This is a record of an interview with Yang Yuhuan, known historically as Yang Guifei, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Nature. This account reflects upon her life approximately 1,400 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 2, 2026.
Yang Guifei speaks:
". I am Yang Guifei, a name known to every Chinese person, though I prefer to be called Yuhuan. That was my given name, the one my parents used when they held me in their palms. It symbolises the pure, clean heart I possessed in my youth. In those days, I was surrounded by the love of my family, and my life was adorned with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. My parents raised my sisters and me to be elegant young ladies of a noble household. We knew little of the world outside our gates, living together in harmony and . I once thought that life was the beginning of a beautiful dream, full of hope for the future. I never imagined it would be the shortest period of happiness I would ever know. Back then, I was innocent, lively, and free—those were the best years of my life, which I would look back upon for centuries to come."
The Burden of a Historical Name
"My life is like an open book, read and analysed by people for over a thousand years. They mock me, admire me, laugh at me, or curse me—none of it matters to me now. Every feature of my face, every smile I once wore, has become fodder for the pens of poets and writers throughout history. Ha! I, Yang Yuhuan, cannot help but sigh. The world cares far more about beauty and ugliness than it does about good and evil. For those who were loyal and righteous, serving their country and people, future generations offer prostrations and honours, even making films to commemorate their spirit. Yet, I, who was merely trained in music and dance and possessed a bit of what people call 'peerless beauty,' have received such relentless attention. The number of films made about my story is countless. I feel ashamed—what did I actually accomplish?"
Caught in the Vortex of Power
"My life became a series of tragedies the moment I stepped out of my home in Shu. I never intended to enter the palace, but once I did, I was held fast by a demonic attraction, unable to stop. I tried to escape many times, only to be brought back, again and again, forming a life of alternating joy and sorrow. I first married the Crown Prince and spent a few relatively peaceful years, but I was never truly happy. I had to cater to my husband and constantly watch the expressions of others. The palace was not a place where I could do as I pleased; every step was like walking on thin ice. It is a world dominated by the relationships between men and women—complex, helpless, and driven by desire and power. The longer I stayed, the more I saw through the joys and sorrows, the bitterness and sweetness of the human world. By my twenties, I had no expectations for the future; I only hoped to bring some honour and joy to my family back home. As for myself, it seemed not to matter anymore."
A Pawn in the Game of Desire
"Then, I was married off again—this time to the Crown Prince’s father, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, a man already past his prime. Whether I was happy or sad no longer mattered; I was helpless. Yet, it was from this point that my own ambition began to unfold. Before the marriage, I was even forced to become a Taoist nun to cover up the scandal of the Emperor marrying his own daughter-in-law. Everyone knows the story of how I became the sole object of his affection. At his age, having experienced so many ups and downs, he sought me as his refuge. Whether for desire or spiritual comfort, he neglected the affairs of state because of me, ignoring the prosperity he had worked so hard to build. He cast the fate of the nation aside, wanting only to enjoy his final years. Men have always been this way—willing to abandon everything for a woman, even the golden age they laboured to create. I understood this in my heart, and I told myself not to become a 'femme fatale' who ruins a nation. But the situation was what it was. My internal conflict, coupled with the swelling of desire and power, led me further and further away from who I truly was. I became numb to joy and sorrow, like a puppet controlled by others. My actions were often beyond my own control. I never longed for power or the feeling of being superior when I was young, but I became addicted to it, as if it were only natural. I had to be the Emperor’s favourite consort, even though I felt no love or true reliance on him. My heart was empty and helpless."
"Later, I met my end at the place everyone knows as Mawei Station. It was under the pressure of the situation that Emperor Xuanzong issued the decree for my death. From the moment I entered the palace to the moment of my execution, a mere twenty years had passed, and just like that, my life reached its conclusion. After I died, I descended directly into the hells, where I endured the most excruciating . Whether it was the heart-gouging hell or the iron bed hell, the days spent in those realms were filled with such intense, unbearable suffering. My heart was torn apart by agony. Yet, despite the overwhelming pain, a seed of repentance began to sprout within me. I knew I had been wrong, and I was willing to accept my punishment. I knew that so many others had suffered because of me, and I dared not argue for myself. Deep within my soul, there was nothing but profound regret and helplessness, a desperate longing for it all to end. This inner torment lasted for a very, very long time."
A Return to a Changed Chang'an
"It was only after nearly a thousand years that I emerged from the hells, still dragging behind me a spirit that was weary, tormented, and deeply unsettled—I continued to exist as a pitiful, wandering ghost. At that time, I returned to the Chang'an of my past. Though it was no longer the same, and no longer the capital of an empire, it somehow felt better than the chaotic, storm-tossed city I remembered. The suffocating, toxic atmosphere of the imperial harem was gone, and the extravagant luxury of the past had vanished, replaced by a sense of simplicity and kindness."
"I drifted along, lost and confused, becoming just one of the countless billions of lonely spirits, indistinguishable from any other. That was until not long ago, when Practitioner Su brought the light of Namo Amituofo to our Chang'an—what you call Xi'an today. The city was bathed in brilliant light, and in an instant, I was reborn. I was purified by the Buddha-light and directly entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This transformation was so sudden, so overwhelming. My heart is now filled with immense gratitude and boundless joy. It is truly an inconceivable miracle!"
The Inconceivable Light of Deliverance
"I still carry the weight of my past guilt, but my heart has begun to turn, slowly and surely, toward the heart of the Buddha—a heart of kindness and . I am filled with awe at the Buddha’s power. I have come to realise that it is only through such a heart, one that is perfectly pure and perfectly good, that such immense power can be unleashed to save so many. The spiritual world as I have come to know it is like this: only through true compassion and goodness can one attain genuine liberation and freedom. Only then can one possess the skills that Practitioner Su demonstrates. Mainland China has endured thousands of years of extraordinary history, and there are so many figures from the past who have finally been given the chance to be reborn. I am truly happy for them. This is something that everyone should cherish and be deeply grateful for."
A Plea to the People of China
"I have witnessed Practitioner Su’s countless manifestations covering the entirety of China to perform Chao Du; it is truly magnificent! People of China, you must believe in the Buddha! Do not dismiss it as mere superstition, for these are the natural laws of the universe, the very principles of existence. We are the most blessed group of people to have the opportunity to receive the Chao Du of Practitioner Su and to have the chance to see the Buddha. I have seen with my own eyes that the environment you live in has become much cleaner following Practitioner Su’s recent mass deliverance. The spirits in the space around you have diminished, which means that the sentient beings attached to your bodies have also decreased. This is a blessing that no amount of money could ever buy! You must cherish this Causal Condition of the Buddha coming into this world. Do not miss this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and end the cycle of samsara forever."
"Namo Amituofo."
"Yang Guifei"
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