The third Hell Court, presided over by King Songdi, is the ‘grilling pillar’, where sinners are tied to red-hot copper pillars and grilled as a form of punishment. According to Chinese mythology, altogether there are ten courts of hell that pass judgment on one's past deeds before a form of reincarnation is determined. In his bid to educate the public about Chinese culture, Aw Boon Haw built a theme park housing statues and sculptures that portrayed the themes of Chinese legends and folklore. Originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, Haw Par Villa was built in 1937 along Pasir Panjang Road.
