fiery chariot
Buddhist term for a chariot engulfed in flames, often carrying sinners to hell or used in hell-related imagery.
In hell paintings, a fiery chariot carrying sinners is depicted.
kasha (mythical beast)
A mythical creature in Japanese folklore, often depicted as a flaming cart or beast that steals corpses or the souls of the wicked.
Historical term used in China for steam trains; not used for modern Japanese trains.
vile old hag
Archaic abbreviation of 火車婆; a derogatory term for a wicked old woman.
See also: 火車婆
In old tales, a kasha is said to appear at the funeral of a person who did evil deeds.
In China, steam locomotives were once called 火車.
Abbreviating 火車婆, a mean old woman was sometimes called 火車.
From Chinese 火車 (huǒchē), originally meaning 'fire cart' or 'fiery chariot'. The Buddhist and folkloric senses derive from Chinese Buddhist hell imagery. The 'steam locomotive' sense is a modern Chinese usage. The 'vile old hag' sense is a Japanese-specific abbreviation of 火車婆.