"Judgment of the Bardo: List of Sins" is a realistic Jianghu novel that combines elements of suspense, revenge, growth and religion.
The story begins with the death of the protagonist Shan Baolin. Through the perspective of the bardo, it shows his review and judgment of the sins of his life during the 49-day bardo stage. It not only depicts the disputes and human struggles at the bottom of the world during the twenty years of reform and opening up [1984-2004], but also explores the meaning of life, karma and the possibility of redemption.
In the cold winter of 1984, Shan Baolin, a 22-year-old unemployed young man, made a living by working part-time and reselling food stamps at the station. He broke into a gang's territory and was beaten. This experience made him determined to join Master Jiu's disciples and study the art of deception. At that time, the ice of the planned economy had just cracked, and the "dual-track system" was a turning point in the fate of countless people. It was a carnival of "thousands of horses galloping" and "many demons dancing wildly". The law cannot keep up with the speed of capital, and conscience cannot keep up with the pace of greed. Shan Baolin forged approval documents, smuggled, and illegally raised funds. He was involved in many fields and used unscrupulous means to gain a foothold in the world with his shrewdness and ruthlessness. In the end, he set up a trap to take advantage of the underworld, but was killed in reverse. In the bardo stage, he faced the list of sins and witnessed the pain of those he had hurt. He reflected on his sins and then let go of his obsessions. He used his soul to atone for his sins, and finally gained salvation and entered a new reincarnation.
