The Legacy of the Flame: A Testimony from the Yan Emperor

This is a record of an interview with the Yan Emperor, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, who sought deliverance 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 4,000 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 26, 2026.

The Yan Emperor speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The story of Shennong 'tasting the hundred herbs' in ancient times is a well-known tale. In those days, Shennong was depicted as having the head of an ox and the body of a human—a topic often debated by later generations. I can confirm that this is the truth. Over four thousand years ago, the people of the Huaxia lands were vastly different from those of today. The natural instincts within the true self were highly manifest in the people of that era. In modern terms, many possessed supernatural abilities, and their physical appearances were distinct. Figures like Fuxi and Nuwa, with their human heads and scaled or serpentine bodies, possessed these unique forms to signify their special capabilities. Take Shennong, for example: he could test seventy different poisons on his own body in a single day without dying. By tasting these hundred herbs, he summarized their pharmacological properties and developed herbal medicine. It is clear he was no ordinary human. In those days, dragons were not merely legendary creatures; some dragon clans even served specific tribal leaders, the most famous being the world-renowned Yinglong."

The Title of the Flame

"In truth, the 'Yan Emperor' was not a single individual, but a title for the leader of our Shennong tribe. At that time, many smaller tribes were attached to larger ones. We, the Shennong clan, were arguably the most powerful force, and we governed all the surrounding tribes. The first leader was the legendary 'Shennong' known to history, but every subsequent leader of the Shennong clan was called the 'Yan Emperor.' I was the eighth Yan Emperor, the eighth leader of the Shennong tribe."

"The world knows that the Shennong clan invented 'slash-and-burn' agriculture. In the Stone Age, this was a breakthrough technology. However, slash-and-burn was not just about setting fire to a forest; it required a high degree of observation regarding astronomy and meteorology. One had to possess the ability to predict celestial phenomena and precisely control the fire. This was the specialty of our Shennong tribe—or more accurately, the specialty of those who held the title of Yan Emperor. In our tribe, the position of leader was not passed to one's own descendants, but to those with 'Fire Virtue.' Those who best understood the heavens, the weather, and the flames were given the title of Yan Emperor to lead us. We were born without fear of fire; we felt a deep affinity for it, and we were born with the ability to control it."

The Language of Fire

"After the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre revealed the conditions of the spiritual realms, it is not hard to guess that we were born with the ability to communicate with the fire spirits within the flames. We had a special karmic affinity with fire, and because of this, the flames obeyed us. Through this ability, we could precisely control the spread of fire, which made our agricultural practices possible."

"The first Yan Emperor, Shennong, tasted all those herbs not only to understand their medicinal properties but also to find suitable crops for farming. Before his time, tribes primarily relied on the flesh and blood of animals. While slash-and-burn was a breakthrough, it caused immense harm to the land, the trees, and the creatures living within them. As the Yan Emperor, I knew this, but for the welfare of the Shennong tribe and the many tribes that relied on us, I chose to continue the practice for the sake of our survival."

A Time of Pure Instinct

"Many strange occurrences were common in the Stone Age. People were very simple and pure-hearted. Many of us could read the thoughts of others and naturally understand their perspectives. The concept that all things have a spirit was not strange to us. We tribal leaders could foresee the weather, such as when it would rain, and we could communicate with the spirits related to the climate. Among our people, there were even those who could freely travel to the heavenly realms."

"The Shennong clan of the Yan Emperor and the Xuanyuan clan of the Yellow Emperor were related tribes. After we fought and were defeated, the Yellow Emperor became the leader of the tribal alliance, and we submitted to the Xuanyuan clan. This is why people of the Huaxia lands often call themselves the 'descendants of Yan and Huang.' At that time, there was a young man in our tribe who was incredibly loyal and talented. He was not skilled in controlling fire or predicting the weather, but he had a unique gift for weapons and combat. After our defeat, he felt indignant, especially when the Yellow Emperor sent Yinglong to kill those who resisted or refused to submit. He could no longer tolerate it and led his followers into war against the Yellow Emperor. That man was my nephew, Chi You."

The Tragedy of Chi You

"Many have a vivid impression of Chi You in history, but the world does not know that he was once a child who loved his tribe and cherished life. In the Stone Age, many were born with a special affinity for certain types of energy, which we categorized as metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Our Shennong tribe had a high affinity for fire energy and a close connection with fire spirits. This is why our title was 'Yan Emperor.' We usually showed our extraordinary traits from a very young age. My nephew Chi You showed an extraordinary talent for metal energy. When he was born, there were auspicious signs, and I knew he was no ordinary child. I kept him by my side and taught him as best I could."

"In the Stone Age, there was no such thing as ironware. We had no technology to forge it, nor did we ever think of it. Because many of us were spiritually sensitive and understood the laws of nature, we tended to develop our own natural powers rather than relying on external tools."

"One day, the young and hot-blooded Chi You communicated with the metal spirits and learned how to forge iron. I was astonished by this technology, but I also sensed its danger. I constantly reminded Chi You to cherish and respect life. Fortunately, he was kind-hearted and loved the Shennong tribe and our people deeply. When we were the leaders of the era, few dared to challenge us, and no other tribe could compete with us. Thus, Chi You always showed his kind and life-loving side. However, after the Yellow Emperor defeated us, the ferocity in Chi You's bones was triggered. He used his metal-smelting skills to invent various weapons, ushering in an era of metal-based warfare. I felt these weapons were ominous and urged him to stop, but he would no longer listen. He turned his talents toward war."

Deliverance from the Soil

"I felt deeply guilty for Chi You's loss of control and believed I was responsible. I took my own life to apologize. After death, I became the soil of the Huaxia lands. After more than four thousand years, I finally encountered Practitioner Su, who used the Twelve Lights to cover the entire continent. Under Practitioner Su's compassionate Chao Du, I was released from the space of the soil and arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Now, the Yan Emperor is here in the Dharma-Nature Land, bathed in golden light and the faint scent of lotus flowers, accepting this interview."

"Throughout the long history of China, many sages have appeared. Not to mention the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Great Yu, who founded the Xia Dynasty, was a great sage. The Huaxia lands have indeed produced many capable people; the descendants of Yan and Huang are truly blessed. In my era, the use of energy, the performance of rituals, and communication with spirits were all natural—mostly instinctive rather than learned. Later, the world was blessed with the arrival of Shakyamuni Buddha, who brought the Buddha's teachings. This allowed for a clear understanding and concrete methods to develop these instincts to their fullest and even to realize one's true nature. This is truly the vast compassion of the Buddha, giving everyone the opportunity to find their true nature and attain Buddhahood through the practice of the Buddha's teachings."

The Truth Behind the Myths

"For those whose spiritual nature has been elevated, their spiritual body differs from their physical body. In our time, many with high spiritual attainment had spiritual bodies that reflected their state of cultivation. Take Chi You, for example: his spiritual body was human-bodied with ox hooves, horns on his head, and eight arms and eight legs. Many later generations thought this was just a mythological exaggeration, not knowing that for those with 'open eyes,' the spirit and the physical body can appear differently. This is a simple explanation from the Yan Emperor for those who do not understand how to interpret myths that transcend ordinary cognition."

"The education at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre truly reveals the truth of the universe and life. The interviews with spirits have allowed many to learn about the conditions of the spiritual realms that they could not see or know. From a modern scientific perspective, the Stone Age I lived in had no writing, and we used stone or bone weapons—it would be considered extremely backward. Yet, the descriptions in ancient texts are not like that; they contain incredible, legendary content. People often separate history from myth, but they will eventually realize that many records have a basis in reality. Often, because these truths are so distant from modern people, they may not provide concrete help or inspire transformation, so sages who appeared in later generations did not necessarily discuss them. It is only because of Practitioner Su's great vow of compassion to save China that I have this opportunity to speak the truth. These causal conditions are rare and hard to encounter. Those on Earth who meet Practitioner Su are truly blessed and should seize the opportunity to meet a true Buddha and practice diligently."

The Healing Power of Buddha-Light

"In the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I have recovered my original spiritual form. The golden Buddha-light has been shining on my soul. In our extraordinary era, I had never seen such power. More importantly, the Buddha-light manifests a healing and perfect power that has repaired the scars in my soul, making it increasingly complete. This shocks and humbles me. In my time, once a soul was injured, it was almost impossible to repair. But here in the Dharma-Nature Land, I watch Practitioner Su perform mass deliverance for all of China, using the Twelve Golden Lights and the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' to cover the entire country. Countless souls, especially those who were injured, are received into the Western Land of Dharma Nature within the Buddha-light. Their injured souls recover with ease in the infinite energy of the golden light. I have widened my eyes in disbelief; I never knew such inconceivable things existed. If someone with such energy had appeared in our time, he would have been our leader, revered and worshipped by all tribes. We practiced based on spiritual power, yet such a sage never appeared. Now, four thousand years later, such a sage has appeared: Practitioner Su. His physical form is that of a spirited elder, yet his spiritual body can be as large as the sky or as small as dust; he can be one, or he can manifest in countless billions. Using the majestic power of 'Namo Amituofo,' he can heal all wounds of the soul. In my eyes, he is undoubtedly a saviour. It is a pity that few on Earth have heard of Practitioner Su, and even those who have do not realize his preciousness. After four thousand years, people have developed external things to the extreme, but in terms of soul power, spiritual power, or the instincts of the true self, they have fallen far behind. It is a great pity that so few can see the spiritual realms or have developed their instincts, failing to respect and cherish a great sage who only appears once every five thousand years."

The Path to Rebirth

"When I was alive, I chose to sacrifice the creatures of the earth for the sake of the tribes' food problems. Now, in the Dharma-Nature Land, I see that everything has its cause and effect. For four thousand years in the space of the soil, I could see the changes in the world, but my soul could not leave that space. I had no complaints, as every Yan Emperor knew this was the consequence we had to face. However, listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks here, I learned that there is a place called the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. As long as we sincerely chant 'Namo Amituofo,' we can be reborn in the Western Land. There, we lack nothing, and we do not need to harm other creatures to survive. This is truly the best news."

"The compassionate Namo Amituofo is standing on the four hundred acres of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He is so tall and dignified. More importantly, the Buddha is constantly emitting warm golden light that covers every corner of these four hundred acres. This is a miracle I never encountered in my lifetime; this is a true sacred site. Practitioner Su says that as long as one comes to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, one will not die. Seeing the magnificent scenery of this sacred site, I believe it is true. Because Namo Amituofo is here, it represents the power to heal all suffering. In the spiritual realm, no explanation is needed; once you see such immense golden light, no one can help but respect and believe, because it is a direct feeling and shock. We know that the one who emits this golden light can bring a brand-new transformation to our souls."

The Preciousness of the Human Body

"I never realized how precious the human body is. Seeing Practitioner Su, after realizing his true nature, use his human body to manifest countless billions of forms to save immeasurable beings and help countless people, I have for the first time felt a longing for this human body. If I could regain a human body and receive the education of the Buddha's teachings, it would be possible to realize my true nature and attain Buddhahood just like Practitioner Su, to be free from aging, free from illness, and have a spirit that does not die, and truly help all beings."

"Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to Practitioner Su for saving the souls of China that no one else could save in five thousand years!"

"Namo Amituofo."

"The Yan Emperor (One of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors)"