Hell Temple Chiang Mai, Thailand


We went to Hell Temple, otherwise known as Wat Mae Kaet Noi located on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. This temple, like many of its kind, was created by a well meaning Buddhist monk who wanted to warn tourists and locals alike of the dangers of sinning. The pictures here are but a fraction of the gore that was on display (if you want to see more I'll gadly post but be warned they are not for the faint of heart). Sculptures of orgiastic gore were clustered together in a way that both delights and overwhelms by their explicit, almost cartoonish, cruelty. I kept thinking that whoever created this park, and it really felt like a dark amusement park, has an imagination that rivals that of Quentin Torantino. Indeed the whole display promotes a " A KIll Bill" inspired version of retributive justice which seems entirely incompatible with the even-keeled benevolence that Buddhism is known for.