The General's Redemption: From Battlefield to Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Qi Jiguang, a renowned general of the Ming Dynasty who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 438 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Hai Yuan, on March 30, 2026.

Qi Jiguang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qi Jiguang, a general of the Ming Dynasty. During my time, the coastal regions of China were plagued by the relentless incursions of the Wokou pirates. I was entrusted by the Imperial Court with the heavy responsibility of defending our shores and protecting our people from this grave threat.

I was born into a family of military tradition. From my earliest childhood, I witnessed the comings and goings of many distinguished generals; their noble bearing and extraordinary spirit left a deep impression upon my young heart, igniting a fervent aspiration to follow in their footsteps. Under the rigorous tutelage of my father, I gained a profound understanding of military strategy. While I was devoted to the martial arts, I never neglected the literary classics. In the long history of China, our greatest generals were never mere brutes; many were deeply influenced by Confucian principles and even the teachings of the Buddha. This is precisely why, throughout our history, military leaders have been held in such high esteem."

A Life Dedicated to the Defence of the Realm

"During my service, I was most active along the coastlines of Fujian and Zhejiang. The Wokou were exceptionally rampant, and the safety of our coastal communities was under constant siege. For the local people, fishing was their primary livelihood, and their very survival depended on the security of the seas. I made it my life's work to study the minds of these invaders. Though they were physically smaller than our people, they were cunning and treacherous. By meticulously analysing their movements, I discovered that different pirate leaders occupied specific coastal zones, often alternating between gathering in large groups and dispersing into smaller units. Despite their elusive nature, I identified patterns in their lifestyle and timing. By employing the element of surprise and striking when they were least prepared, we were able to achieve decisive victories.

Our primary defensive perimeter spanned the southeast coast—Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. The brutality of the Wokou, who slaughtered and pillaged without mercy, posed an existential threat to the residents. Upon receiving my commission, I recruited local civilians and trained them into the formidable 'Qi Family Army.' Many of these men were themselves victims of the pirates' cruelty, which meant their resolve to defend their homes was unshakable. While the enemy was elusive, our vigilance was far sharper. We understood the maritime terrain intimately, allowing us to surround them from all sides. After years of intense campaigning, we finally quelled the threat that had terrorised our people for over a decade."

The Reality of War and Karmic Retribution

"People often honour me as a 'Great General Who Resisted the Wokou,' but I feel I am unworthy of such praise. Our success was entirely due to the trust and cooperation of the common people. The most critical factor was my development of new military formations designed specifically to counter the Wokou's mastery of the katana and short sword. By using long spears to provide mutual cover, we neutralised their advantages, significantly reducing our own casualties while defeating the enemy. This approach forced the Wokou to submit, not just in battle, but in spirit, ensuring the safety of our coastal regions.

I always maintained a clear strategy, tailoring my training methods to the specific terrain and defensive needs of the moment. I was also deeply committed to military theory, authoring numerous treatises that I hoped would serve future generations. Yet, while I protected the people, I could not escape the reality that war is a path of killing. For over a decade, I lived in the harsh, freezing military camps of the north. In my later years, I was ravaged by illness, suffering immensely from lung disease. Looking back on my life, I see that while my duty was to safeguard the nation, the karmic burden of taking lives—even in defence—is profound. In the eyes of the Buddha, my karma was heavy indeed. I have no regrets, for this was my family's legacy and my life's vocation, but the reality of the battlefield—'kill or be killed'—is a brutal truth that leaves an indelible mark on the soul.

I survived the wars, but I could not escape the laws of cause and effect. My final years were filled with physical agony, yet I accepted this as the natural consequence of my actions. I had some exposure to the Buddha's teachings and understood that this was karmic retribution—a life for a life. If my suffering could pay for the countless lives I took, and if it meant the people could live in peace, then I felt I had fulfilled my duty to my life's work."

The Desolation of a Forgotten Hero

"The imperial court was a battlefield of its own. I served my country with absolute loyalty, but after my political patrons passed away, I was marginalised. Despite my clear conscience, I was slandered and demoted on fabricated charges. I understood the nature of the court all too well.

Eventually, I was forced into retirement and returned to my home in Shandong. My final years were desolate. I never sought wealth or fame; my salary was always spent on military supplies or rewarding my soldiers, leaving me penniless. In the end, I had to pawn my own belongings just to pay for medical care. A body that had once served the nation was left to wither in loneliness, with only tears for company. Who could truly understand that profound sense of isolation?

The court treated me with cold indifference, and I passed away in sorrow. Even then, I had no regrets, for the protection of the common people remained my highest priority. My life shows that even when one stands in the light of glory, there are moments of deep darkness. That is the nature of the world. Yet, the integrity and sense of responsibility in my bones sustained me through it all."

The Descent into the Hells

"'A desolate end' is the most accurate description of my final days. When I breathed my last, my connection to the world was severed, but my spirit did not vanish. Looking back, I recall that as I lay dying, I was surrounded by the spirits of the enemy soldiers and pirates I had killed in battle. Some were filled with such fury that they pressed down upon my throat, making it impossible to breathe. My final days were spent in a state of agony, and when my soul finally left my body, I was immediately dragged into the hells by these vengeful spirits.

After being judged by the King of Hell, it was determined that while I had served the nation and protected the people, my merits and demerits were separate. The Law of Cause and Effect is absolute: one must pay for the lives taken. My merits could not cancel out my sins. I was cast into the hells.

I endured the Brain-Gouging Hell: my life was defined by strategy and calculation, and even my military books, while useful to history, were tools of war that required retribution. I then suffered in the Amputation Hell, as my limbs were the instruments used to inflict harm and death upon others. Finally, I was cast into the Eye-Gouging Hell, for I had witnessed the death of my enemies with my own eyes. It was truly suffering beyond words."

A Glimmer of Light in the Ghost Realm

"The King of Hell, acknowledging my service to the nation and my sincere repentance for the killing I had committed, eventually released me. My soul, battered and exhausted, finally found a moment of relief. My first thought was to return to my homeland to see its current state. I returned as a wandering ghost, no longer the majestic general of old, but a spirit scarred by torment. By the time I returned, a century or two had passed.

I witnessed the transition into the Qing Dynasty and saw the people living in peace during its golden age. Later, I saw the arrival of foreign firearms, the devastation of the opium trade, and the eventual collapse of the nation. Then came the Republic, followed by decades of war. Having seen such prosperity, to then witness the nation's ruin was a source of deep, helpless sorrow. I wandered as a ghost, watching the cycle of life and death driven by karma, and I could not help but lament the preciousness of life. What is the true path of life? People's hearts have nowhere to turn.

Later, by the grace of the Heavens, I was appointed as a local guardian spirit. Compared to my time as a wandering ghost, this was a far better existence. I lived day by day in this state."

Finding Peace in the Western Land of Dharma Nature

"One day, I saw golden light flooding the earth. A ray of hope ignited within me. I knew this light had come to save us, to save the lonely spirits. Life in the ghost realm is filled with suffering, and though my position as a guardian spirit had lessened my pain, my longing for the light remained. When that light shone upon me, my instinct was to move towards it.

Upon entering the light, I arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I have been here for nearly seven days, and my heart has found an incomparable peace. I later learned that this light was the Buddha-light of Namo Amituofo. I am filled with such gratitude. Sitting upon a lotus seat, looking out at this world of light, I realise this is the world of the Buddha—the world of Namo Amituofo manifest in the human realm.

Practitioner Su has made a Great Vow to save the spirits of China from the past five thousand years. Through countless manifestations, he leads us into the light of Namo Amituofo. It is only because of this that I am here today, able to share the untold experiences of my life and death. Life is so fleeting, yet the soul must pay a heavy price for its actions. I am so fortunate that through the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, so many Chinese spirits and historical figures have been saved and brought to this pure Buddha-land.

Bathed in the constant radiance of the Buddha-light, we no longer suffer. The past feels like a dream—a dream where good and evil were intertwined, but the memories of suffering were etched into my soul. Here, I often listen to Practitioner Su's lectures. My heart has opened, and I finally understand the vastness and compassion of the Buddha's teachings, which have the power to melt the hearts of suffering spirits. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, I watch as wave after wave of sentient beings flow into the Western Land of Dharma Nature like the tide. I am deeply moved; this is the boundless power of the Dharma, used to save beings and dissolve the suffering of countless spirits.

For five thousand years, so many spirits were left without deliverance. Now, because of the appearance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, they are finally saved. I am filled with gratitude and emotion. Though I was once a general, that martial spirit has vanished, leaving only a soul deeply touched by salvation. I believe that because of my loyalty in life, I was granted this chance to be saved by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and to escape that grey, sorrowful world.

Though serving as a guardian spirit allowed me to enter the light, I was still bound to the earth, watching over many souls. Only now, having entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature, has my heart truly found peace and a place to rely upon.

Namo Amituofo! Namo Amituofo! I am so grateful for your appearance; countless souls have been rescued.

Practitioner Su! Practitioner Su! I am so grateful for your appearance, for creating the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and for giving us lonely spirits a place to go, where our souls no longer suffer.

I look forward to the rebirth of my life. I am diligently following the fourfold assembly in our daily practice—prostrating to the Buddha, chanting Namo Amituofo, and reciting the Sutras each morning without interruption. In this environment, my heart is incredibly calm.

I am so grateful to have encountered Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. They have brought light into my life, giving me a foundation and a path forward. From this day on, I will enter the Buddha's gate, focus on chanting Namo Amituofo, and stop dwelling on the past. I live in the present, and I have made a vow to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This is my current aspiration. I will practise with diligence, relying on the blessings of the Great Compassionate Namo Amituofo, so that I may fulfil this wish.

Namo Amituofo.

Qi Jiguang"