By Huang Xiao-zhe and Cai Yu-xuan
Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
Photos by Huang Xiao-zhe
The bitter, cold wind whipped against my face. Waves crashed relentlessly against the gray breakwater, sending sprays of seawater into the air. Under an ashen, overcast sky, Turtle Island rose clearly in the distance. Amid this stark winter scene, an elderly woman scanned the area with sharp, focused eyes, carefully searching for any recyclable waste. To her, every bottle and piece of plastic was a burden on the environment—and she was there to collect them and ensure they were properly recycled.
Though she appeared small and alone, she carried an inspiring story.
Her name was Chen Xiu-yun (陳秀雲), an 80-year-old Tzu Chi recycling volunteer residing in Toucheng, a coastal town in Yilan County, northeastern Taiwan. I was photographing her on a chilly February day.
I had made an appointment with her by phone before heading out to interview her for Tzu Chi Monthly. She spoke with remarkable eloquence, her voice over the line loud, vibrant, and full of energy. But when she began to share her story, I was stunned. Diagnosed with three different types of cancer after middle age, she was undergoing targeted therapy for late-stage lung cancer. Yet nothing in her voice hinted at illness.
Even more astonishingly, despite the seriousness of her condition, she continued her recycling work with unwavering diligence. I couldn’t help but wonder: Wasn’t she affected by the side effects of treatment? Didn’t she suffer from pain? Most people in her situation would feel overwhelmed, their spirits sinking into despair. So how did she remain so optimistic, so full of positivity? What gave her the strength to face the time she had left with such calm and vitality?
An unshakable spirit
Grandma Xiu-yun rises at 3 a.m. every day. (“Grandma” is a respectful term commonly used in Taiwan to address older women.) She begins each morning by reciting the Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra 200 times each, then offering a prayer of dedication—a Buddhist practice of transferring merit to others. By the time dawn breaks, she’s dressed and ready to go out for her recycling work.
If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it: the elderly woman bent over picking up recyclables along the coast was actually a late-stage cancer patient.
A native of Toucheng, Grandma Xiu-yun feels a deep connection to the land and sea. In 2014, after hearing Dharma Master Cheng Yen encourage people to take up recycling, she became acutely aware of the importance of environmental protection and committed herself fully to the cause. She not only leads by example but has also inspired her family and friends to incorporate recycling into their daily lives.
Though she has endured years of illness and physical pain, she never thinks of herself as a patient. With steady strength, she embraces life’s uncertainties and continues to give of herself, day after day. Her spirit is as enduring as Turtle Island in the distance—calm, resolute, and unshaken.
Scenes along the way
I followed Grandma Xiu-yun that day through the streets of town, watching as she rode her motor scooter—specially outfitted to carry recyclables—from one stop to the next. She made her rounds to homes, hotels, and guesthouses, picking up items people had gathered. The scooter could only carry so much at a time, so she would drop off her load at a nearby recycling point, then return to her route for more. Back and forth she went, repeating the process until everything had been collected.
She also stopped by Wushi Harbor and the nearby coastline, scanning the ground for discarded bottles or cans. Only when the area looked clean would she feel at ease enough to move on.
We came across many stray dogs along the way. To my surprise, Grandma called each one by name—and every dog seemed to recognize her. The moment her scooter came to a stop, they would trot up to her, eager for a scratch or a pat, making her laugh with joy.
As it turns out, every time she goes out for recycling work, she brings food for the stray dogs she meets, worried they might go hungry. Over time, they’ve become like old friends, greeting her with warmth and affection whenever they see her.
Her pure-hearted compassion shines not only in how she cares for the environment, but also in the way she cherishes all life. Thanks to her selfless giving, I had the privilege of witnessing a genuine and precious kind of beauty.
A wish for the remainder of her life
Grandma Xiu-yun prepares all her own meals and keeps her home neat and tidy. In the mornings, she collects recyclables; in the afternoons, she takes care of housework. Never one to sit idle, she believes that as long as she’s able, she should keep moving.
I asked, “Can your body handle it?”
She replied, “It is hard during treatment. Sometimes I feel really sick—I can’t eat, or I throw up. But you can’t keep dwelling on being sick. Once I’m up, I can keep going. If I can still do something, I should.”
As she spoke, she casually pulled out a notebook. Inside were tally marks tracking how many times she recited her daily scriptures. She also recorded the number of PET bottles she recycled each year. By 2024, the total had reached an astounding 765,000 bottles.
That’s when I learned she had a personal goal: to recycle one million bottles in her lifetime.
These numbers are more than statistics. They reflect her deep commitment to her faith and convictions.
Illness has never broken her spirit; if anything, it has deepened her understanding of life and death, allowing her to see the impermanent nature of all things and to live with wisdom and grace.
Page after page of her notebook carries a vow that transcends personal suffering. She doesn’t pray for her own health. Instead, she devotes her life to caring for the Earth. Her story is a powerful reminder of what one person’s determination can achieve. With heartfelt sincerity, I hope her wish comes true.
