This is a record of an interview with Wang Shichong, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,400 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Ru, on April 18, 2026.
Wang Shichong speaks:
"In my youth, I studied the art of war, mastering the wisdom found in ancient texts. I understood the depths of the human heart and the intricacies of power, always knowing how to align myself with the Emperor's will.
Step by step, I climbed the ranks until I was appointed Chancellor of the Sui Dynasty. Yet, the human heart is never satisfied; I hungered for the sacred throne itself. As the Sui Dynasty descended into tyranny and the Emperor's position became precarious, the people sought to overthrow him. I, too, donned the dragon robes and declared myself Emperor.
But I could not withstand the ferocity of the Prince of Qin. Defeated, I surrendered to the Li family's army, begging for my life before the Emperor, only to be cast into exile in a distant land. Alas, the gathered, and I met my end in a foreign place. Upon death, I was cast directly into the hells, where I suffered for eight hundred years.
When my sentence ended, I was reborn into of a snake. I spent my days hunting and killing, creating countless more , lost in a fog, unable to find a way out. Then, one day, a golden light shone down. It saved me from the serpent's form, and as I sat in stillness within the -Nature Land, I finally remembered who I was: Wang Shichong.
My entire life was a series of schemes and strategies, all for the sake of my own benefit. Only now do I realise the depth of my regret, yet I have no body left to use for atonement. I am a spirit now under the protection of , begging for the Buddha's to guide me to the Western Pure Land, that I may be forever free from the cycle of rebirth."
The Weight of Imperial Ambition
"My life was truly one of extreme highs and lows, filled with grand dreams. But in the end, the throne of an emperor can only be held by one person; it is not for others to decide. Success or failure is often a matter of the times. Perhaps I was simply not cut out to be an emperor; I did not have the destiny to enjoy such a position.
The political climate of that era was always tempting. As a regional warlord and a high-ranking official serving as Chancellor, it was inevitable that I would harbour thoughts of seizing the throne. The tyranny of Emperor Yang of Sui made everyone believe they could replace him, and I, too, prided myself on my capabilities. I believed I could be the master of the world. Alas, the tides of history were not in my favour."
A Life Built on Strategy and Calculation
"I was born into wealth and privilege, well-versed in military strategy. I understood the art of survival and how to navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial court. I was not merely a man of empty appearances; I possessed genuine military strength and knew how to lead troops and plan campaigns. I had even achieved great merit for Emperor Yang of Sui, pacifying many factions, which was the very reason I was able to rise so rapidly.
Perhaps it was my fate to reach only the rank of Chancellor and never the throne. But in those days, everyone had a chance. If I did not seize the moment to fight, my ambitions would never see the light of day. I occupied a region and seized power in the name of the Emperor, a method very similar to that of Li Yuan. Later, in many battles, the Tang army proved unstoppable—it was the inevitable trend of the times. However, if one were to truly compare our abilities, I do not believe I was inferior to anyone in the Li family of the Tang Dynasty. Looking back now, perhaps it was years of success and constant promotion that blinded my true nature, convincing me that I had to conquer the world at any cost.
Yet, what was the truth? If I had not sought the throne and had instead simply gone with the flow to join the next dynasty, perhaps I would not have been exiled and brutally murdered. If I had not harboured such great ambition, if I had not coveted the position of Emperor, and if I had not been jealous of those competing with me, the outcome might have been vastly different."
The Descent into the Hells
"Having spent so long in the imperial court, I knew how to please the Emperor and how to secure military victories. Everything was within my calculations. I had been planning my rise for a long time. Long before Emperor Yang lost the hearts of the people, I had already begun to plan how to replace him. I believed his downfall was only a matter of time, and I had carefully crafted new policies to win the people's trust, hoping to convince them that I was different from the tyrant.
Even though I exhausted every method, the world could see that there was no sincerity behind my actions. I did not truly love the people, nor did I truly respect the wise and virtuous, and I certainly did not want to stand on equal footing with my soldiers. Everything was filled with calculation; it was a habit I had cultivated for a lifetime.
Looking back on my life, it was full of hidden agendas. Every gain and loss was clear in my eyes. I knew how to manipulate people, how to exploit the situation, and how to force those above and below me to act in my favour. If I were to describe myself, I had thoroughly integrated the art of war into my daily life. Everywhere was a battlefield, and everything was a scheme. My first half of life was glorious, but after declaring myself Emperor, I faced constant rebellion. I wanted to fight to the death to maintain my power, but after the surrender of Dou Jiande, the King of Xia, I truly lost the strength to continue.
I surrendered to Li Shimin, begging him to spare my family, and the Prince of Qin did indeed promise me this. Everything was within my calculations; I believed that as a young commander, he would want to build a reputation for benevolence and kindness to be remembered by history, rather than being seen as a brutal, murderous general. The people were already terrified of tyranny and military rule; if the Tang Dynasty were just another military empire, the backlash would have been immense. I counted on this, thinking that by surrendering to Li Shimin, I would surely be spared.
As expected, the Prince of Qin spared my life and had me escorted to the capital. Before Li Yuan, I used the same argument and was indeed spared, only to be exiled. But for all my scheming, I could not calculate that I would encounter an enemy during my exile who would take my life. My life was truly a series of extreme ups and downs, and the final ending was so desolate. Who would have thought that a Chancellor of the Sui Dynasty, who had reached such heights, would fail to become Emperor, be exiled after surrendering, and finally be murdered by an enemy in a foreign land?"
The Cycle of the Serpent
"Such an ending was too heartbreaking for me. Only now, looking back, can I express such lament. After I died, I went straight to the hells to serve my sentence. The term lasted eight hundred years—it was incredibly long. It makes me sigh at the sorrow of life. If I were to face such a tragic end, why was I given such wealth in the beginning? Why was I allowed to dream of the throne, only to be made to experience such a cruel reality?
All these questions were answered before the King of Hell. These were the natural results of karmic cause and effect. Throughout my life, I used every scheme to harm and even kill many people, all to secure my own interests. At the time, I thought I was a master of strategy, integrating it into my life—I considered this the pinnacle of my intelligence. I was very proud of it as I climbed to the position of Chancellor. I never imagined that after death, I would have to suffer in the hells. I never expected that the beings I harmed, the people I killed, and the status I fought so hard to achieve were all nothing but illusions.
I had to pay a heavy price for all of this, which I had never anticipated. Now, I lament: why was life so arduous? I drifted between the Brain-Gouging Hell, the Copper Pillar Hell, and other major hells. I never imagined it would be so severe.
While suffering, my spirit was clouded. I could not distinguish where I was or what kind of punishment I was enduring; I only knew that my entire body was filled with unbearable, ceaseless pain. The sentence lasted eight hundred years. Although I did not know how much time had passed, I had hoped to rest and recover, but instead, I was cast into the animal realm. I became a water snake, surviving in forests and streams. For nearly six hundred years, I could not escape the body of a water snake. I did not understand why I had become such a creature. I knew my fangs were filled with deadly venom, and I often harboured of hatred and ferocity while hunting prey. I, in turn, was hunted by various birds and large animals.
In this repetitive cycle, I continued to be various types of snakes, unable to leave those spaces. Although I was not entirely clear-headed, I knew I could not suppress a sense of anger and hatred. I desperately wanted to escape this predicament, but I knew not how. Then, one day, while I was hunting small animals in the forest, a sudden golden light shone down. I initially ignored it and continued to hunt, but this time, the golden light enveloped my entire body, reaching every minute detail. I had to stop my hunt, looking at the light, wondering why such a scene was occurring."
in the Golden Light
"In an instant, I entered a bright world. Here, I shed the body of the venomous snake and restored my original, pure, and dignified appearance. Although I did not have the imperial robes of my past wealth and glory, this clean, white robe made me feel at peace.
I gradually recalled the past—that was during the Tang Dynasty. I never expected that I had once possessed a human body and had even briefly been an emperor. Yet, I had been defeated in battle, exiled, and finally assassinated. Thinking back on it now, I am filled with such lament and helplessness that I cannot find the words.
Why did I try to seize power for my own selfish gain? Why did I use those military strategies to harm countless beings and ultimately harm myself? After death, descending into the hells only made me more confused; it did not allow me to truly understand the laws of the universe, nor did I understand why everyone was gathered here, or who this Namo Amituofo really was.
After listening to the teachings for several days and weeks, I gradually understood that the human world is merely drifting in the laws of karma and cause and effect, without a goal or direction.
I was a Chancellor, yet in those chaotic times, it only showed that I had empty ambition; I did not truly care for the world, and I was not qualified to be a Chancellor of a nation. One must have virtue, talent, and respect for the wise, and more importantly, understand the Buddha’s teachings, to truly bring stability to the people. My selfishness only earned me eight hundred years of suffering in the hells. All my schemes, all my evil plots, and all the planning I did for my own survival resulted in immeasurable and boundless casualties—this is the karma I must repay."
At this moment, from the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I look back and see Practitioner Su performing large-scale . In every minute space, there are beings connected to me by karmic affinity. When I possessed a human body, I was blind to the suffering of these beings. I did not understand how to save them, nor did I understand the profound importance of studying the Buddha’s teachings to become an awakened being and help others. I was consumed by a singular, dark ambition: to scheme for the throne and claim the title of emperor. Fortunately, Li Shimin defeated me, shattering my dreams of kingship and, in doing so, halting the further creation of my negative karma.
Later, I was exiled and met a brutal end; this was the manifestation of karma. The flower retribution had finally come to collect, and I paid the price with my life. However, the sins I created in that single lifetime are but a tiny fraction compared to the sins I have accumulated over countless kalpas. This realization is a heavy burden, revealing just how deep and profound my sins truly are.
The Weight of a Lifetime of Scheming
This makes me sigh with deep regret. Truly, one should not be born as a human if they are to waste it so completely. Even with the advantages I had—a good education, a mastery of military strategy—I still failed to act with a sincere heart for the sake of all beings. I only knew how to calculate for my own benefit. It was this endless scheming and cold-hearted calculation that cast me into the hells and eventually forced me into the body of a snake to suffer my retribution.
I am profoundly grateful to have encountered the Buddhist education of Amitabha Buddha now. Here, in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I weep and repent, desperately hoping to make amends for my sins. However, the reality is a bitter pill to swallow: I have harmed too many people, and I no longer possess a human body. My opportunities to make amends and actively help beings are now extremely limited.
I failed to seize the opportunity when I had a human body to serve the civilians of the Sui Dynasty with all my heart, nor did I fully let go of my ego to join the Tang Dynasty and serve the people there. I did neither; I only wanted to be king for my own selfish gain. After suffering for so long in the animal realm, I have deeply realized the importance of saving the world and delivering beings. It is exactly as Practitioner Su says: if one cannot save the world, the negative karma created in a lifetime is immeasurable and boundless—how could one ever hope to repay it?
The Preciousness of the Human Body
This life was my last, and that is indeed the truth. Having been a water snake for so long, I finally had the chance to escape. If not for Practitioner Su’s Ultimate Vow to save beings like us, who knows how much longer I would have remained a water snake? Who could guarantee that I wouldn't have continued to attack all things in heaven and earth due to my own evil habits? If I had caused more people to die from my venom, my sins would have only increased. In the animal realm, I had to hunt and kill many animals every day, which also added to my immeasurable and boundless killing karma.
This human body is truly precious. If one can obtain a human body, follow Amitabha Buddha to study the Buddha’s teachings, and follow Amitabha Buddha to save beings, that is the happiest life possible—far more magnificent than the status of an emperor. I see this clearly now, though it has taken an eternity of suffering to reach this understanding. The agony of the snake body, the cold, the hunger, and the constant fear—all of these were the fruits of my own past actions, yet I was too arrogant to see it then.
A Vow to Serve and Repent
I am grateful to Amitabha Buddha and Practitioner Su for saving me and guiding me into the Western Land of Dharma Nature. After seeing the bits and pieces of my past in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I sincerely vow to improve all of this. I do not want to continue in the six realms of rebirth. Yet, at this moment, I have no ability to do anything. I can only beg for the Buddha’s compassionate blessing, so that I, too, may have the chance to join the salvation team, serve the civilians, help beings escape the painful spaces they are in, and help them shed their karmic bodies.
I look upon the world now with a heart filled with remorse. I wish to use my remaining spiritual clarity to warn others: do not follow the path of the ego. Do not let the desire for power blind you to the suffering of others. The cycle of rebirth is a trap of our own making, and only through the compassion of Amitabha Buddha and the guidance of Practitioner Su can we hope to find our way home.
Gratitude to Amitabha Buddha. Gratitude to Practitioner Su.
Wang Shichong.
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