A to Z 2026 S: "Symmetrical and square in shape…” Buddhist Writings (Translated by Henry Clarke Warren, 1896)

"Symmetrical and square in shape…” Buddhist Writings (Translated by Henry Clarke Warren, 1896)

Bonus: 

 

Hell is a square-ring.      

Summary: Hell is a scary square.

Commentary: 

Another short one, so here's a full drop:

  Symmetrical, and square in shape,
Four-gated, into parts laid off.
Of iron is its bounding wall,
An iron roof doth close it in;
And of its glowing iron floor
The light with dazzling brilliancy
Spreads for a hundred leagues around,
And ever and for ay abides.

This is, "the chiefest of the hells"

Four appears a number of time in Buddhism (the four noble truths, the four sublime attitudes...). In many east Asian cultures, four is associated with death, due it being a near homophone of "death" (si and sei). It would make sense to make hell square in this context.