Interview with Ye Jiaying (A Master of Classical Chinese Literature)

Summary: Throughout her life, Ye Jiaying endured the pain of displacement and bereavement, yet she countered fate with the resilient "beauty of weak virtue," eventually becoming an internationally renowned master of classical literature. She taught at prestigious institutions in the East and West, including National Taiwan University, Peking University, Fudan University, Harvard University, and the University of British Columbia (UBC), and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In her later years, she donated her life savings of over ten million yuan, dedicating her century-long life and efforts to the inheritance of classical poetry education.

Interviewer: Fa Ning

July 10, 2026

Ye Jiaying:

The beauty of poetry lies in the heart of the poet. I have always deeply explored the human heart and believe that everything described in poetry should be helpful to society; this is my understanding of poetry.

Walking through this life, as a master of classical literature in the eyes of many, I have also been called the "Daughter of Poetry." This name, given my lifelong love for poetry, is actually not an exaggeration; I truly am the daughter of poetry.

Until now, I no longer wish to be the daughter of poetry. I have been in the Western Land of Dharma Nature for over a month. I want to tell everyone that the former Ye Jiaying is now "a good child of Namo Amituofo." It is not that I do not want to be a woman; I am simply "a good child of Namo Amituofo." Is this title not wonderful? Compared to the former "Daughter of Poetry," it is surely a great elevation.

You may not be unfamiliar with me, as I have a deep foundation of support on both sides of the strait, whether in mainland China or Taiwan. Throughout my life of displacement, I have travelled to many places to give lectures, and what I spoke of was poetry—the beauty of classical literature.

Now that I am in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I realise that a single "Namo Amituofo" can encompass all Wisdom (Prajna), which is something the world of poetry could never achieve.

One reason I poured my whole life into poetry was that I experienced too much pain:

In my youth, my mother passed away and my father was arrested. At that time, I devoted my heart and soul to writing poetry, letting it anaesthetise me so I could forget all the pain. Later, I followed my husband to Taiwan to put down roots, thinking I could live a good life, but I encountered the White Terror of that time. My husband was soon arrested and imprisoned, and my two young daughters and I were also arrested and imprisoned. After being released, my husband’s temperament changed drastically; he became very irritable, and we could not get along or communicate well.

This was truly suffering upon suffering! Throughout my life, when experiencing these pains, I relied on poetry to comfort my Body-Mind-Spirit. I was able to accept that this was the arrangement of fate, perhaps I had to experience such pain to have better growth; this was the comfort I gave myself at the time.

Therefore, I wrote a vast amount of poetry throughout my life, allowing myself to grow in adversity, continuing to do what I loved, and continuing to teach classes, which was one of my greatest interests. This is also why I always had so many students and why my classrooms were always packed. Because I taught earnestly, sincerely passing on the knowledge I knew, and I could express the beauty of the artistic conception in poetry in a vivid and interesting way, hoping that everyone could use these poems to make their lives more peaceful and smooth.

When I was in Taiwan, I taught at National Taiwan University, Tamkang University, and Fu Jen Catholic University. Later, I moved to the United States, teaching at Harvard University, the University of British Columbia in Canada, and Michigan State University. At the time, I did not expect that the charm of poetry could transcend national borders and attract students from overseas. These students were also still interested in this power that could heal people. Whether they were locals or foreigners, there were indeed many who liked my courses, so I was soon able to spread poetry and classical Chinese literature everywhere and carry it forward.

My understanding of poetry is that I hope the beauty of human nature depicted in it, or all the good things, can be expressed through poetry in a more subtle, elegant, and perfect way, telling the world the ultimate beauty in people's hearts through poetry. This might help people heal their Body-Mind-Spirit in times of suffering, let them receive comfort, and walk out of their predicaments. This is my own understanding of poetry, and I have also taught my students according to this philosophy.

Later, I knew that after the motherland had experienced a series of internal and external troubles, I returned to China in the early eighties. At this time, the country had undergone many changes, and of course, the Cultural Revolution was also a very painful experience. People had smashed the good things of our ancestors to pieces, abandoning them in a way that was heartbreaking. I felt heartbroken about this at the time. Therefore, I was determined to carry forward the beautiful traditional culture of China and not let this gap become more serious.

Therefore, although I experienced the pain of losing my daughter at that time—my eldest daughter and son-in-law both died in a car accident shortly after they were married—I was in unspeakable pain and wrote many poems to commemorate them. I also relied on poetry to express my feelings to get through this difficulty.

When I returned to China, I saw that the study of classical culture in the country had fallen to such a level, and I felt very emotional. So, I reintegrated my strength, wanting to revitalise these studies and promote traditional culture. Later, I taught at several Chinese universities, such as Peking University, Fudan University, Sichuan University, and Nankai University. Each time, many students packed the lecture halls. Although everyone came from different departments and studied different subjects, in their spare time, they still had a very strong desire for poetry, hoping that all this could help them find a little peace and comfort in their busy and chaotic lives. This sounds like a very good thing!

However, now that I have come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I see through all of this and realise that those of us who used to do poetry were actually still unable to leave this "false body," which is this fake physical body. Practitioner Su often mentions the two words "false body" when giving lectures, and I have truly taken it to heart. I know that although I spent this life in a field I loved, enjoying much and experiencing much of life's pain, I thought poetry could help me achieve spiritual elevation. Now I know that I was always trapped in the body and did not leave it; this is something I did not know before.

When I left the human world, I was one hundred years old, which can be considered very complete. After leaving the human world, I immediately entered the space of poetry, continuing to write and recite poems, as if I had never left the human world. For more than a year, I have been in this space, thinking it was real, not knowing that it was actually just a dream. Everything in the dream looked very real, no different from when I was alive.

Later, when a light shone on me and called the name Ye Jiaying, I suddenly detached from this space and arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, this Buddha-land; it was truly astonishing! In an instant, I had not yet had time to adapt, but I knew that I had left the space I was in and arrived at a better place; this is the only thing I can confirm.

After slowly purifying on the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have a deeper understanding of this place, and I also know that only by following Namo Amituofo to learn Buddhist education can one achieve spiritual elevation, which is not something that can be achieved by just reciting and reading poetry. Now that I understand, my heart is more settled and at peace. This is truly very different from the feeling of writing poetry before.

Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are very compassionate, educating us on how to elevate our spirit and step by step walk towards the path of becoming a Buddha. I have now made becoming a Buddha my goal, because I have seen through the joys and sorrows, the bitterness and sweetness of the human world. I have experienced too much in this life; it is truly so painful, and I do not want to do it again. If life were to come again, and I had to experience so much pain, and the pain of being separated from family, that would really not be an easy thing.

Even if I lived as long as I did, to a hundred years old, and was respected by everyone, and everyone liked my classes, so what? Does the heart not still have to experience pain time and time again? And I was unable to lead the world to spiritual liberation, to no longer suffer the pain of separation. If people learn Buddha’s teachings, they can certainly get better answers. If poetry is only a superficial healing, then I must say that Buddhist education provides a method for leaving suffering and gaining happiness that is truly deep within the heart and rooted in the heart. This is what is important, not the superficial things that can be expressed by the embellishment of poetry. I finally understand the greatness of Buddha’s teachings!

Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su have established the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Western Land of Dharma Nature; they are truly very great. In their hearts, there are only beings, no "self." They only think about how to let beings leave suffering and gain happiness, never thinking about anything for themselves, nor do they need to. Because their hearts are already empty, without any miscellaneous thoughts, they act wholeheartedly for the sake of beings. Such a good thing, I want to share with everyone today.

My students, Ye Jiaying’s students, can be said to be all over the world, very numerous. If my students can realise this, that would be truly wonderful. Everyone is attached to the beauty and artistic conception of poetry, but they do not know that only by leaving all of this and learning Buddhist education can one truly achieve spiritual elevation and obtain eternal happiness and peace of mind, and this is what is real!

Finally, I still have such a good opportunity to detach from the feelings of the "false body" and achieve true and ultimate perfection. Although I have not yet reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and am still in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I believe that all of this will be achieved in the near future.

Because my heart is very pure, I do not have any delusions in this place. I have integrated the longing and strength I had for poetry into this "Namo Amituofo," which is truly magnificent, beautiful, and much more relaxed.

Every time I recite the Buddha-name, I feel the Buddha-name rippling in my heart, purifying every cell, purifying every bit and drop of my whole body. The defilements I have accumulated throughout my many lives have also been well purified.

It turns out that this "Namo Amituofo" has such great power! At first, I was puzzled as to why this Buddha-name could produce such great power. All good words, seemingly perfect phrases, or any decorative language, precious literary works, any poetry and literature passed down from generation to generation since ancient times, and various precious linguistic works, are not as magnificent as the six-character name of "Namo Amituofo," nor do they make one obtain inner purity, perfection, and light.

My heart is now shining! I feel that after the dust on the Western Land of Dharma Nature is removed bit by bit, the light of the heart that shines through is slowly radiating out; this is truly wonderful.

I look forward to the day when this Buddha-name can take me into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I also look forward to attaining Buddhahood in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss as soon as possible, so that I can come to the human world to continue to save my sentient beings with karmic affinity.

Let me tell you, my students, as well as my vast Chinese compatriots, and the students I once had in Taiwan across the sea, how are you all?

I know that everyone is busy and rushing about in the human world, living a life of mediocrity, and it is indeed very painful. But this suffering has no outlet, and people do not know how to resolve it; this is something I can see. I sincerely hope that everyone can come to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. You may not have heard of this name, and that is fine, but today I can introduce this place to you properly.

The Western Land of Dharma Nature where I am now is actually connected to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre; it can be said that they are one, not two, born as one body.

Why do I say this? Because a few years ago, Namo Amituofo truly came to the human world to help Practitioner Su save all beings. This magnificent event is also because Practitioner Su himself is a "Buddha in a physical body," meaning he was originally a Taiwanese person who practised in Taiwan, became an awakened being, and attained Buddhahood. With this skill of attaining Buddhahood, he is able to help all beings perform Chao Du and invite spirits. This also moved Namo Amituofo greatly, so he came to the human world to help immeasurable and boundless beings together with Practitioner Su.

This is happening all over the world; many people do not know it, but it is actually real. If everyone knew that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia has set up Namo Amituofo billboards in many countries around the world, they would know that all of this is true.

Because Amituofo is so compassionate, when beings have a response, the Buddha or Bodhisattva will respond; this is one of the Universal Principles, the Truth, and the Right Way. Practitioner Su himself, relying on his own strength, broke through various obstacles of the body and then attained Buddhahood, carrying so many beings with this body, hoping that all beings can be liberated and leave suffering and gain happiness.

Speaking of which, Practitioner Su is truly magnificent! Looking across the entire world, he is truly the only one who can achieve this. Of course, while Practitioner Su accomplishes all of this, his body actually suffers great pain. Because taking on the suffering of beings is the fundamental vow of every Buddha or Bodhisattva, Practitioner Su has also suffered many attacks from demon crowds in order to bear the suffering for us.

Within this, the physical eyes of people truly cannot see, but in terms of the spirit, although Practitioner Su’s body is very healthy and beautiful, it still encounters many attacks from demon crowds, which causes an impact on his body. Especially when Practitioner Su vigorously performs Chao Du in many places in this world, because people’s spiritual obstacles are deep and heavy, and the Causal Conditions between beings and demon crowds are unwilling to be resolved, although Practitioner Su can block most of the harassment from demon crowds, for a portion of the demon crowds, he truly must communicate with them deeply to resolve their grievances on Earth at this time.

In fact, regarding the demon crowds, all of us in the Western Land of Dharma Nature see this very clearly. These beings are not actually wicked in their behaviour; although they appear very fierce, many of them are actually kind-hearted deep down. It is only because they could not receive education for a time, and under the long-term accumulation of resentment, that they finally erupted and did things that caused them to suffer karmic retribution. Practitioner Su’s human body has suffered countless pains because of the attacks from demon crowds, yet he still persists with such perseverance and fearlessness to continue helping all demon crowds.

Mentioning that my students are spread across the four corners of the world, I almost forgot. What I want to say to them is that although your current lives may be colourful, or perhaps filled with many frustrations and pains, actually, as I look back on my life now from the Western Land of Dharma Nature, although I also lived a life of displacement and unbearable pain, experiencing many days of sorrow and joy, separation and reunion.

However, now in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have come to know that true spiritual elevation is vastly different from the achievements and beauty attained by people in the world. I hope that everyone can come to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and know all the deeds of Namo Amituofo coming to this world; perhaps it will be of great help and insight to your lives.

Because when you grasp the real thing, rather than passing your days in illusion, you can also feel full of strength in the human world. That is the spiritual elevation and satisfaction brought to everyone by Namo Amituofo and all those who have attained Buddhahood. When you no longer need to be concerned about any external objects, and no longer need to worry about all the afflictions of this world, you will certainly be able to see your original face more clearly.

Seeing yourself clearly, you realise that you also have a pure and flawless heart, it is just deeply hidden within, and has not been discovered yet. Now that I truly know the fact that everyone can attain Buddhahood, I am also working even harder to continue to break through myself.

Of course, all of this must wait for me to slowly purify and empty myself even more. The world of emptiness is what everyone should yearn for; this is the real and eternal one. When everyone elevates their spirit, they will no longer be bound by any constraints, nor will they be limited by physical sensations. They will be able to do many things, and furthermore, sacrifice themselves for others, let go of themselves completely, and live for all beings.

Such a good thing, I have encountered it now, and in my heart, I am truly very grateful and also very emotional. Although I only encountered such a good thing after death, being able to come to the Buddha-land is not too late. At least I did not suffer too much pain before coming to this place, and I can also reconnect with people in the world and speak to everyone. This magnificent and beautiful thing truly moves me deeply.

I just mentioned poetry. In the past, poetry made me feel that I could obtain temporary stability and peace within it, entering a state of numbing my own feelings. All of this sounds very beautiful, as if it could help me and heal me, but in fact, it is only temporary. Because the human world is inherently one of being born alone and dying alone, coming alone and going alone; no one can replace anyone to live forever, or be free from any changes of impermanence. This world is inherently impermanent, short-lived, and fleeting. It makes people feel comforted for a moment, but it cannot help people build confidence deep within their Body-Mind-Spirit.

This is the confidence in the Buddha, the confidence in oneself, and the belief that one can leave suffering and gain happiness in this life, and no longer suffer the pain of the six realms of rebirth—all of this was only established after I came to the "Western Land of Dharma Nature".

I tell myself that in my life, I can engage in the same career as the Buddha, and possess a life of immeasurable light and immeasurable life, without having to live days that are sometimes joyful and sometimes sorrowful.

The six realms of rebirth are just like this; no matter how well you live, it is temporary, and no matter how much you suffer, it will pass. Such things, if I had not encountered Buddhist education, I truly would not have been able to see through or let go, and I would not have been able to detach myself from the space I loved and was attached to at that time. I used to think that this journey of life was meant to be lived brilliantly and colourfully; although it was short, as long as it satisfied me, that was enough.

But now, spiritual elevation has allowed me to more deeply realise the meaning of eternity, and I can also help immeasurable and boundless beings; this is the most worthwhile thing to pursue in life. Otherwise, no matter how beautiful worldly affairs are, it is only living for oneself, living for one’s own feelings; it cannot allow oneself to leave suffering, nor can it help all beings attain liberation from suffering.

The Western Land of Dharma Nature is very beautiful, but I know that this is also temporary for me. In the future, when I am reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I will certainly have greater room for development and a higher level of spiritual elevation, and I will use the state I have attained after becoming a Buddha to help more beings. This is my most sincere expectation now, and I also hope to share all of this with all my students.

Gratitude to the compassion of Namo Amituofo, gratitude to the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo

Yeh Chia-ying