Interview with Xie Fang (One of the "Twenty-Two Great Stars" of New Chinese Cinema)

Synopsis: A highly representative film performing artist of New China and one of the "Twenty-Two Great Stars" of New Chinese Cinema, who captivated the nation in the 1950s and 1960s with an elegant, resilient, and gentle screen presence.

Interviewer: Chief Writer, Venerable Fa Ning

July 19, 2026

Xie Fang:

Namo Amituofo. Life is like a play, and a play is like life. Throughout my life, I, Xie Fang, have always considered myself an actor for the people. The word "star," I feel, is still somewhat distant from me. Because the public enjoys watching movies, I have been loved by everyone for this reason. I have always believed that as an actor, I should serve the people. Actors are born for the audience; without the audience's appreciation, how could an actor exist?

Acting is neither difficult nor easy; it always requires a bit of talent, which I think I have, but I feel it is more about luck. When I encountered a role that suited me, and with the help of many, I was able to interpret the character well. Initially, the role of Lin Daojing in Song of Youth brought me fame and numerous awards. However, when I received the awards, I silently told myself that this path was still very long and that I should walk it firmly. For an actor to become famous, it ultimately depends on their own skills in acting. Whether one is truly a good actor must be tested by time. An award only represents a form of encouragement, encouraging me to continue moving forward on this path. Yet, I understand that I must continue to use a humble and modest heart to walk further on this acting journey.

In this life, I was very fortunate to meet my husband, Zhang Mu, and we supported each other for so many years. I have always been very grateful to have met someone in my life who supported me. Our mutual understanding and similar values allowed me to feel a firm and warm strength amidst this life of impermanence.

However, everything in the human world is ever-changing, and even the best of couples will eventually have to part. I truly did not expect that my husband would be the one to leave this world first. I must say that after my husband, Zhang Mu, passed away, I was deeply affected. Of course, I believe that even if one's heart is full of pain and sorrow, there is no need to wear a sad face at all times. The meaning of suffering is to help oneself become more complete from within; it is absolutely not a medium to seek sympathy or help from the world.

Living in this world, one should produce a positive impact on society and the country. As an actor, one's image is naturally very important. Despite the deep sadness in my heart over my husband's passing, I chose to present my best side to the people, because that is the value of my identity as an actor.

Regarding my identity as an actor, I can say that I have been very dedicated. There is not much I can do in this life, mainly just knowing how to act. Therefore, I have always taken every opportunity to actively participate in various charity performances or charitable activities, using my professional skills to give back to the people and the country, which makes me feel satisfied.

In this short life, I have learned a principle: the value of a person lies in contribution. If a person cannot be of help to others, it can be said that this person has lost their value. A truly useful person must be able to give back to society and the country; this is a realisation I have had in my old age.

Life always has its ups and downs, and even the most beautiful flowers will wither. In my youth, I was indeed full of vitality; but in my old age, looking at my reflection in the mirror, I can still see some familiar contours and traces, but more so, I feel the unfamiliar vicissitudes of life. After arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I finally understood that these signs of aging represent countless spirits with spiritual attachments, and even more, they represent the countless karmic creditors who have awakened within my body.

I only understood that the human body is a vast space after arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature. It turns out that there are so many suffering souls within the human body. Like my past, they once had human bodies; after they died, due to their resentment towards me, they entered my cellular space. This is truly a very sorrowful thing.

Because I heard Practitioner Su teaching the Dharma, I learned that these karmic creditors have actually been with me for a very long time. Every time I obtain a human body, they enter my cells while I am still an infant, waiting to seek revenge.

It turns out that when a person is born, they carry such a heavy responsibility, or one could say, a massive debt. If one does not experience this personally, it is very easy to make mistakes in life's choices. If one is clear about this, one should resolve the conflict with these karmic creditors, or rather, save the countless suffering spirits within one's body, and make this the primary goal of life.

The first thing a person must do is to chant the name "Namo Amituofo." Because this Buddha-name represents the purest and most virtuous energy, no matter what kind of soul it is, when they feel the energy of the Buddha-name, they can receive help to some extent.

Amitabha Buddha is so compassionate, telling everyone to lead the countless cellular beings within their bodies to chant "Namo Amituofo" together. Because this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo" represents all the wisdom of Amitabha Buddha, all the words Amitabha Buddha wishes to say to beings, all the guidance the Buddha provides to lost children, all the compassion, and all the gentle care the Buddha has for suffering spirits—all of this is contained within this Buddha-name.

When your mind is constantly focused on this "Namo Amituofo," it also means that Amitabha Buddha is guiding and teaching the countless cellular beings within your body.

I heard that Amitabha Buddha is the Universal Buddha. At first, I did not quite understand what this meant. But when I saw my benefactor, Practitioner Su, using countless manifestations to perform a grand Chao Du over the entire sky of China, I finally understood the meaning of the Universal Buddha. It turns out that it means every place, every space, and every corner of the world is actually a part of Amitabha Buddha's body.

Why was I able to reach this conclusion? It is because when I saw Practitioner Su performing Chao Du, no matter where Practitioner Su's countless manifestations were, or in what space, as long as they chanted "Namo Amituofo," at that very moment, Amitabha Buddha would appear beside Practitioner Su, firmly providing strength and support, emitting immense golden light, allowing immeasurable and boundless beings to be saved.

And the range that Practitioner Su's countless manifestations can reach is not just our small Earth, but the entire solar system, the Milky Way, the universe, the Dharma Realm, and the void; any place is where Practitioner Su's Dharma Body can reach, and where Practitioner Su's countless manifestations can arrive.

Too many suffering beings have been saved through Practitioner Su's Chao Du. Immeasurable and boundless demon crowds, because Practitioner Su brought Amitabha Buddha to shine great light, have had the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

This pure, bright, and beautiful world of the Western Land of Dharma Nature is the world achieved by Practitioner Su's heart and vows after he realised his true nature—bright, beautiful, pure, and virtuous. All the magnificent merits and dignity of the Land of Dharma Nature actually manifest what Practitioner Su's heart looks like. It is precisely because Practitioner Su's heart is so vast and boundless that the Western Land of Dharma Nature never has a day of being full, no matter how many beings it accommodates. It is because Practitioner Su's heart always radiates golden light that the sky of the Western Land of Dharma Nature shines with eternal golden light 24/7.

The Western Land of Dharma Nature is a transit station to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Because of the existence of the Land of Dharma Nature, countless suffering beings in the world have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is an unprecedented and unseen Buddha-land. Because many beings, even if they are not yet qualified to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, can listen to sutras and hear the Dharma in the Land of Dharma Nature after arriving there through Practitioner Su's Chao Du, and purify their spirits, slowly waiting for the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Since I was a child, I grew up in a Christian family and had a certain understanding of Jesus Christ, so I was not unfamiliar with Heaven. But after arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I was surprised to discover that Jesus Christ actually has a very deep Causal Condition with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and also has a very deep connection with the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

It turns out that Jesus Christ was originally a sage who descended from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to save beings in the world. Later, through various Causal Conditions, he became Jesus, the Son of God the Father. At this very moment, Jesus has returned to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with the help of Practitioner Su. When I learned this news, my heart was filled with Dharma joy, because I believe I have finally found the true Truth.

Currently, in China, there is no true Buddha’s teachings. Because in the overall environment, there are many practical limitations; and of course, it is because there is no practitioner in China today like Practitioner Su who has realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood, and who can truly demonstrate the philosophy of the Dharma to the public without any deviation. This is a very regrettable thing, because the vast China should have a deep connection with the Buddha’s teachings, but now the transmission of the Dharma lineage is effectively severed.

Fortunately, Amitabha Buddha has now come to the world, together with Practitioner Su, to help people in the world recognise what the true Great Dharma is—that is, the true therapy for the heart. It turns out that the Buddha is the Great Physician; what he heals is this heart of ours, and even more, he heals the restless hearts of the countless karmic creditors and beings within our bodies. To truly heal one's own heart and the hearts of the countless cells and beings within is to be the true Great Physician.

It turns out that this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo" is the supreme precious medicine, capable of treating all illnesses in the world. The Buddha came to the world to help people obtain the true benefits of not grow old, not get sick, and the spirit does not die. The key lies in this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo." This Buddha-name may seem like just six simple characters, but it contains all the merits of all Buddhas of the ten directions and three periods of time.

If you still do not understand, I can put it another way: this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo" actually represents the Buddha-heart of every Buddha of the past, present, and future. In fact, the vows made by each Buddha are different, but they are never superior or inferior; they are all equal. The Buddha-heart of every Buddha is always equally sincere, pure, equal, right-awakened, compassionate, bright, and perfect. However, within the same Buddha-heart, the manifested merits are different because the vows each Buddha made to save beings are different. When chanting this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo," it actually means that no matter what kind of being you are, when you hear this Buddha-name, you can benefit from it.

After leaving the world, I entered the heart-gouging hell. I know many people might be very surprised, but I want to tell everyone that the distance between hell and the human world is not far. As long as a single thought violates the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, it is possible to enter hell after death.

While I, Xie Fang, was alive, although I considered myself a good person, I also know that in many instances, I still had my own stance and subjectivity, and I had negative thoughts; I did not truly achieve pure goodness. However, in the Truth, there is truly no room for even the slightest bit of evil or negativity.

Because I failed to thoroughly follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, I went to the heart-gouging hell to suffer punishment after death. This heart felt very, very painful in hell, because my heart was constantly being gouged open, leading to death. This process kept repeating; I wailed incessantly and repented deeply in my heart, because I knew I must have done something wrong, but I truly did not know where the mistake was at the time.

After more than a year, I finally arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature with the help of Practitioner Su from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

When I first arrived at the Land of Dharma Nature, I felt as if I had come to Heaven. After understanding, I learned that it is actually much better than the Heaven described by Christianity. Because here, not only do I have the opportunity to hear the teachings of Amitabha Buddha, the teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and the Dharma talks of Practitioner Su, but I also have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future.

I now understand that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is a world that even Jesus Christ would wish to go to, for it is the highest level and the most magnificent world for the spirit. The inhabitants of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss have immeasurable lifespans, which can be infinitely long and eternal. There, one attains true immortality, and it is a place of ultimate bliss without suffering.

Such a wonderful place, and I, Xie Fang, am actually able to go there! Just thinking about this makes my heart burst with joy, and I cannot help but sing along loudly to the music of the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" emanating from the Dharma-Nature Land, feeling filled with Dharma joy.

While filled with Dharma joy, I also deeply hope that every Chinese person will be able to meet me in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future.

At this moment, from the Dharma-Nature Land, I call upon the Chinese people to quickly come to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. In truth, every one of us Chinese people has the immense potential to attain Buddhahood; after all, the connection between China and the Buddha’s teachings is truly profound. Compared to other countries, our language and cultural heritage allow us to more easily understand the deep meanings within the Buddha’s teachings.

Now that Namo Amituofo has come to this world, it is to help everyone rediscover their true self and even achieve Buddhahood in this very lifetime. If the Chinese people can quickly accept Buddhist education, then everyone will have the opportunity to realise their potential to attain Buddhahood. As long as one more physical Buddha, like Practitioner Su, can attain Buddhahood in the human world, it will represent a great blessing for all of China, and indeed, a great blessing for the entire world.

Illness is indeed a challenge that everyone must face in their physical body, but the world always uses medical treatment or various methods to address the symptoms of illness, without knowing that the root cause of illness lies in problems within the soul.

As it turns out, when one’s mental note, or perhaps an incorrect view or action, goes against the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, it causes one’s soul to be pushed out of the body by karmic creditors or demon crowds. When one’s soul is no longer complete, the physical body will gradually age and become ill. This is the truth about illness: it arises from failing to truly resolve conflicts with karmic creditors; all physical and mental suffering comes from the demands for retribution by the spirits within the body.

Namo Amituofo teaches us to chant the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo"; this Holy Name is the true antidote to all illnesses. If one can firmly chant this Holy Name and lead the countless karmic creditors within the body to chant along, there is an opportunity to truly reconcile with them. If both sides can chant the Buddha’s name until they realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood, it represents the achievement of countless Buddhas.

In the broader environment of China, selfishness, self-protection, and a suspicious mindset are indeed current shortcomings of the Chinese people.

From the Dharma-Nature Land, I see too many Chinese people who, upon seeing others, do not feel a simple desire to help, but instead harbour many calculations, analyses, or judgments. These complex thoughts that naturally arise when seeing others have, in fact, silently created sins.

In reality, according to the Buddha’s teachings, everyone is one. However, the Chinese people today have such strong discriminations towards others, and all of this causes great harm to one’s own soul.

On the path of Truth, there has never been a shred of selfishness or ego. As long as one clings to this "self," or even amplifies this "self," or delights in pursuing everything that the "self" likes, one has already fallen into the traps set by the karmic creditors within the body, or has fallen for the schemes of the demon crowds.

At this moment, I, Xie Fang, offer my most sincere blessings.

I hope every Chinese person can understand that they are also a Buddha—a Buddha who has come to this world to save beings. One comes to this world only to contribute. True contribution does not lie in any form of worldly reward, but in the ability to help oneself, the spirits within one’s body, and even more beings outside, to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The body is actually transient and illusory, while the spirit is long-lasting, real, and neither born nor destroyed. Within the undying spirit exists the undying Buddha-nature. How can one rediscover one’s inherent Buddha-nature? This is what the Buddha came to this world to teach us.

By chanting the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo," you will have the opportunity to help everyone rediscover the wisdom and virtues inherent in themselves, just like a Buddha. At this moment, I also hope that everyone can uphold this Holy Name in the present, deeply believe in Namo Amituofo, and believe in the compassion and goodness within your own heart.

I hope we can all meet in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su.

Xie Fang