A Guardian Spirit's Vow: The Testimony of Izawa Yoshiko

This interview was recorded on December 14, 2025, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The subject is Izawa Yoshiko, a spirit who spent centuries acting as a guardian, guiding souls away from the ravages of war and fire. After her final mission at the site of the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, she sought deliverance and was guided to the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Izawa Yoshiko speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am a local deity from Japan. In my homeland, people honour me with the title of Amaterasu, though in truth, my spiritual realm is not particularly high. I was born during the Tokugawa Shogunate period in Japan, where I served as a geisha to the Shogun. Through this position, I frequently attended public social gatherings and banquets, performing for and conversing with many prominent figures of society.

I was adopted into the Tokugawa lineage and underwent rigorous training from a young age. Every gesture, every step, and every movement had to be gentle, elegant, and alluring. We had to be capable of capturing a man's soul to be considered a competent geisha. Those were times of constant warfare, and Japan was plagued by disasters. Although I served the Tokugawa Shogunate, I was not always by the Shogun's side. Whenever I heard news of which region the Shogun intended to attack, I would use my connections to prioritize notifying the villages along the march routes and the front lines. I hoped that the people could evacuate early to minimize casualties. Many villagers were spared because of this, though the movement of residents inevitably drew the attention of enemy forces.

The Price of Compassion

Eventually, the enemy realized that information regarding our military movements was leaking. They strategically adjusted their plans based on these routes and engagement sites, which led to our side suffering consecutive defeats and heavy losses. The Shogunate began an internal investigation into the source of the leaks. The villagers' evacuations and the compromised routes were quickly discovered, and several of my key informants and messengers were captured. After intense interrogation, they revealed my involvement.

I knew this day would come, but I felt no regret. I was born in a village ravaged by war, where the entire community was consumed by flames. I was separated from my parents and their fate remains unknown to this day. I was adopted by a member of the Shogunate and raised as a geisha. I always felt a sense of gratitude; after all, for a young woman to survive in such a chaotic world, and even to protect herself, was a great stroke of luck. I dared not ask for more. Yet, every time I saw war consume another village, it reminded me of how many people would be left homeless like me, and how few would be as fortunate. Thus, whenever I obtained intelligence—whether overheard from high-ranking officials after they had been drinking, or reported to me by others—I would disseminate the information through various channels, hoping only that everyone might be spared.

The Final Fire

After the intelligence leak was exposed, I was arrested. The Shogunate officials were furious and charged me with treason and collaborating with the enemy. After holding me in a dungeon, they brought me to a village along the march route during a campaign. This time, the enemy village had not received any warning, and they had no time to flee. I was bound tightly inside a house in the village. Soon, after the army had finished looting all the valuables and property, they began to burn the village. I could not escape from the house. It was just like the village burning I had witnessed twenty years prior. This time, I could not escape, and I perished in the flames.

At that moment, I felt no regret. The fire closing in on me only confirmed that my actions were correct. I knew that everything I had done was worth it. To be burned, to be looted, to have one's home destroyed and family torn apart—if I could issue a warning early, how many villagers could be spared from this disaster? They would not have to die such painful deaths, nor would they have to live such painful lives. It was all worth it. I made a vow then: if I ever had the chance, I would continue to protect this land. Wherever there was fire or war, I would go to help. After death, I drifted in the air without any restrictions. I suppose I had become a ghost, but I did not stop. I actively gathered information about wars, constantly notifying residents, and even entering shrines and temples to guide people so they could evacuate early and avoid the ravages of war.

A Mission Across Centuries

Before long, people began to notice these occurrences and collectively referred to me as Amaterasu. Although I held no specific title, since everyone was accustomed to calling me that, I followed along and used the name. I knew that Amaterasu was a common object of faith, and if using that name made people willing to believe and act early, I saw no harm in it. I continued my work in this way for three or four hundred years. Even in modern times, whenever there was a war or a fire anywhere, I would go to help. I could not sense every war or fire, but if I became aware of one, it was likely because we shared a karmic affinity.

Just recently, I learned that a massive fire would occur near southern China. As the time drew near, the date, location, and scale became increasingly clear. Before the disaster broke out, I was already waiting at Wang Fuk Court. Actually, it was not just waiting; I had already begun communicating with various spirits and beings in the human realm, hoping they would temporarily leave Wang Fuk Court that day. Those who needed to work should go to work, those who needed to attend school should go to school, and those staying at home would be better off going out for a walk or a meal to pass the time. As long as they avoided the afternoon hours, there was a high chance they could be spared. After I ran about informing the sentient beings with whom I had a karmic connection, the fire broke out. I remained at the scene to assist in the escape, guiding everyone toward the correct routes, helping them make sound decisions, and keeping the spirits calm. However, as it was a massive collective karma, there were many vengeful spirits present. They surrounded the individuals involved, and I could not get close. I continued to work until the very end, only stopping when the fire was out and the spirits had settled.

The Golden Light of Deliverance

I lingered at Wang Fuk Court, watching the local residents. Many in the human realm were left homeless, their houses burned to the ground and their property reduced to ash. Just as I was wondering how I could help them, a golden light suddenly descended. I asked this light what it was, and in an instant, I knew it was the path to a land of ultimate purity and goodness. My intuition told me the answer lay within that light.

I entered the light and arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This place was incredibly pure and bright. I thought it was a heavenly realm, but a Buddha told me it was a Buddha-land. I was astonished—how could I have entered a Buddha-land? When I was a geisha, I had seen monks, but I had never delved into the Buddha’s teachings. Upon arriving in the Pure Land, I finally realized the greatness of Namo Amituofo. In the Dharma-Nature Land, I saw Namo Amituofo casting golden light to lead spirits from all over the world—even from the most distant regions—into this land.

I was deeply moved. These spirits no longer had to be homeless; they no longer had to suffer. I was filled with admiration. If I had known the Buddha’s teachings four hundred years ago, my efforts would surely have been far more effective than my running about. Seeing the suffering spirits from Wang Fuk Court and the surrounding beings with karmic affinity all being led into the Dharma-Nature Land together, I burst into tears. These beings finally did not have to suffer anymore; this had been my long-held wish.

Finding a True Home

Practitioner Su, with great compassion, invited Namo Amituofo to shine His golden light upon Wang Fuk Court. The range covered a hundred miles in every direction; everything was illuminated by the golden light. It was truly vast and magnificent. After listening to the Dharma at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for a few days, I finally understood: as long as spirits remain in this worldly realm or on Earth, suffering will never cease. Even if I help them once, they will soon encounter new suffering as they are swept away by the flow of karma. Only by leading all beings to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss can they be permanently freed from suffering, becoming like the Buddha, possessing infinite light and infinite life. This, I realized, is the true essence of my vow. I am willing to follow the Ultimate Vow of Namo Amituofo and help sentient beings achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Practitioner Su said that one must first save oneself, so I will practise chanting Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving my drifting soul. Now, I have finally found my home.

Namo Amituofo.

Izawa Yoshiko"