而當重點只在被告的最大利益(最短刑期),審訊就只剩下認罪與否、如何避過定罪元素,行為和說話的意義可以有幾模糊,求情,見感化官幾有悔意,保釋條件講到幾盡……
當掌握被告生殺大權的法院,成為政權壓迫系統的一部分,已無人可以在司法制度中看得見達至公義的路徑,但個人利益最大化的路徑卻相當清晰:它正在誘使被控告者將個人利益置於首要、唯一的考慮,與運動、甚至過去的自己割裂開來。在此過程中,透過被告自我否定,消解受審事件的政治意義,將符合政權敘事的新現實強加社會。政治案件被告選擇走上個人利益最大化的路徑,就要參與政權劃定的「法律」框架,無可避免被融入政治壓迫正當化的程序。
由此,政治犯身上,似乎出現一個兩難:自己的best interest,與自己對行動/所信之事的理解,在法律程序中必然衝突。身處此結構當中,面對結果已定的政治審訊,我想知道,反抗是否仍然可能?
一、法院作為威權體制的一部分:The legitimacy paradox
(或者這篇文將來要拿去呈堂呢……所以我更需要認真地、引經據典地討論這個問題:)一個仍享有「獨立」地位的司法體系,為何會「自主」地傾向威權,成為政權壓制意見與反抗最關鍵的工具?
在香港的公共論述中,「法治」往往與「公義」直接掛鈎,但不同時空、地域的前例已顯示,法治、司法獨立、程序公正、政治審判與威權統治,可以並行不悖,甚至相互依存。如果法院不能為政權所用,早就落得如公民社會其他範疇一樣的下場;威權之下,法院本就無遺世獨立、做「公義最後防線」的條件。
學者M. Shapiro如此描述威權下法院面對的Legitimacy paradox(正當性悖論):
「法院若挑戰政權的不公義,會引發政權加強箝制,無法保持獨立而失卻正當性;但法院若迎合政權,則會在公共眼中不再獨立,同樣失卻正當性。即使法院取得平衡,維持到自身的正當性,這份正當性卻只會令威權整體更具正當性。」[1]
① 面對政治檢控 無知即力量
目前政權瘋狂清洗公民社會不同範疇,祭出的說辭是「法律」(「我哋只有一把尺就係『依法辦事』,總之你犯法我哋就會執法」,蕭澤頤),手法是拉晒啲人上法庭直接還押,或以此為威脅。
不同威權政體的例子告訴我們,政權的合法性來源(革命功績/經濟成果/意識形態)愈疲弱,就愈須倚仗「法律」、「法院」、「法治」,利用程序與「法」的正當性,解決自身無足夠能量處理的政治問題,迴避政治後果。與不確定性較大的選舉或隨時反噬的暴力鎮壓相比,具有「超然政治之上」光環的法院,是成本最低的選擇。
於是政權不斷將政治問題推向法院,法院則一邊強調「只處理法律問題」,一邊被迫作出各種政治判斷:徐子見或危害國安而鄒家成不會,難道是沒有政治判斷的司法認知?「水炮車係權威嘅象徵」,又如何不是一個政治判斷?「只僵化地引用法律條文,不看條文及裁決是否符合法治精神,本身就是一個政治決定」(戴,2018)[2]
但既偏離法律範疇,法院又有何權威去做這些判斷?即是不計其政治立場有否偏頗,香港法官對政治的「司法認知」,分分鐘連一個中學生都不如(否則點會問李立峯「集會唔係有組織者嘅咩」或稱「不相信防暴警會眾目睽睽下說出『阿sir做嘢唔×使你教』」)。結果,法庭往往全盤接受控方版本,還自詡專業公正、不受民粹左右;政權則用法院判決為政治打壓正名,以「尊重司法獨立」為名,神化法官及裁決,壓制質疑。
② 為免被人推翻,先要自我推翻
威權政體往往牢控立法、修憲權力,一旦法院判決偏離其掌控,即可透過修改法律,推翻法院判決。要確保法院「醒醒定定」,唔使用劍亦唔使提法官有老婆仔女,只需讓法院知道自己的判決隨時可以被政權無效化就夠。若判決無人尊重,法院的存在亦無意義;為了維持自己剩餘的獨立、自主與權威,法院有誘因順從政權(但無乜誘因諗人權)。
於是我們不時見到「我輕判你,一陣DOJ又覆核㗎啦」,以及「一陣人大釋法咪仲大鑊,香港發展嘅空間又會再細咗」,裁判官選擇直接重判,高院上訴庭和終院選擇在人大出手前先自我調節。於是,港澳辦副主任鄧中華盛讚香港法院「對國安法形成了正確認識,特別在保釋、陪審團,指定法官制度……較好地落實了立法原意」。
直頭摸頭讚你乖。「如何判決不至引來政權干預」,與「如何判決才能讓政權滿意」,其實是同一回事。在威權法治下,法官究竟有否「捍衛法治」的意圖,都改變不了他們正在將政權對異見者的壓迫正當化的事實;而香港法官連僅餘的人權保障空間亦不善用,更令人質疑其正在利用社會對釋法的疑慮,積極地迎合政權。當你為了保存自己而無制限地妥協時,你想保存的早就被你親手斷送了。
③ 選擇性裁決 鞏固無力感
「正當性」不過一重外衣。法院對抗爭共同體真正造成的傷害,遠不至於此。
政治壓迫的司法化(Judicialization of oppression)將打壓針對少數、個別人的特例,轉化為可穩定地恆常操作的系統;最穩定的不是僵化地有殺錯無放過,而是充滿彈性、可鬆可緊,令人愈觸摸愈觸不到,但又無法脫離其威脅,已足以透過恐懼牽制整個社會(簡單來講,即係國安法啲保釋咁)。
一個「自主」的法院,全權掌握對任何人任意趕盡殺絕的權力,但又始終保留「放過」個別人的可能性,令焦點從檢控和羈押本身的正當性,轉向研究怎樣的官司策略,才能成為個別被放過的人:只是一個「可能」,足以耗盡抗爭陣營絕大部分資源、關注、心神、情感能量,甚至意志。
最折磨人心的從來不是恐懼,而是「希望」:無力感會在反覆的徒勞嘗試與無常的滅頂之災中生根,直至行動的可能被徹底蠶食。
二、不要被政權奪走詮釋敘事的權力
「一場政治審訊,是在一個可見的場域,由對立的各方就法律秩序規範正當性爭辯,而不僅僅關乎當前司法框架下官司的勝敗。」[3]
一場審訊所影響的,遠不只是一個抗爭者個體的命運,關鍵政治案件尤其——營造恐懼與不確定,消耗民間社會,建構政權要的敘事,改寫集體記憶,徹底改造一個社會的政治空間,才是威權下政治審訊的作用。
法院之所以對政權重要,還因其「展示」的功能:政權要你消失、要你沉默,還要你自我推翻、背棄同儕,即使毋須像蘇聯show trial一樣對黨國感激涕零,也要你以順從來認可這套儀式。它從不需要你心悅誠服,違心的配合,正好助其維繫以恐懼牽制所有人的壓迫系統。「留得青山在」實是一場無限滑坡,達至個人最低刑期之法,也包括成為控方證人。如果看一場官司不僅僅關心刑期長短,認罪和配合與否的決定就包括你是否要對政權編造的「事實」,在法律程序中給予無條件的認可,讓法院亦因而免卻自身監察及制衡政權的責任,繼續扮超然。
唔知唐英傑判九年,多少人反應是「早知就應該認啦,扣三分一好過」?唐的想法只有他自己知道,但決定不認罪時,他想必衡量過敗訴要承受的後果。因是經審訊定罪,法院就必須在判辭中清晰交代理據,於是條文本身的缺陷,法官對政治問題的獨斷,對基本人權的無視,對政權敘事的投誠,對合理質疑的左閃右避,都在判辭中一清二楚。
這是一份根本無法自圓其說的判辭,「賣飛佛」是「因為兜多咗幾個街口所以情節嚴重」!
即使被困囿於這個系統,也不等於我們與政權的分歧,只能體現在程序與細節之中。我對「法治」並無任何執念,所謂法治精神,只是一個社會如何理解何謂「公義」的載體;而在司法是否合乎公義的問題上,政權抑或法官,都沒有凌駕任何公民之上的權威——普羅百姓(ordinary men)對法院的檢驗和監督,是普通法制的基礎。
今日香港法院所維護的而非公義,而是政權的利益;法院對法律與「事實」近乎絕對的詮釋權力,也非來自對法律/法治的權威理解,而僅僅來自一言不合就可以全無合理解釋將異見者收監的制度暴力。當法院的權威,要靠拿攝錄機對準公眾席,隨時將旁聽公眾收監的威脅來維持,這座法院還有何正當性可言?
政權正努力地以司法改造,消滅抗爭敘事,但在它放棄司法作為合法性外衣——轉為閉門審訊——之前,它都必須給予被審判者說話的空間。就在此空間中,我們要與政權爭奪的正當性的話語權,不容政權壟斷對公義的詮釋,不容審訊歪曲記憶與事實,不容法官迴避自身真正的責任。
政權利用司法與其他工具散播恐懼與無力的目的,是改變「香港」之所以為「香港」的一切意涵,徹底否定「香港」的存在。而我們每一個行動與選擇,都在抵抗與反擊政權對香港的強行扭曲,重新定義香港之所以為香港的本質。
這本就是一個永不會完成的使命。
Best interest是什麼?
當然,被拋入「政治犯」身位, 不等於就有在政治審訊中頑抗的責任;法庭不是唯一的戰場,也無人有義務犧牲自己的best interest去嘗試開拓。
但這個討論的缺口在:究竟所謂一個人的best interest是什麼?在律師、官司與法庭的語境,它必然等同獲批保釋或最低刑期,因而必然和運動對立。
「唔好諗其他嘢啦,你都要諗吓自己」都聽唔少。於是我好認真咁「諗自己」:究竟我的best interest是什麼?
是自由地說話,是在一個真正開放的公共空間,與其他自由的人建立有意義的連結;是始終可以用批判的精神思考任何現象,挑戰一切定見,即使自詡為歷史必然,不以人的意志轉移的巨大結構;是體認自己一切行動的意義,不因任何強制或壓迫而扭曲。
所以我必須直面這一個戰場。
法院要如何面對它的paradox,是法院的責任和決定(吓,唔使幫你諗埋啩?);但於我,那個政治犯面對、諗自己定諗個運動的paradox其實係假的。政權及為其所用的司法機器正試圖將我從共同體中割裂出來,再透過抹殺我作為個體的存在,否定共同體的存在;若我始終拒絕被抹殺、拒絕自我否定,拒絕成為政權營造恐怖的一部分,透過固守自身,就同時固守了共同體的一部分,令其不至消亡。
自我正是已突破壓迫的姿態所定義,而「香港」的存在,就是有一個個仍未被威權同化的個體的自我所組成。即使因隔阻而無法感應到共同體是否仍然存在,即使眼見她已破碎成無數相互拉扯的平行現實,要重新找到她,其實只需反照自身便可。
身處各異的困境中,每個人的best interest都不同,只有自己知道最適合自己的方向和角色是什麼。不論在怎樣的紛擾與壓迫下,依然忠於自己,就是一個人可為自己、同時為自己所認同的共同體能做的最重要的事。而兩者,本就無從分割。
[1] Shapiro, M. (2008). Courts in Authoritarian Regimes. In T. Ginsburg & T. Moustafa (Eds.), Rule by Law: The Politics of Courts in Authoritarian Regimes. Cambridge University Press.
[2] 戴耀廷(2018)《法治的挑戰: 威權下的思考》
[3] Schervish, Paul G. (1984). Political Trials and the Social Construction of Deviance. Qualitative Sociology. Vol.7
文˙何桂藍
編輯•王翠麗 //
信堂判官 在 譚蕙芸 Facebook 的最佳解答
[法庭裡的小情侶]
21歲的女生,像時下年青人一樣,說話時有懶音。她作供時,坐在法官席上的梁嘉琪裁判官,也忍不住請女生再宣誓多一次,說聽不清楚她的話。少女姓氏為「曾」,在她口中讀成「真」;「講」字說成「趕」;「光」讀成「乾」,但語氣稚嫩又有一種可愛。
但這一次,她要面對的不是學校的口語考試,而是控辯雙方大狀的詰問,年少的她是被告,在兩個月前的5月12日下午,選擇坐上證人欄。
她把自己,和男朋友的前途,都押在這個下午。
***
女孩用黑色橡皮圈束了長長的馬尾,她身穿白恤衫,配黑短裙和西裝褸,西裝褸過大,手袖掩蓋了她半只手掌,左手食指和中指戴了幼身閃爍銀色戒指。她的腿沒穿絲袜,踏着一對款式有點笨拙的圓頭黑色矮跟皮鞋。明顯,女孩平日不穿慣正式西服。
證人椅子是一張帶輪的辦公室座椅,她一邊回答律師提問,一邊忍不住左右扭動椅子,激動時用腳踢坐椅的輪,沒法子坐定。
案情本來甚簡單。在2019年10月4日蒙面法推行的晚上,警員在黃大仙截查了一對小情侶,從女生的背包搜到一支雷射筆。
然而,被提堂到法庭受審,被控告「在公眾地方管有攻擊性武器」罪名的人不只她一個,還有和她同行的男友。
原來當晚兩人曾交換背囊揹。在法庭上,女生稱包裡的雷射筆,是男友擁有的。她說,是她提議交換背囊,因為男友曾表示自己帶着雷射筆在身,「有點擔心」,她主動建議這樣做。
一支小小雷射筆(此案還有一支電筒),把一對小情侶變成了同案被告。
「赴湯蹈火」暴動案主角,被拘捕後更由情侶變成夫妻;但亦有情侶在運動後感情生變。但在法庭上,把私密關係放在公眾眼底下被檢視,再由法官決定誰有罪的案情,則較為罕見。
女孩不住說:「想保護男朋友,所以……」。她把不是自己的雷射筆袋子揹着,也情急地在警署裡簽了和事實不相符的口供。
大部份反修例運動相關案件,被告都選擇不自辯。自辯把自己曝露在法庭之上,任由控方及法官提問,有時未必為被告帶來好處,弊處亦不少,有律師形容被告自辯猶如「走鋼線」,是一場輸贏未知,卻心理負荷極大的賭博。
代表女孩的辯方大律師梁浩朗,先向女孩提問。女孩解釋,當晚約了男友(亦即第一被告)去行街,從慈雲山走到紅磡,回程時經黃大仙準備坐小巴回家。她曾把自己的口罩及帽子交給男友,男友把女友的物件放在自己背包裡或扣在肩帶上。
中途,男友表示自己背囊有雷射筆,「覺得擔心」。女孩說,當時心裡覺得「沒有做虧心事,覺得(帶雷射筆)沒有甚麼」,於是建議和男友交換背囊揹。之後在黃大仙被警員截查而被捕。
女孩說,男友揹着的背囊是她的,裡面有她的住處鎖匙。大狀請她形容一下:「鎖匙鎖係哈利波特金探子造型;銀包係粉紅色Salad品牌,還有一支唇膏。」
辯方梁大狀請她說出,被帶到觀塘警署後發生的事。
女孩說:「在警署裡,經過一條需要警察拍卡才能進入的通道時,一名警員跟我說:『妳睇吓妳,而家做雞都唔掂啦』」辯方大狀示意女孩停頓,讓大家有時間抄寫。
女孩一頓,再說「『搞咁多嘢做咩?冇哂前途,等坐監啦。』」女孩說,覺得難受和害怕。審訊的是女裁判官梁嘉琪,她一直低頭抄寫筆記,沒有特別回應。但控方則否認警員有說過這番話。
辯方提及女孩在警署曾經簽署口供紙。然而,女孩在法庭所說的話,跟口供紙有差異。特別是口供紙上她表示,該雷射筆和電筒是來自一名不認識的男示威者,而不是其男友。女孩解釋,當時自己一心想保護男友,加上雷射筆不是自己的,所以才說了不是完全的事實。
女孩稚嫰的聲音,帶有懶音的聲線在法庭說道:「仲有,我唔想屋企人知道這件事,只想快點離開落口供的警署,想快點回家。」坐在家屬席的中年女士,不住用紙巾抹眼淚,旁邊一位年輕女士安慰着。
女孩又指,早在2017年已從男友手機的相簿看過他一些照片,男友有吸食電子煙習慣,當時生起玩意的念頭,曾用雷射筆射向煙霧射出光線,拍下了照片,故此知道男友擁有雷射筆,但不肯定是不是當日帶出外被搜到那一支。
然而,到控方大律師熊健民,盤問女孩時,卻向女孩口供紙,和與男友交換背囊的說法作反覆的挑戰。熊健民身型有點胖,肚腩微凸,一頭灰白髮,戴着灰白色粗框膠眼鏡,領呔是藍色四方型圖案。
控方熊大狀用右手食指指着女孩問:「妳話你冇做過虧心事,咁點解要交換背囊揹?」
女孩答:「我聽到佢(男友)提出擔心,為咗撇除佢擔心,我主動提出交換。」
熊續問:「咁有無諗過差人拉你地既時候點樣做。」
女孩答:「因為支筆不是我的,我都冇諗過呢個問題。」
熊追問:「妳和男友感情點樣。」
女孩說:「正常,普通情侶囉。」
熊續問,特別帶出她男友的責任:「妳男友驚身上有雷射筆畀差人拉,呢件招惹嫌疑既物件,畀你攞上身?」「點解妳唔直接將支筆放入你個袋?要成個袋交換?」
女孩有時聽不明白:「我唔明你意思,唔該你重覆問題。我無諗過。」
此時,坐在被告席的男友,也是一名21歲穿白恤衫的少年,向天望了一望,嘆了一口氣。男友選擇不作供。
熊問到:「點解妳脫下了口罩和帽是交給男友,不是放在自己的袋裡?」
女孩回答:「我成日將我既物品叫佢幫我攞。」
熊指,口供紙上,寫了她承認雷射筆是來自「一名男示威者」,但現在女孩否認,而女孩曾口供紙上簽名確認。
女孩反駁:「我一時諗到咁既嘢,我想保護男友,支筆又唔係我既。」
熊大狀:「妳又話唔知當晚有示威,又在口供紙寫男示威者?」
女孩:「因為我年輕,咁講比較合理。」
熊進逼:「妳不是想置身事外嗎?點解又在口供紙中話自己同示威者同一立場呀?」
女孩回答:「我當時以為咁講無問題。」
熊說:「因為妳為咗達到目的,不用尊重事實,為咗達到目的,你可以隨便亂講,唔洗尊重事實,唔理真相,任你講!」
女孩嘗試回應:「當日我冇諗過呢個問題。」
熊說:「咁妳現在法庭作供都可以係講大話啦?」
女孩回答:「當日落口供唔知咁大件事,我當時唔知要上庭。」
熊指出:「妳當時係被懷疑藏有非法武器(雷射筆),妳係知道架。當時係警誡下,會變為呈當証據,你知道嚴重性。」
女孩指:「我當時唔知有機會上庭。只想落完口供番屋企。」
熊用食指指着女孩:「事實係,妳隨意任意扭曲真相。」
熊:「我向妳指出,雷射筆係你同男友共同擁有,意圖傷害他人。妳係不誠實證人。」
女孩:「唔同意。」
熊:「為咗雷射筆,妳惹咗今次官非,變成被告,點解妳無問過男友,點解身上有支雷射筆。」
女孩:「我冇追問原因,事件發生咗了,是以前的事,我無再問。」
熊追問:「雷射筆不是以往的事,事發之後兩年以來,妳都無問到被告點解有支筆?」
女孩:「我信佢,我無問。」
終於完成了作供,女孩回到法庭較後位置,坐在律師和旁聽市民中間的桌子之後。在裁判法院,不用還押的被告,都不用坐入犯人欄,而是坐在普通的坐椅。女孩回到男朋友身旁,低聲細語了一會。
一支雷射筆,讓全個法庭檢驗一對小情侶的關係;一支雷射筆,改寫了兩個年輕人的未來。
誰入罪誰脫罪,誰把誰的東西揹在身上,成為了法庭用放大鏡檢驗的公共討論內容。
兩個月多月後,男孩判罪名成立,女孩則罪名不成立。
裁判官梁嘉琪指,女被告證據不合情理,但認為女被告為保護男友才提出不合理證供,亦接納兩人交換背包說法。
梁官質疑男被告沒涉及示威但卻憂慮雷射筆是危險物品,又指不會和女友外出隨便帶着一支最高級別的雷射筆,故裁定男被告罪名成立。梁官認為,女被告自辯不真實不準確,惟控方未能在毫無合理疑點下推論女被告有傷人意圖,故裁定女被告罪名不成立。
宣佈裁決結果時,女孩開始流淚,至得悉男友須立即還柙,女孩放聲痛哭。案件押後至8月5日判刑。
(圖為蒙面法推出後,香港街道一景。政府用膠水黏起行人道上的地磚,以防示威者挖起。街燈照射下,磚與磚之間的膠水礙固成淚水的樣子)
信堂判官 在 Facebook 的最佳解答
「地獄空」攝影集即將在八月中元節前出版,由知名設計師與攝影家黃子欽設計,內附在下二位高徒精美繪製符咒、心經版畫書籤、愣嚴咒牌、尊勝咒語...等,感恩十方大德助印,希望疫情退散,平安喜樂,後記如下:
野放台灣五十餘年,貪狼獨坐,三方四正殺破狼格局,少年多舛,白手起家,隨展覽雲遊四海,如閒雲野鶴常持各類底片機流連廢墟、山川、宮廟忘返,遂設幻影堂自詡堂主,一日三省「凡所有相皆是虛妄」,常宅於暗房沖片放大通宵、鍾情黑白世界之單純,彩色照片俗世繽紛花俏做作甜美甚至比現實更現實故少拍也。知天命之年有餘,了悟人生一瞬、眨眼即逝,雖非仙人,亦無道骨,初聞離垢地生清淨心,但離華嚴「不動地」尚遠,待修持也。
2017年盛暑拍畢《巨神連線》,心律不整差點心肌梗塞向閻羅王報到,意識死神隨伺在側,人生苦短,如何了生脫死、盡斷煩惱、無所罣礙、遠離顛倒……總不得解,蒙釋迦摩尼佛開示飆淚三晝夜,聞佛法數載始知自我渺如塵埃,甚感慚愧。閒暇乃參訪名寺古剎,禮敬焚香佛陀菩薩羅漢諸神天仙王爺媽娘,台灣宮廟千奇百怪、宗派錯綜複雜(佛教、道教、一貫道、天主教、基督教、齋教、回教&大同教、儒教鑾堂、天帝教&天德教、慈惠堂&勝安宮、軒轅教、道院、理教、萬國道德會、會靈山……)、神棍橫行(依人不依法、偶像崇拜、斂財、邪淫),因歷史變遷、社會動盪、政治鬥爭、意識形態等因素導致佛道混雜,但地獄造景稀少,後專注拍攝各殿閻王、判官、陰司、獄卒、七爺、八爺乃至一切罪人,各寺造景巧妙、耐人尋味,意境乖張溢於言表,造型扭曲非常人所能塑也,然匠心獨運、自成一格,專研西方藝術數十載方知真誠樸拙最美,絲毫不輸喬托(Giotto di Bondone,1267~1337)乃至米開朗基羅(Michelangelo Di lodovico Buonarroti Simoni 1475 ~ 1564)矣。
創立於1986年的石門金剛宮風景優美可眺望北濱,雖主祀四面佛,儒釋道眾神尊也不含糊,可過七星橋解厄、繞行五百黝黑羅漢敲鑼印心、跪拜亞洲最大臥佛涅槃像,安太歲自不在話下,甲子太歲爺雙眼長出手掌印象甚深,1994年經閻羅王指示廟公建造一條肚內設極樂世界及陰曹地府之神龍,行走暗黑通道觸動感應機關,只見面容猙獰受刑者呼天搶地喊冤、身邊盡是血肉糢糊殘肢敗屍腦漿塗地,十殿閻羅各司其職、威儀攝人。新北市林口區青嶺湖北文紫祥宮包公廟則以壁面彩塑地獄浮雕獨步全台,粉嫩色彩搭配卡漫風格,尤為造型簡直恐怖到可愛透頂,該廟主祀森羅殿閻羅天子包拯(包青天),陽世冤屈者可至此參拜祭解,求破懸案者眾,逢中元普渡皆以紙紮船渡亡魂至彼岸,全台唯一閻羅天子巨像籌備中,四周環繞墓地,適合修不淨觀也。台灣首尊彰化八卦山大佛旁南天宮(1971)地府則是首座電動地府,規模精小但驚嚇度破表,略顯破敗但五光十色仍蠻凶悍,出自已故台南大道長金登富之作,而電動神明起始可追溯至1960年代北港朝天宮。倒是嘉義水上鄉白人牙膏觀光工廠「戴相府」、「將軍府」設置十殿地府出乎意料之外,乾淨亮麗、ㄧ殿ㄧ間、簡單樸實。由高雄蓮潭龍虎塔龍口入內可見全臺唯一交趾陶地獄牆面,尊尊栩栩如生,續入龍身乃進聞聲救苦白衣觀音大士三十三化身浮雕隧道,造型設色甚為古錐。高雄大岡山超峰寺入口處「西方三聖蓮池海會」(阿彌陀佛、觀世音菩薩、大勢至菩薩巨像)旁設靜態十殿閻羅(1970年代初),雖略為陳舊然韻味猶存,續往上行可抵「證菩提道-釋迦如來應化事迹」雕塑園區,一攬世尊畢生精華。如來年邁時,琉璃國王為報長期被釋迦族輕蔑之傲慢心,世尊雖三次單獨伽跌坐 阻擋大軍進攻之路,但因緣果報無法逆轉,昔日婢女所生王子瞋恨無以復加,還是滅了祖國。自持神通第一目犍連不忍無辜百姓慘遭屠殺,遂以缽盛救度五百族人,最終卻化為血水,佛言神通廣大仍不敵千百劫業力,因緣果報屢試不爽。其母死後墜入餓鬼道飢餓難耐,目犍連遂展神通救渡,但所食尚未入口皆化為赤火,佛陀囑咐農曆七月十五日僧眾解安居自恣日,於盆中設甘露美食供養十方僧眾,因此超度亡母。後世「盂蘭盆法會」乃至「水懺法會」、「瑜珈焰口法會 」皆為消業障、斷塵垢之超渡儀軌,既渡亡魂也自懺悔。
台南麻豆代天府規模宏大、造型豔麗,不但可遊十八層地獄尚可逛天堂(1979年興建,1983年開放),燈光絢爛、聲響駭人,獨自漫步宛如觀落陰、地獄走一回。先過「心頭山」、入「清心池」、進「陰陽界」、抵「交簿廳」、達「鬼門關」、遊「補經所」、探「枉死城」、行「奈何橋」,至ㄧ殿泰廣王照「孽鏡台」現造惡原形,睹抱柱、火床等小地獄。二殿楚江王開「陰查簿 」判案定奪,觀糞尿泥、餓鬼、舞池、寒冰、膿血、鞭韃、舌犁、劍葉、戟腹拋接、砧截……等小地獄。三殿宋帝王刑罰為倒吊、銅鐵刮臉、挖眼、搗樁、倒烤、吸血、穿肋、抽筋、蛆蛀等小地獄……兼遊「四生(胎、卵、濕、化)回魂府」。四殿五官王掌管腰斬、拔舌、沸湯、刺嘴、剝皮、箭樹、車崩、射眼……等十六小地獄。隨五殿森羅王豋「望鄉臺」回眸親人最終眼後觀擊膝、誅心、刀山、飛刀火石……小地獄。六殿卞城王別稱「大叫喚大地獄」,轄火牛、虎啖、噬腎、鉗嘴含鍼、釘喉、磨摧、砍頭……等小地獄。七殿泰山王為「熱惱大地獄」,窺烙手指、抽腸、頂石蹲身、油釜滾烹、割舌穿腮……等十六小地獄。八殿都市王掌管「大熱惱大地獄」兼火狗、鐵汁、鐵蛇、鋸劈斷肢、釘板、灸脊、鐵丸、磅秤……等小地獄。九殿平等王直轄十八層「阿鼻大地獄」,直透地心、內中陰森、不見五指、滿溢地漿,皆為極犯,另轄紫赤毒蛇鑽孔、夾頂、鐵鴉、針雨、蜂蠍……等小地獄。至十殿輪轉王上「觀生臺」、「轉劫所八司」(查驗司 、稽善司 、考過司 、恩怨司 、壽命司 、支配司、掌劫司 、授生司)後至「孟婆亭」飲「醧忘湯」忘盡前塵往事,依前世功德過金、銀、玉、石、木、竹六種橋樑至「轉輪臺(紫河車)」入六道輪迴轉生投胎。據《十八泥犁經》記載,人過世後七七四十九天為「中陰生」,經閻羅王審判善惡業力判定去留或懲罰百千萬劫,犯五逆重罪則墮入「無間地獄(阿鼻地獄)」永劫不復。地藏王乃幽冥教主,統轄十殿閻羅,逢三曹普渡便在各殿設「講道所」超度尚存善根之鬼魂。
人類居於五趣(阿修羅、人、傍生、餓鬼、地獄)雜居地五濁惡世之堪忍世界,犯十惡業(殺生、偷盜、邪淫、妄語、兩舌、惡口、綺語、貪慾、嗔恚、愚痴)者必墮三趣惡道。如何出「三界」(欲界、色界、無色界)二十八天?凡人無此意識,別說能破「十二因緣」(無明、行、識、名色、六入、觸、受、愛、取、有、生、老死)還滅門,更別想斷除「四聖諦」(苦、集、滅、道)集地八十一品見惑與八十八使思惑(五利使-身見、邊見、邪見、見取見、戒禁取見、五鈍使-貪、瞋、癡、慢、疑),了悟「五蘊」(色、受、想、行、識)本空、「十二入」(眼、耳、鼻、舌、意、色、聲、香、味、觸、法)空、「十八界」空,破俱生我執與分別我執、法執甚至空執,生十一處「善心所」(信、精進、慚、愧、無貪、無瞋、無痴、輕安、不放逸、行捨、不害),降二十六處「惡心所」(貪、瞋、癡、慢、疑、惡見、忿、恨、覆、惱、嫉、慳、誑、諂、害、憍、無慚、無愧、掉舉、惛沉、不信、懈怠、放逸、失念、散亂、不正知),須知善根斷盡則陷永劫輪迴、無垠轉世之苦。
地獄可能空滅嗎?若地獄空乏人間多鬼怪,地獄淨空世間何嘗非淨土?若能證空性何處現地獄?
地獄曠古來便廣泛流傳各部族間,老死生滅為自然運行之基礎、宇宙意識之核心,然今文明昌盛如咱城邦並非慾望消弭之所,惡性所及實無可根除,礙於憲法國家法律社會軍隊企業公司學校家庭團體之層層束縛不亞於十八層,乃遁於壓抑、束己情懷,暗埋心底、日久貪嗔痴慢疑怨噌會疊穢。而六塵未熄,心多妄念,妖魔鬼怪魑魅魍魎孤魂閃靈出沒於荒郊乃至人間,會靈於曠野密林以增性靈乃出世高人修煉之舉,我等凡人擅闖宛如迪士尼般之人造地獄,三魂七魄尚不足以出竅,驚邪恐怖淒厲猙獰倒滿足了自以為是的慚愧,豈不謬哉?
病毒肆虐年半有餘,全球確診者逼近一億八千萬,枉死者近四百萬,堪比戰爭規模,望眾生發慈悲心、令往生者安息、善待其他物種、平等有情眾生。地獄本空,唯妄念生起一切羨慕嫉妒恨而地獄現前。盡以此書作為世界新冷戰獨裁者、超限戰者、暗網駭客、陰險狡猾冷嘲熱諷落井下石者之良知備忘錄矣。
姚瑞中寫於2021年端午節
Postscript
I have been living recklessly in Taiwan for more than fifty years. According to Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology), Tan Lang is the sole star in my house of Self. This star, which represents xxx, forms an equilateral triangle with that star Qi Sha and Po Jun on the square chart and constitutes a Sha Po Lang pattern. The pattern indicates a kind of turbulence and change, a life of wandering with ups and downs and it tells a lot about my life. After my ill-fated youth, I started from scratch and traveled around the world with exhibitions that I participated. Like a flaneur, I wandered around ruins, nature, and temples with every type of film camera obliviously. Thus, I founded the Hall of Illusion and claimed to be the master of the hall. Several times a day, I pondered a quote from the Diamond Sutra, “Everything with form is unreal.” In addition, I usually stayed in the darkroom developing film and enlarging those negatives overnight. However, I treasured the simplicity of the black and white world. The earthly, gaudy, garish, phony and pleasing qualities within colored photos make the images even more realistic than the real world. It is not my cup of tea, so I seldom took colored photos. In Confucian thought, the age of fifty marks the stage knowing the mandate of Heaven. I am now at my fifties and realize how ephemeral human life is. However, I am not an immortal, nor having sagelike characteristics. I just learned that the stage of stainless (the second bhūmi) and develop a pure mind that is free from doubt and defilement. However, I’m still far from the immovable state and need to practice.
In the summer of 2017, after filming the work Incarnation, I experienced a severe heart rhythm problem which almost triggered myocardial infarction and could have killed me. Consequently, I realized that death was waiting for me and the life is too short to figure out how I can liberate myself from the cycle of Birth and Death. I couldn’t comprehend how to be free from all afflictions and worries and how to avoid delusive ideas. I wept for three days and nights after being enlightened by Shakyamuni Buddha. Up to the moment, I felt ashamed that I failed to realize that the self is as insignificant as dust after these years learning and practicing Buddhism. Since then, I have visited famous temples and monasteries in my spare time, worshiping Buddha, Bodhisattvas, arhats, and all the deities and immortals. Taiwan’s temples are myriad with a enormous number of sects, including Buddhism, Taoism, Yiguandao, Catholicism, Christianity, Chinese religions of fasting, Islam& Baháʼí Faith, Confucianism, Tiandiism& Tian-De Teachings, Xiwangmu cult, Yellow Emperor Sect, Precosmic Salvationism, Liism, World Wide Ethical Society, séance cult, etc. Some people even claim that they can mediate communication between the deities or spirits of the dead with human beings, having their believer rely on themselves instead of the orthodox dharma or dogma and pay excessive respect and admiration for the mediums or objects, accumulating wealth through such an unfair means or even harassing their believer sexually. Due to Taiwan’s historical changes, social turbulence, political struggles, and ideological issues, Buddhism and Taoism are somehow mixed. However, there are few emphases on the concept of the hell. As I took photographs of Yama of each court, judges, wardens of the underworld, jailers, General Fan and Hsieh (the ghost escorts) and all sinners, I found few temples cleverly created hellish scenes that are intriguing, exaggerating, and extraordinary. However, the creations are unparalleled unique. I have been studying Western arts for decades and then I came to realize that simplicity makes the most beautiful works of art. These hellish scenes can even compete with works of Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337) and Michelangelo Di lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564).
Jingang Temple Shimen District, founded in 1986, overlooks the beautiful North shore. Although the temple is mainly dedicated to Phra Phrom (the Thai representation of Mahabrahma), spirits of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism can also be founded in the temple. The worshipper can go cross the Seven Star bridge to relieve bad luck, walk along the five hundred arhat statues and knock on the gong to affirm one’s Buddha nature. Furthermore, the worshipper can also prostrate themself before Asia’s largest statue of Buddha in Nirvana (the Reclining Buddha statue) and pacify the Taoist Tai Sui deity of the year. I was impressed by the Jia-Zi Tai Sui General that a pair of palms grow out of his eyes. In 1994, the biō-kong (the person taking charge of the temporal affairs of a temple) received a divine inspiration from Yama (the King of Hell) that he had to build a sacred hall in the shape of a divine dragon, with the interior designed according to the World of Ultimate Bliss and the Underworld. When the visitor walks in the dark hallway, they will see the tortured people (dioramas, of course) scrunching their faces and crying bitterly and loudly in excessive grief as the visitor triggers the mechanism. One will even find them in the midst of flesh, body liquid and blood, mutilated limbs, and rotten corpses. While each of the ten Yamas are focusing on their own duties, showing their sacred dignity that collect visitors’ attention. The Baogong Temple in Linkou District, New Taipei City exclusively features colorful depiction of hellish scenes in relief in Taiwan. With its pastel shades and cartoon-like style, the relief is both grotesque and adorable at the same time. This temple is dedicated to Bao Zhen (also known as Justice Bao) representing the incarnation of Yama. Living people who have been treated unjustly can come worshipping Bao Gong and receive exorcism. Therefore, many people come here for seeking to solve unsolved cases. In Zhongyuan Festival (the ghost festival), the temple will burn the Zhizha (paper craft) boat to ferry the ghosts to the other shore, which is the shore of enlightenment. The only giant statue of Yama in Taiwan is still in the making. The temple is surrounded by a cemetery, suitable for meditating on the loathsomeness and impurity. Nantian Temple (1971), located next to the Eight Trigram Mountains Buddha in Changhua, features the first animatronic underworld. Despite the small size, the animatronic underworld is intensely shocking. Though it’s slightly worn, the colorful dioramas are still brutally ferocious. The creator was the late venerable Dao Zhang (Taoist priest) Jing Deng-fu while the origin of animatronic deities can be traced back to the 1960s Beigang Chaotian Temple. On the contrary, the Whiteman Toothpaste Tourism Factory in Shuishang Township, Chiayi, features ten Yamas with individual booth. The place is unexpectedly clean and polished yet keeps a simple and modest tone. Then, the Dragon Pagoda of the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Lake in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, holds the only relief of hellish scenes made of Kochin ceramic. All the figures are vivid and life-like. If one goes further into the pagoda, they will see a relief tunnel of the thirty-three incarnations of the white-robed form of Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) on a white lotus, with a lovely and interesting design. Another Hall of Yama is built in the 1970s next to the entrance of Dagangshan Chaofeng Temple, located in the Alian District of Kaohsiung. Visitors will also see three statues of the Three Holy Ones of the Western Pureland (Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta) which assemble at a lotus pond. Although the hellish scene looks somewhat antiquated, you may still find its previous charm. If one goes further, they will reach the sculptural garden of “Attaining the Bodhi Way: the Incarnation of Sakyamuni Buddha,” where the visitor can see the essence of Bhagavato’s (meaning the Blessed one, one of the common epithets for Buddha) life. When Tathāgata (another epithet for Buddha) was old, the king of Kosala wanted to avenge the arrogance of the tribe of Shakyas who had long despised him, regarding him as a son of a maiden. Although Buddha has sat in lotus position alone three times to stop the army from attacking his tribe. However, one can never reverse the cause and following karma. The prince born of a maiden was so furious that he eventually destroyed his homeland. Maudgalyāyana (one of the Buddha’s closest disciples), who is said to have had supernatural abilities that surpassed the other disciples, could not bear to see the slaughter of innocent people. Thus, he saved five hundred people of his tribe with a pātra (an eating utensil of Buddhist monks). Unfortunately, everything he did was in vain, those who were saved eventually turned into a puddle of blood. The Buddha said that the supernatural abilities cannot surpass the power of karma. The cause and effect work all the time. When Maudgalyāyana’s mother fell into the path of hungry ghost, he used his supernatural abilities to save his mother from hunger. However, all the food turned into fire before being fed to his mother. Later, the Buddha commanded the monks to put nectar and dishes in a basin on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar for the monks from all directions to free his mother from reincarnation. In later times, the Ullambana Dharma Service, the Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance, and the Yoga Collection for Feeding the Searing Mouths Dharma Service are rituals to eliminate karmic hindrance and to cease to worldly delusions. Through such practices, one can free the dead as well as confess their repentance.
Madou Daitian Temple is a magnificent and colorful temple in Tainan. Not only can the worshippers visit the eighteen levels of Hell but also the Heaven (it was built in 1979 and inaugurated in 1983) here. The lighting and sound effects are stunning and frightening. When walking alone in the space, one may feel like taking a Guan Luo Yin trip (a Taoist necromancy which leads people’s spirits to hell and communicate with the dead ones) to visit the underworld prison. Before arriving the first court of the underworld, the visitor will walk through the Mountain of Heart Summit, the Pure Heart Pond, the Frontier between the Living and the Dead Realms, the Soul Registry Hall, the Portico of Demons, the Center for Complementary Teaching of Canonical Books, the Citadel of Premature Death, and the Bridge of Vanity. When one arrives at the first court, they will see King Chin-guang, who is in charge of the court, using the Mirror of Retribution to show the earthly form of evil creatures and also witness the sub-hell of Pillar-Holding and Fire Bed, etc. At the second court, King Chu-jiang collates the register of sins the souls of the dead have committed to impose the punishments. Here, you will see the sub-hell of Excrement and Urine, Hungry Ghost, Burning Dance Floor, Ice, Pus and Blood, Whipping, Tongue-Raking, Sword Blade, Stomach-Piercing, Chopping, etc. Next, the dead at the third court, ruled by King Song-di, will receive the punishments including inversion tortures, face-skinning with steel and copper knife, eye-wrenching, pounding, blood-sucking, rib-piercing, roasting, tendon-taking, being eaten by maggots. The visitor can pay a visit to the Palace of Soul-Resuscitation for the Four Forms of Creatures (birth from an egg, birth from a womb, birth from moisture, and birth by transformation). King Wu-guan is in charge of the fourth court. There are sixteen sub-hells at the fourth court including Waist Chop, Tongue Removal, Boiling Pond, Mouth-stabbing, Skin-peeling, Sword Tree, Burning Wheels and Cart, Eye-shooting, etc. Next, at the fifth court, sinful souls are allowed to ascend the Tower of Hometown-Viewing to take a final look of their family. The visitor will witness sub-hells of Knee-striking, Heart-slicing, Blade Mountain, Flying Swords and Burning Stones, etc. The King of Bian City takes charge of the sixth court, which is also known as the “Great Hell of Screaming,” with sub-hells including Fire Cattle, Tiger-Biting, Kidney-Eating, Mouth-Poking, Throat-Nailing, Iron Mill, Decapitation, etc. The King of Tai-shan is in charge of the seventh court, the “Great Hell of Heat and Fire.” The sixteen sub-hells at this court include Finger-Searing, Bowel-Hauling, Stone-Bearing, Boiling Oil, Tongue-Removal and Cheek-Piercing, etc. Next, the King Du-shi is in charge of the eighth court, the “Great Hell of Intense Fire and Heat,” and the sub-hells including Fire Dogs, Molten Iron, Iron Snakes, Dismemberment, Steel Spikes, Burning-Marrow, Iron Ball, Scale, etc. The ninth court is ruled by the King Ping-deng. It is known as the biggest court, Avici Hell (the Hell of Incessant Suffering), which if the lowest level of the hell realm and the interior is gloomily and terrifyingly dark. Those who committed the most serious evil deed will be sent to the Avici Hell. Sub-hells such as Poisonous Snake, Brain-Removal, Crow-Gnawing, Raining Needles, Wasps and Scorpions are included at this court. After arriving the tenth court, ruled by the Great King of the Reincarnation Palace, one can visit the “Observatory of Life on earth” and the “eight bureaus of the Reincarnation Palace” (including the Bureau of Judicial Control, the Bureau of Good-Actions, the Bureau of Bad-Actions, the Bureau of Debts, Gratitude, and Vengeance, the Bureau of Longevity and Destiny, the Bureau of Familial Ties, the Bureau of the Reincarnated, and the Bureau of Birth). The sinful one will be sent to the Pavilion of Mengpo and made to drink the Soup of Forgetfulness to forget all past affairs. According to the sinful one’s merits of previous life, they will go across one of the six bridges (gold, silver, jade, stone, wood, bamboo) to the “Reincarnation-Wheel (Wheel on the Crimson River).” Finally, one is able to reborn in the six realms. According to the Aṣṭadaśa nāraka sutra ( the Eighteen Hells Sutra), after one passes away, they will enter an intermediate and transitional state between death and rebirth, known as antarābhava in Sanskrit, for forty-nine days. The being will be evaluated by Yama, who will decide if one should get reborn or get punished at the hell. Those who committed the Five Grave Offenses (killing one’s father, killing one’s mother, killing an Arhat, shedding the blood of a Buddha, and creating a schism within the community of Buddhist monks and nun who practice for attaining enlightenment.) will be sent to the Avici Hell and stay there eternally. Kṣitigarbha is the Lord of the Nether World, ruling the ten court of Hell. The lord will set up the “Hall of Teaching” at each court to salvage those sinful ones who still obtain few merits at the offering rituals.
Human beings live the Sahā world (sahāloka in Sanskrit, meaning “endurance of suffering,” a concept of mundane world in Mahāyāna Buddhism) where they share with other reincarnations (including beings of the hells, of the preta, and of malevolent nature spirits) with five turbidities (the Kalpa turbidity, the view turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the life turbidity). Those who commit the ten evil deeds (killing, stealing, adultery, lying, using immoral language, slandering, equivocating, coveting, anger, and false views) must fall into the three evil paths (animals, preta, and hell). However, how can one escape from the three realms/ twenty-eight heavens (including the six heavens of the desire realm, the eighteen heavens of the form realm, and the four heavens of the formless realm)? Worldly people who don’t have such an awareness cannot leave the cycle of the twelve nidanas (meaning causes or motivations), let alone eliminate the eighty-one afflictions (that have been produced due to misunderstanding regarding reality) and the eighty-eight illusions (including five afflictions of advanced practitioners, also known as five views: view of self, extreme view, evil view, view of attachment to views, and view of morality; and five unintelligent temptations: desire, anger, stupidity, arrogance, and doubt) of thought within the three realms and four Arya satyas (noble truths, including suffering, arising, ending, and path). They cannot realize that the essence of the five skandhas (referring to aggregates of clinging, including the matter of form, sensation, recognition, mental formation, and consciousness) , the twelve ayatana (meaning sense base, including six internal bases: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind and six external bases: visible objects, sound, odor, taste, touch, and mental objects), and the eighteen dhātavah (meaning compositional elements of human existence, including six consciousness, six faculties, and their objects) are the emptiness and the void. Furthermore, they cannot dispel the two reasons for clinging to the idea of the self and the attachment to elemental constructs and even believe in the two (false) tenets that that karma and nirvana are not real and that the ego and phenomena are real. As a consequence, they fail to develop the eleven wholesome mental factors (faith, energy, conscience, being ashamed, non-attachment, non-aggression, non-delusion, calmness, equanimity, conscientiousness, and non-injuriousness) and cease the sixteen unwholesome mental factors (desire, greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, doubt, wrong view, wrath, enmity, hypocrisy, vexation, jealousy, parsimony, deceit, flattery, harming, ambitiousness, stupidity, lacking of faith, idleness, being unrestrained, forgetting, distraction, non-discernment, ). One must bear in mind that once all our virtuous roots are discontinued, they will be trapped in the never-ending reincarnation and the suffering of infinite continuity.
Is it possible that the hell will be empty one day? If the beings in hell will become extinct while evil spirits inhabit the mundane world, the world could be considered as a pure land. If we could witness the nature of the void, then hell will exist no more.
Since ancient times, the concept of hell has been widely spread among all tribes. Aging, death, beginning, and end are the basis of nature and the core of cosmic consciousness. However, the prosperous civilization as our island is not a place where desire can be eliminated. It’s impossible to eradicate evil nature. Since fetters brought by the constitution, the state, the law, society, the military, corporations, schools, families, and groups are not less than the eighteen levels of hell, the mortals repress themselves, bury their feelings. Day after day, greed, anger, stupidity, arrogance, doubt, and resentment are stacking. However, since the six dust (visible objects, sound, odor, taste, touch, and mental objects) has not yet been extinguished, people in the mundane world are still full of delusions. The demons, devils, evil spirits, and the wondering dead exist in the wilderness, while only advanced practitioners with transcendent would attempt to make contact with the dead in the wasteland and forest. Worldly people like us trespass in Disneyland-like man-made hell. It is absurd and ridiculous that the hellish scenes cannot stop us from perpetrating evil deeds, but the horrific and cruel scenes yet satisfy our self-righteous shame.
The pandemic has been boiling over for more than a year and a half. The number of infected patients worldwide is nearly a hundred and eighty million, and the death toll has risen to four million, which is equivalent to a war crisis. I hope that we can all be compassionate, give peace to the dead, treat all sentient beings well and equally. The hell is innately empty; however, deluded and misleading thoughts would give rise to all jealousy and hatred and then manifest the hell before us. This book merely serves as a memorandum of conscience for dictators of the world’s new cold war, supporters of unrestrained warfare, dark web hackers, and those who are cunning and contemptuous and maltreat others when knowing they have problems.
June 2021,
Yao Jui-chung