The Loyalty of Su Wu: From the Northern Sea to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Su Wu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately 2,000 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 26, 2026.

Su Wu speaks:

"How quickly the years have flown by; two thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. For twenty years I herded sheep in the Northern Sea, always longing for the Han Dynasty, waiting for the day I could return home. In the sunset of my life, I returned to my homeland and encountered many things, constantly reflecting upon the actions of my entire existence. I dared not be careless, nor did I dare to be lazy, for my heart was always tied to the nation, the state, and the people.

Today, I have encountered the Buddha and received the Buddha’s grace. Only now do I realise that the past was not truly real; it was merely my heart’s sincerity and loyalty that allowed me to form this affinity with the Buddha in this present time. The Buddha-light shines throughout the Dharma-realm. Across the vast lands and deep waters of China, many are now encountering the Buddha and moving forward, leaving behind a wealth of records on the deliverance of sentient beings."

A Name Shared in Service

"My name is Su Wu. It is a great honour to share the same surname as Practitioner Su, who is currently conducting large-scale Chao Du across the vast territory of China. I know that in this lifetime, bearing the name Su Wu, I have finally encountered a true teacher. It is Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su who have granted me the opportunity for rebirth. My heart is filled with a gratitude so profound that words cannot express it. Therefore, I have made a vow to achieve enlightenment and repay the Buddha’s kindness. It is just like when I was herding sheep in the Northern Sea and refused to surrender to the Xiongnu; I held a heart that was prepared to be shattered into pieces if it meant I could repay the Han court and my sovereign, Emperor Wu of Han. My feelings and realisations today are even greater than they were in the past.

Today, as I sit upon the lotus platform in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, being called upon by the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo to accept this interview, my heart is filled with a thousand emotions. I know that my words will once again be shared with the world, so I dare not speak anything but the truth. I must share my personal realisations from before and after encountering the Buddha with all of you. My name has appeared in history for over two thousand years. I lived at the same time as the illustrious Emperor Wu of Han; I was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty and a man of integrity in the eyes of the world. My story began when Emperor Wu of Han bestowed upon me the rank of General of the Household, and it continued until my old age, when I was revered by Emperor Xuan of Han. Yet, the most unforgettable period remains those twenty years spent herding sheep in the Northern Sea."

The Ordeal of the Northern Sea

"At that time, the Xiongnu Chanyu tried to force me to surrender countless times. It was either surrender or exile. Because there were frequent alerts between the Central Plains and the Xiongnu, and because some had rebelled or defected, the atmosphere between the two nations was filled with anxiety. I was sent as an envoy to the Xiongnu to bring our people home, but due to various circumstances, I was detained. The Chanyu wanted to kill me, and I even attempted suicide to prove my resolve, but I failed. After much persuasion, I was exiled to the Northern Sea—the shores of Lake Baikal in modern-day Russia—and began a new life in the true, bitter cold of ice and snow.

I was never afraid, for I knew that my short life was meant to be used in service to my country. Whether I lived or died was not the issue; what was terrifying was the thought of surrendering. That would have been a humiliation for the Su family for generations to come, and a tragedy for the Great Han Dynasty. I did not want to see the two nations at war, with smoke rising from the battlefields, the people suffering, and the innocent caught in the crossfire."

Reflections on a Lifetime of Duty

"The people of China have long regarded me as a man of virtue, a model for future generations. Looking back now, I realise I did not know much. The reason I was able to serve my country was, firstly, because of my father’s excellent reputation as an official, which allowed me to be noticed by the court. Secondly, though I was untalented and unable to do anything to benefit the people of both nations when relations were unstable, I still had this physical body to demonstrate my resolve. This allowed the two nations to endure several decades of peace until the next emperor ascended the throne, reopened negotiations with the Chanyu, and gave me the chance to return home.

During those twenty years, I experienced many ups and downs. Sometimes there was news that I could return, but it was never true. My state of mind went through many processes, but my firm heart and vow remained as unshakeable as the Han staff I held in my hand. My heart grew more stable as I understood my purpose. In the hardest times, I could only dig for wild fruits to eat, consuming the same food as the wild rodents. Fortunately, my heart was not bitter. I knew clearly what I was doing in this life. Before I was sent to the Xiongnu, I had already prepared myself to face death and die in a foreign land. So, although I could not bear to leave my family, I did not miss them with excessive sorrow."

The Choice of a Guardian Spirit

"Twenty years was the golden period of my life. After those twenty years, I returned to the Central Plains with a satisfied heart. By then, Emperor Wu of Han had already passed away. I respectfully offered incense to him, meeting my late master with a heart full of gratitude and promises kept. I had no way to repay his kindness in trusting me. The Han Dynasty was the first century-long dynasty after the unification of China. I was fortunate to serve such a wise ruler. Although my life was filled with both bitterness and joy, it was a fulfilling and satisfied life.

After I died, I met the King of Hell with a peaceful heart. The King of Hell saw that my attitude was sincere and that I had been a person of broad mind who lived for the country and the people. He allowed me to choose whether to be reborn as a human or to become a guardian spirit for the people. I thought to myself: I know the complexities of the human world all too well, and a life of sorrow and joy was not what I desired. Therefore, I chose the latter, hoping that as a spirit, I could continue to silently provide support and strength to the country and the people I cared for so deeply."

Spreading Seeds of Goodness

"Naturally, I continued to spread seeds of goodness and justice within the space I had occupied during my life, and indeed, throughout the entire territory of China. I could see people’s mental notes clearly—their sincerity, their falseness, their good and evil, their purity and their defilements. I understood it all perfectly. Although I could not change their thoughts, I could reduce the harm caused by their actions. My responsibilities were vast: from the Changbai Mountains in the northeast to the Altai Mountains in the northwest, south to Guangzhou and Hainan Island, and west to Tibet. Wherever there were people, there was my presence, only without a physical body, I felt much lighter.

Why, then, did I not ascend to the heavens after a life spent serving the country and the people? Now, looking back at my life as Su Wu from the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I realise that I had not yet severed my attachments. Although I spent nearly twenty years herding sheep in the Northern Sea and thought I was pure and untainted, without too many distractions, I realised upon returning to the world that I had not truly let go of my attachments to family and emotion. This lingering concern affected the quality and clarity of my spirit."

Finding the True Home

"Regardless, after my life was complete, I continued to serve the country and the people without seeking anything in return. The reason I was able to come to this beautiful Buddha-land this time was because I happened to encounter Practitioner Su, who was carrying the twelve lights of Namo Amituofo to the place where I was—Luoyang, Henan—to conduct a large-scale Chao Du. Everything was bathed in brilliant golden light. I was instantly drawn into that golden light and onto the lotus platform in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I had no other thoughts; besides being shocked, I made a vow: if I am to practice, I must practice in a down-to-earth way and truly learn the skills of a Buddha.

This was the first time I truly understood the Buddha. It was different from the Buddhas I knew in the temples of the past. The Buddha here is truly one who has only compassion and no 'self'. Practitioner Su’s act of bearing the suffering of sentient beings on behalf of others makes this clear at a glance. I do not understand the Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidharma, nor do I understand profound Buddha’s teachings, but listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, every word touches the heart. The truths are so profound, yet they are explained through such simple principles. I feel ashamed of my own actions in life, for what I did is still far from the Buddha, but I am also filled with joy and stability, for I have found my home for the future: the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Gratitude to the Buddha

"At this moment, my heart is filled only with gratitude. I am grateful that Namo Amituofo is residing on Earth, and that Practitioner Su, having realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood, has made a vow to save sentient beings far and wide. There are still so many spirits from thousands of years of Chinese history who have the opportunity to be reborn. I have seen the lands I once walked—the long, arduous roads from the Central Plains to the Northern Sea and back—all bearing the traces of Practitioner Su’s deliverance of sentient beings. Many spirits are surprised, astonished, and filled with gratitude and joy.

On behalf of all the spirits across the vast land of China and those along the paths I once travelled, I offer three prostrations of gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Su Wu"