The Strategist's Redemption: From Fire Oxen to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Tian Dan, a historical figure from the Warring States period of China, approximately 2,300 years ago. He sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Hai Yuan, on March 9, 2026.

Tian Dan speaks:

"I am currently at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This is a truly extraordinary experience—an interview that transcends the boundaries of time and space.

The Tian Dan everyone knows is the figure who rose to prominence during China's Warring States period. When the State of Qi faced total annihilation, I used the 'Fire Oxen' formation to restore the nation, overcoming a vastly superior force from the State of Yan. That was over two thousand years ago—a truly vast and distant span of time.

The Legend of the Fire Oxen

At that time, the world was divided among the Seven Warring States: Qi, Chu, Qin, Yan, Han, Zhao, and Wei. Qi was once a powerful state, but it was invaded by a coalition of five states led by Yan. Our territory was almost entirely lost, with only the cities of Jimo and Ju remaining. In that moment of life-and-death crisis, I, a member of the Qi royal clan, stepped forward. I employed psychological warfare and strategy, ultimately using the 'Fire Oxen' formation to defeat the Yan army with a smaller force and reclaim our lost lands.

I held the city of Jimo for about three years, maneuvering against the enemy. During this psychological campaign, I gathered over a thousand oxen, tied sharp blades to their horns, and fastened oil-soaked reeds to their tails. I draped the oxen in robes painted with dragon patterns. Under the cover of night, we ignited their tails, and the terrified beasts charged into the Yan camp. Simultaneously, the civilians on the city walls beat drums and shouted at the top of their lungs, striking terror into the hearts of the Yan soldiers. I seized the opportunity to pursue them, reclaiming over seventy cities that had been occupied by Yan in one fell swoop."

A Life of Duty and the Weight of Karma

"With this victory, I earned the joy and trust of the people and the King, and I was appointed Chancellor of Qi. However, I eventually faced suspicion from the court and left Qi. In my later years, I went to the State of Zhao, where I was also highly valued by the King of Zhao and served as Chancellor. During my tenure, I provided many methods for governing the state to the King. At that time, my health was quite good, for which I was grateful to the Heavens. But in my final years, I caught a cold that led to a persistent cough, which I ignored, eventually triggering complications in my chest that led to my passing. I was in the State of Zhao at the time, far from my homeland.

Looking back on that life, I have no regrets. Whether serving as a minor official in my youth or helping to restore the State of Qi, these were my duties. To be loyal to one's post is to fulfill one's obligation. I did my utmost to help restore the nation. Although I passed away in a foreign land, my heart is clear and I have no shame.

After I breathed my last, my spirit went directly to the hells. After all, as a general, I had harmed civilians and earthly creatures. Furthermore, using the Fire Oxen formation to restore the nation caused suffering to the oxen, and for this, I had to face karmic retribution. During the Warring States period, feudal lords rose up everywhere, each claiming to be King. It was a time of 'the victor is the king, the loser is the bandit.' People were deeply affected, and there were truly few days of peace. Fortunately, the King of Hell was compassionate. Considering my loyalty and exceptional strategy—which had prevented many wars and saved many lives—I was granted a reprieve after my sentence was served. After about a thousand years, I was allowed to return to the human world, back to the world of that time."

Witnessing the Flow of History

"By then, dynasties had changed. The State of Qi was gone, and the era of the Seven Warring States was a thing of the past. The Seven Heroes were no more, and the cycle of history made me sigh; the footsteps of history are always moving forward. Although the scenes of my life were vivid in my mind, time and space had shifted. I saw the human world a thousand years later, around the Tang Dynasty. People were living stable lives, and I felt comforted. After all, living in peace and working with contentment is the deepest desire in the hearts of all people.

At that time, I no longer had a human body; I had become a ghost. Yet, that history has been celebrated by future generations. Even today, one can still see many historical stories about it, and it remains a topic of conversation for people in their leisure time.

Even though I was a general and a Chancellor in a grand era, I still felt pity for the common people. Perhaps because the Heavens have a virtue of cherishing life, I was assigned to a divine post—something I never expected. Even so, having studied the teachings of the Confucian and Taoist sages since childhood, I maintained the basic attitudes of respect for teachers and proper conduct, which I still consider my duty."

The Light of Compassion

"During my time in the divine post, I mainly observed the human heart. By watching the changes in dynasties and political affairs, I could understand whether the leaders were capable and whether the nation would survive. If a nation still had a chance to survive, I could provide assistance through divine power—which meant giving timely guidance or protection. This observation and protection lasted for another thousand years.

Until one day, suddenly, a ray of light shone into the divine space where I resided. There were many people in this space, and it was also a nation; the people in that space could feel the gentleness and compassion of this light. Afterward, I was directly guided by the Buddha-light to this place—the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

This transition of time and space was quite dramatic. In a very short time, I moved from the space I occupied in mainland China to the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, 2,300 years later. Here, I took a very short time to understand the current situation and found that this is a very peaceful and bright place.

The era of the Seven Warring States did not have the Buddha’s teachings, but now, I am here with many ghosts and spirits who were guided by the Buddha-light to the Western Dharma-Nature Land, all receiving the illumination of the Buddha-light together."

The Truth of Self-Nature

"When I was serving in my divine post, I knew that in the progression of history, the Buddha’s teachings entered China during the Eastern Han Dynasty and flourished there. But now, the place where I am—this land of the Pure Land—is in Australia, so far from China. This shift in time and space fills me with gratitude and mixed emotions.

The various events I encountered in the past ultimately verified one truth: the laws of karma and cause and effect. The wars of that time indeed caused me to suffer the corresponding karmic retribution of the hells; however, the opportunity for salvation during my time as a spirit was due to the magnificent vow of Practitioner Su and the compassionate guidance of Namo Amituofo, who delivers the beings and spirits within the five thousand years of Chinese history.

Recently, in the interviews with famous figures from China's five-thousand-year history conducted by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I was named by Namo Amituofo to be interviewed, and I recounted the history of my restoration of Qi from 2,300 years ago. The past is vivid, yet the time and the dynasty are different.

Amidst the truths and falsehoods of history and life, I listened to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks in the Western Dharma-Nature Land and only then realised the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. I learned that every being possesses a 'true self' or 'self-nature.' This is extremely important; it provided me with the answer in my search for Truth. It turns out that the self-nature is something that every person and every being in the six realms of existence possesses."

A New Hope for Enlightenment

"As a spirit in the spiritual realms (one of the six realms), being able to be guided by Namo Amituofo to this place, to listen to the Sutras, hear the Dharma, learn the great Dharma of attaining Buddhahood in the Pure Land, and participate in the temple's chanting, prostrations, recitation of the Sutras, and the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies is a blessing. At the same time, I have seen the scenes of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su delivering sentient beings and demon crowds; it is truly inconceivable. This is a higher level of spiritual learning, an elevation of spiritual life, which has given me a new hope.

I believe that here, I will practise diligently. Especially since I have come to know the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, which is the Pure Land in the hearts of all beings. Because Namo Amituofo is residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, any being who comes here, as long as they make a vow to chant 'Namo Amituofo' and are guided by the Buddha-light, has the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

All of these things are what I have learned after listening to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I have no doubts; I believe it is all true. Because here, during the Dharma assemblies, I have witnessed with my own eyes the scenes of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su performing deliverance. Even celestial beings from the heavenly realms and beings from higher spiritual levels, such as Arhats of the Four Sacred Realms, have come here to seek deliverance from Namo Amituofo. Arhats were mentioned in the Taoist texts of my time, but now I have seen them with my own eyes.

'Hearing is not as good as seeing; seeing is not as good as personal verification.' Seeing this with my own eyes has made my heart very stable and peaceful. I will continue to receive education in the Buddha’s teachings in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, rediscover the brilliance of life, and have the day when I find my self-nature again.

Finding my self-nature is my current goal. This does not require starting wars, using any military force, or causing casualties. It only requires purification and looking inward to find it. Being in such a magnificent environment, I have this wish. I believe that in my past spiritual life, I must have had a profound Dharma affinity with Namo Amituofo or Practitioner Su, which is why the causal conditions for me to be saved by them and to come here have occurred.

I am deeply grateful for this connection that has occurred in my life. Today, I take this opportunity to express my infinite gratitude: gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to the founder of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and gratitude to Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. We can all see the venerable image of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and see that he is always guarding the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is truly a precious land that can lead everyone to the ideal kingdom in their hearts—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—which is the only hope for all beings to leave suffering behind and gain happiness.

Because this is true not only for the spiritual realms but also for the human world. Through today's interview, I sincerely hope that those who have the karmic affinity to see this article will believe my words and be able to visit the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek the Dharma. Then, you will surely have a different realisation and an opportunity for spiritual purification. I hope that everyone will eventually have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is also my greatest wish and hope at this moment.

Namo Amituofo.

Tian Dan of the State of Qi, Warring States Period"