According to Yu Ying-shih, once the heavens became the exclusive domain of immortals and deities, mortal souls were detained in the Palace of the Earth and interrogated about their actions during life. Yu regards the Palace of the Earth, into which souls departed, as equivalent to a hell where punish ment was inflicted.
天上世界被神仙獨佔後，精魂被拘閉於土府，拷問生前所作所為，余英時認為，魂魄所下的土府等同於受苦的地獄。