The Final Moments in the Wang Fuk Court Fire

This is a record of an interview with Zhang Yuchen, who sought deliverance after perishing in the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. She now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 13, 2025.

Zhang Yuchen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so incredibly happy to be able to join the Namo Amituofo salvation team. In my life, I was a quintessential housewife. My entire world revolved around my husband and my son. I was deeply satisfied with that life; I always felt that the true value of a woman lay in supporting her husband and raising her children. Of course, many modern women might find such a view outdated, but I embraced it with joy. To better care for my home, I gave up my career to become the full-time backbone of our family. Just as a person cannot live without water, a family will eventually fall apart without that gentle, sustaining strength. Hearing me say this, you can probably tell that I was a very traditional woman.

My husband is a doctor. He is incredibly talented and possesses a kind heart that loves to help others, though his work kept him very busy. I managed every aspect of our home with great care so that he could focus entirely on his medical mission. I also put a great deal of effort into my son's education, primarily teaching him life lessons and hoping he would understand the importance of contentment and gratitude—that he might take from society and, in turn, give back to it."

The Unfolding Tragedy

"On the day of the fire, I had just finished exercising at home and was preparing to go out to buy groceries. How could I have known that the moment I opened the door, I would be met with thick smoke and flames at the stairwell? I panicked and rushed to see if the elevator was still working, but I could hear the other residents screaming, 'Fire! There’s a fire!' Clutching my purse, I followed the crowd in a state of absolute terror.

At the scene of the fire, I kept telling myself that I could not die. I had to live for my family, for my child and my husband. But as the saying goes, 'misfortunes never come singly.' I accidentally twisted my ankle. I gritted my teeth and tried to keep moving, but I simply wasn't fast enough. In the end, I could not escape the ruthless, suffocating embrace of the fire."

Reflections from the Dharma-Nature Land

"These past few days in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have calmed down significantly. I have slowly begun to realise how foolish I was in the past, clinging so tightly to the illusory things of this world. My inability to let go of my home was, in truth, because I lacked a sense of inner security. After arriving here and listening to the Dharma, I finally understand that this human body has a profound purpose—it can be used to save countless beings, both human and spirit. I now realise that I should make a vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a place even more magnificent than the Western Dharma-Nature Land where I currently reside.

Here in the Dharma-Nature Land, I can hear the chanting of the Buddha-name at all times. The Buddha-light often shines upon me, and I have discovered that I do not need to do anything or think about anything here. I feel so relaxed. I only need to chant 'Namo Amituofo.' I have never felt such peace in my entire life; I never realised that the Buddha is a presence that brings such profound comfort to the heart. I was astonished to find that as my heart became more stable, I thought less and less about my husband and son. I realised that the emotions and responsibilities I once felt toward my family were not as permanent or unchanging as I had believed."

The Reality of the Fire

"While I was running through the fire, I kept calling my husband and son on my phone. I told my husband, 'There is a massive fire in the building. Do not come back. If I die, it is fine for you to find a new mother for our child, but she must have a kind heart.' The mistress of a house is like the soil of a garden; if the soil is of poor quality, even the tallest tree will eventually wither.

Many people were doing the same thing as me—calling their families or friends in those final moments. I do not really want to dwell on the gruesome details of the fire, but since I see that the Venerable is dedicating merit to me, my ancestors, and my karmic creditors, I will share a little more because you are so kind.

The truth is, there were far too many victims in the Wang Fuk Court fire. As I ran, I frequently saw charred bodies. It was clear that some were adults and others were just children. Some had perished from being consumed by the flames, others were crushed by collapsing ceilings, and some died from smoke inhalation. There were even those who died from falls in the stairwells during the panic. During my escape, I saw people running while completely engulfed in flames. Sometimes, chunks of fire would be blasted through the air by sudden explosions, and people would die simply from being struck by these fireballs. Those people had many different reactions as they died—some died laughing, others died in resentment, many died screaming and wailing, and some could not help but cry out in agony."

A Peaceful Departure

"And how did I die? I closed my eyes and passed away peacefully, with tears in the corners of my eyes. I did not have a very intense reaction because, as a housewife, the state of one's heart is the most important thing. In a family, what I needed to do was to resolve, dissipate, and harmonise the emotions and the magnetic field of the entire environment, rather than agitating it. Watching the soaring flames before me, I held onto my attachment to my husband and child and closed my eyes tightly. I thought that if I closed my eyes, I could at least keep the image of my family clear in my mind; at least that way, I would not feel so lonely in death. The process of being burned by the fire was incredibly painful, and I kept thinking of my family, hoping that it would all end quickly.

I do not know how much time passed before I heard the sound of a chime. I had heard it in temples before, so I recognised it. The power of that chime was incredibly strong. In an instant, a magnificent Buddha appeared in my mind. Yes, because I was still keeping my eyes tightly shut, I saw the Buddha directly within my consciousness. The Buddha radiated brilliant golden light and wore a compassionate smile. After being touched by that light, I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia."

Gratitude and Transformation

"In the Dharma-Nature Land, I naturally calmed down. Over these few days, I have come to know that this Buddha is Namo Amituofo. It was the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo who came to the Wang Fuk Court fire scene, radiated light, and saved Zhang Yuchen. And the one who struck the chime at that moment was Practitioner Su.

I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo, grateful to Practitioner Su, and I thank every Bodhisattva at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Thank you, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, for saving every victim of the Wang Fuk Court fire.

When I first arrived on the lotus seat, I wanted to beg the Buddha to help my husband and son get through all of this. But here in the Dharma-Nature Land, Namo Amituofo constantly shines light upon me, and as I chant 'Namo Amituofo,' I slowly stop thinking about my family. I realise now that having such attachments is a source of such great suffering. I am grateful for this world of light, the Western Dharma-Nature Land, which has allowed me to slowly undergo a complete transformation.

In the Dharma-Nature Land, I can see the situation at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre whenever I wish, including what the people here are doing. As the purification process in the Dharma-Nature Land has continued, when I look back at the moment I died with my eyes closed, I realise that after I perished in the fire, I entered a dark space of consciousness. The temperature inside was very high, and I kept thinking of my family, suffering the consequences of my own karma in that place. It was only when the Buddha-light of Namo Amituofo opened that space that I was finally saved.

I hope my husband and son can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find me. I used to think that my family was my everything, as it was my only goal in life. But after arriving at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and seeing Practitioner Su living every day with such vigilance for the sake of all beings—even while bearing the suffering of others, she still smiles so openly and freely—I realised that a person does not have to live only for themselves; one can live in such a different way. I know this does not sound like something I would have said before, but this entire transformation is because I am now staying in this inconceivable Western Dharma-Nature Land.

Namo Amituofo.

Zhang Yuchen"