The Tofu Seller’s Journey: An Interview with Jailer Tong Jianhao

This is a record of an interview with Tong Jianhao, a former underworld jailer who sought deliverance through the compassion of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having spent his life as a humble tofu seller and his afterlife serving in the hells, he now shares his journey toward liberation. This interview was recorded on December 4, 2019, by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"Today, we invite Tong Jianhao, representing a group of sixty jailers from the underworld, to share his story before he departs for the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Tong Jianhao and his companions approach Practitioner Su and the assembly to perform three prostrations of deep gratitude."

A Childhood Defined by Loss

Tong Jianhao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Tong Jianhao. From my earliest memories, I was a child without a father or mother. They both perished in a tragic boating accident when I was very young. It was a day like any other—they had gone out to attend to some business and had entrusted me to the care of my neighbours, a kind-hearted uncle and aunt. They were supposed to return by midday, but they never came back. From that moment on, I became an orphan, and it was this dear couple who raised me as their own. They had no children of their own, so they poured all their love and devotion into me, treating me as if I were born of their own flesh and blood.

My uncle and aunt possessed a secret, ancestral craft: they made the most fragrant, silky, and rich tofu pudding. They would take their wares to the local market to sell. During the festivals, business was at its peak. Travellers returning to their hometowns would always seek out our humble stall to enjoy a bowl or two—it was the quintessential taste of home, a flavour etched into the memories of everyone who grew up in that village."

The Rhythm of a Simple Life

"Naturally, I grew up by my uncle's side, learning the trade. My aunt was responsible for soaking the soybeans and preparing the sweet syrup, the bowls, and the spoons. We would spend our mornings at the market, and in the afternoons, I would walk the streets, calling out, 'Tofu pudding! Fresh tofu pudding is here!' That was the soundtrack of my youth. The neighbours watched me grow from a small child with a high-pitched voice into a man with a deep, resonant tone, yet the call remained the same: 'Tofu pudding! Fresh tofu pudding is here!' I never had grand ambitions. I simply watched how hard my uncle and aunt worked, and in my heart, I made a silent vow: if I ever had the ability to earn more, I would ensure these two elderly souls lived a life of comfort and ease.

I discovered I had a knack for business. I rented a small storefront and began producing more tofu pudding each day. I packaged them in sturdy boxes so that customers in a hurry could grab them and go. With a sincere smile and a warm, welcoming manner, I made every customer feel like an old friend. Tofu pudding is a modest business, but by keeping margins thin and volume high, I thrived. Sometimes, people from the neighbouring village would come to eat, and they would even buy extra bowls to take back to their elderly mothers. If they ordered five bowls or more, I would deliver them personally. My reputation grew, and the business flourished. I saved enough money to renovate our old family home, and eventually, I married and had two children of my own."

A Heart for the Forgotten

"Every day, I made it a point to set aside ten bowls of tofu pudding to deliver to the local orphanage. Because I had been an orphan myself, I knew the profound relief of being cared for by my uncle and aunt. I wanted to extend that same grace to these children. I even taught some of the older orphans our family's secret recipe. Several of them were able to use this skill to earn their own living, and, just as I had done, they began donating their surplus earnings to help the younger children in the orphanage. It was a cycle of kindness that warmed my heart.

I lived until the age of fifty-seven without any major illness. Then, one night, I dreamt of my parents coming to collect me. I felt such immense joy, as if I had been transported back to my childhood, and so I followed them. We lived in the underworld for a time, but eventually, I was summoned to the Yama Court to face judgment. I was processed through the ten courts of hell. Because of my filial piety in this lifetime and my genuine care for the orphans, I was granted the position of a jailer."

Duty and Deliverance

"I would send my monthly salary from my service in the underworld to my parents, who were also there, so that they could live with a little more comfort. My own life was simple; the work in the jail was demanding and kept me busy, so I had no need for money. Days turned into years. After several years of service, I received a notification from above. They told me that because I had been diligent, faithful to my duties, and had consistently counselled the inmates whose sentences were ending to turn towards Goodness, I had been selected for a special honour: I was to be included in the quota of jailers to be delivered to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. I waited for six years for this moment.

In truth, I had received the notification two years prior. However, at that time, my father in the underworld had fallen ill. I petitioned the Yama King of the Sixth Court for leave to care for him, promising to depart only once his condition had stabilised. The Yama King granted my request, and so my departure was delayed by two years. Today, that wish has finally been fulfilled. I am finally going to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I am filled with gratitude. I thank Namo Amituofo. I thank Practitioner Su. I thank everyone here."

Tong Jianhao and the sixty jailers prostrate to express their gratitude for the Buddha's grace.

This interview was recorded by the disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo.