The Tea Master’s Triumph and Spiritual Deliverance

Zhang Tiankai, a former tea master from Mingjian, Taiwan, recounts his life journey, his transition into the role of a prison guard in the underworld, and his eventual deliverance to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on May 22, 2021, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, where he sought and received salvation through the compassion of Practitioner Su and the power of Namo Amituofo.

Zhang Tiankai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhang Tiankai, a representative of the prison guards. I am kneeling here alongside fifty-nine other guards to express our deepest, most heartfelt gratitude. We are profoundly thankful to Namo Amituofo, to the compassionate Practitioner Su, and to the venerable monastics and the fourfold assembly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. During this magnificent Dharma assembly, I heard the sacred Buddha-name, Namo Amituofo. Our entire beings were illuminated by the brilliant Buddha-light, and as we beheld the majestic, radiant form of Namo Amituofo, we were moved to tears of joy in the presence of the Buddha. It is a grace beyond words to be here."

A Traditional Life in the Mountains of Mingjian

"I am from Taiwan, specifically from the deep, verdant mountains of the Mingjian township. It is a very simple, rustic countryside where life moves at the pace of the seasons. Most of the houses where we lived were traditional courtyard homes, designed with a deep sense of community so that families could look after one another; it was common for three generations to live under one roof, sharing the joys and burdens of daily existence. In that agricultural society, our traditional belief was that the more people in a family, the more prosperous it would be. Especially for those of us working the land, more hands meant more productivity and a stronger family legacy. In that era, there was a strong preference for sons; if a girl was born, she was expected to learn to cook, clean, and sew, while the men went out to work the fields under the sun and rain."

"My name was chosen by my grandfather. He and my father discussed it for a long time, weighing the significance of every character. Grandfather wanted to name me 'Zhang Tianding' to signify the addition of a son to our lineage, but Father preferred 'Zhang Tiankai' to signify the addition of triumph. Since Father already had four sons and I was the fifth—and there were no daughters—Father said, 'We do not need to add any more sons; let us call him Zhang Tiankai.' Eventually, Grandfather deferred to Father's choice, and I was named Zhang Tiankai. It was a name that would eventually define my entire life's trajectory."

The Gift of Refinement and Order

"My name proved to be quite unique. From the time I was old enough to understand, I was sharper than my four older brothers and possessed a more refined, gentle appearance that set me apart from the typical country folk. Even though I was a boy, my parents seemed to raise me with the same care they might have given a girl. For instance, from the age of five, they taught me how to fold my clothes neatly and put them away—my brothers would just toss theirs aside—and how to keep my belongings orderly. Every time we ate, I was responsible for setting the table. I would always ensure my grandfather's and father's rice bowls were filled before serving my mother, my brothers, and myself. Although my grandmother passed away early, Grandfather often told my father, 'Chunmei is a wonderful daughter-in-law; she knows how to be filial to her father-in-law and how to manage the household.' Whenever the farm work was particularly busy, Mother would prepare snacks for the workers, and the house was always full of life and warmth."

"Grandfather had inherited a vast expanse of hillside land and a large tea plantation from my great-grandfather, all of which he had cultivated through years of hard work. In Mingjian, the mornings are filled with mist and the air is pristine, making it the perfect environment for growing tea. Initially, Grandfather thought that tea cultivation would not require too much manual labour, provided one ensured the plants grew well. However, the harvest was arduous. It required many hands, and the best time to pick the leaves was at dawn, when they were still heavy with dew and had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth. We had to finish the harvest before the sun rose. My parents would always treat the tea-picking girls to snacks before they began. When the pickers were in good spirits, their eyes were sharp, and they could select the finest 'two leaves and a bud.' Once the harvest was brought back, Mother would spread the leaves on bamboo trays to let the moisture evaporate naturally, and Father would use machines to roast them. The roasting process required a delicate balance between 'raw' and 'ripe' tea, and the timing was crucial—it was an art form that relied entirely on accumulated experience to produce the finest flavour."

The Champion Tea Master

"Of course, brewing tea is also a skill. Grandfather was the master; he was always the one responsible for brewing tea for our guests. We had every piece of equipment imaginable—teapots, aroma cups, and fairness pitchers. At our front door, we even had a sign that read: 'Free! Please come in for tea.' We were busy year-round with the drying, roasting, and packaging of our tea. Our reputation grew, and anyone who tasted our tea would inevitably return to buy more. Grandfather boasted that his tea was peerless. He believed that choosing the right variety, understanding the soil and weather, and mastering the manual harvest were the keys to quality. During the harvest season, many aunts would come to help. It was lively and joyful, and I loved it when they cooked red bean soup, mung bean and sweet potato soup, or tea eggs for us to share."

"From Grandfather to Father, our family became known as the 'Oolong Tea Kings.' My brothers and I naturally inherited the family business. As my four older brothers married and established their own tea shops in the busiest parts of the township, Grandfather and Father supported them all. Father often said I was the youngest and the most obedient, so I followed their teachings perfectly in every aspect—from selecting and drying to roasting and tasting. Every spring, there was a tea-tasting competition held at a nearby temple. Growers from all over Mingjian would bring their tea. By looking at the colour of the brew, smelling the aroma, and tasting the sweet aftertaste, one could immediately tell if it was a superior tea."

A Triumph of Spirit and Generosity

"When I turned thirty, Father asked me to take our tea to the competition. The judges were experts; they could tell by the curl of the roasted leaves whether the heat had been applied correctly. After tasting, they were certain which batch was the champion. My Oolong tea received unanimous acclaim. I was awarded the title of Champion Oolong Tea, along with two large banners: 'Superior Oolong Tea' and 'Champion Oolong Tea.' When I returned with those banners, my family was overjoyed. Father said, 'Tiankai, you have returned in triumph.' Grandfather added, 'Naming you Tiankai was right; you have truly brought home the championship.' Because Grandfather and Father had always placed second in previous years, this victory meant everything to us."

"That day, I asked Grandfather and Father for permission to offer free tastings of our champion tea to tourists for one week. They supported the idea. Every day, I brought my tea, brewing equipment, and a barrel of mountain spring water to the temple entrance. I put up a large poster that read: 'Superior Champion Tea, Free for Everyone,' with a large thumb-up drawn beside it. At first, tourists were hesitant, but once a few tried it, they called their friends over. They waited patiently for me to brew for them. Strangely enough, even though I only intended to create good affinities with people, the sales that day exceeded our income for the previous six months! Grandfather and Father were delighted and praised the strategy."

A Life of Service and the Call to the Pure Land

"Although I was thirty, I had no interest in marriage. Even when the tea-picking girls tried to strike up a conversation, I would just smile and walk away. My family never pressured me. I lived a very free life, spending my days tending to the tea plants and walking back from the temple as exercise. Because I had won the championship, I became even more diligent. I won the championship for ten consecutive years, and our shop was filled with trophies. One day, a young man in his early thirties asked to be my apprentice. Seeing his sincerity, I took him under my wing, teaching him everything from cultivation to the art of lecturing on tea. For five years, we travelled across the country sharing our knowledge. Because of our fame, we were welcomed everywhere by farmers' associations. We helped many people start their own plantations and improve their soil and drainage. We helped make Taiwanese tea a hot topic, and I was even invited to Japan to share my experience."

"When I returned home, Father said, 'Tiankai! This is a true triumph. You have returned from Japan to Taiwan, and you have finally brought honour to your father.' While I was busy sharing my knowledge, I truly realised that helping others was the greatest joy. It was the most meaningful thing in my life. Shortly after I returned from Japan, I brought back some tea gifted to me by the Japanese. Grandfather drank it happily, and that evening, he passed away peacefully in his chair. Father said that Grandfather must have been thinking that his grandson had finally brought glory to the nation."

"After Grandfather passed, I reflected on what he had taught me: to have a big heart, to help those in need, and to maintain our tradition of 'Free Tea for All.' I kept that spirit alive, setting up over a dozen free tea stations at major intersections in Mingjian. My parents eventually moved in with my brothers to help with their grandchildren, but I continued my work. I lived until I was forty-five. One winter night, I was lying in my warm bed and drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, I heard a voice: 'Zhang Tiankai, Zhang Tiankai, wake up! The debt of gratitude you owed has been repaid. Now, come back with me.' I woke up to find two officials leading me before the King of the First Hall of Hell. The King said, 'Zhang Tiankai, before you became a prison guard, you said there was one thing left to do—to save your grandfather. Now, because your grandfather did many good deeds and helped the poor in his life, he has already ascended to the Heavenly Realm. You have returned, and you have successfully counselled others to stop doing evil and to think of others with a good heart.'"

"The King then showed me a vision of all the travellers who had benefited from the tea I provided, explaining that it was because of this merit that I had the blessings to serve as a prison guard. I served in that role for five years with a sincere heart, always earnestly advising the beings in the First Hall to turn away from evil. The King then told me, 'Practitioner Su from the human world brings sixty prison guards to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss during every Dharma assembly. This is a rare and magnificent opportunity. Zhang Tiankai, you have earned this chance; you must grasp it firmly.' I thanked the King for this opportunity. When I arrived at the Dharma assembly, I realised that this Practitioner Su was the very same one who chanted the Buddha-name in the hells every day, leading countless beings out of the sea of suffering and into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so familiar with the name of Namo Amituofo. Seeing the assembly filled with spirits and watching Practitioner Su's Dharma Body guiding each guard to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am filled with gratitude. I am grateful to the compassionate Namo Amituofo, and I am grateful to the compassionate Practitioner Su."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Zhang Tiankai"