Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Eternal Sinking
Category: Flame
The Myth
Yōchin, meaning “Eternal Sinking,” represents a terrifying fate from which there is no escape. It is depicted as a place of endless descent into swirling flames, where the souls of sinners fall helplessly toward the deepest reaches of hell. Once a soul enters this dreadful realm, it cannot return to the world above.
In Buddhist-inspired depictions of the journey toward paradise, Yōchin appears as a square on a board game illustrating the fate of the dead. The square shows a soul plunging into a fiery abyss, representing Avīci Hell, the realm of unending torment. Unlike other spaces on the board, which allow the soul to progress toward salvation, Yōchin marks an irreversible fall into damnation. It is the ultimate dead end, where the journey ends in eternal suffering.
Sources
“妖鎮 (Yōchin).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1079630670.html