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Yating Yang

The collision between Buddhism and social media has propelled some monks in China into the public consciousness.
Some have captivated fans with their handsome looks, amassing over one million followers, while others have won hearts through philanthropy, such as rescuing stray animals and helping abandoned children.
Today, the Post turns the focus on five monks who have taken the internet by storm.
Most handsome
Known as “the most handsome monk,” Shi Mingxin is based in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province in eastern China and has 1.7 million followers on Douyin thanks to his striking appearance and stature.

Originally named Jin Hanjie, he secured a job as a civil servant in 1999 and worked at a government office.
The secular and stable life soon left him feeling lost and unfulfilled until one day when Buddhist music inspired a profound spiritual awakening, leading him to decide to become a monk in 2009.
Now, as the abbot of the old Pu’an Temple, Shi Mingxin has attracted a surge in the number of pilgrims.
His handsome appearance has even attracted the admiration of some wealthy women, but he remained unmoved, continuing to focus on his spiritual practices.
Beyond his spiritual duties, he enjoys playing basketball.
Master Chishan

Master Chishan, from Linggu Temple in Nanjing in the country’s eastern province of Jiangsu, has attracted a following of 1.2 million on Weibo, captivating social media with his good looks.
In March 2022, tourists and photography enthusiasts flocked to the temple, some even using drones, eagerly capturing his every move.
He patiently walked up and down the temple steps repeatedly to accommodate the photographers.
One internet user joked: “The monk probably never anticipated that being a monk could be more exhausting than being a lay-person. Master Chishan, acting as the ‘face of the temple’ has become busier than Tang Monk.”
Tang Monk, a Buddhist monk and pilgrim, is a central character in the 16th century novel Journey to the West.
Genius monk

Liu Zhiyu, born in 1988, is probably one of China’s most renowned monks, largely due to his talent in mathematics and breadth of experience.
He won a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 2006 and was admitted to Peking University without sitting exams.
In 2010, Liu turned down a full scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to become a monk at Beijing’s Longquan Temple, a decision that left many, including his parents, in disbelief.
However, his life in the temple only lasted eight years.
In 2018, Liu left the temple and returned to a secular life, even announcing his marriage last year to the only woman he had ever dated.
He is the co-founder of a psychological counselling company and has attracted 255,000 followers on his Douyin account.
Liu said his life was deeply influenced by the ancient Taoist philosophy of Zhuang Zi, who believed that all life follows its own natural course and there is no good or evil.
The saviour

Zhi Xiang, 56, is a Shanghai-based Buddhist monk at the Bao’en Temple, and has been saving animals since the early 1990s.
“Once, I was on a ramp, and there was a cat with its waist crushed by a car. It struggled to crawl from the middle of the road to the left side.
“The incident deeply moved me, and I decided to focus on rescuing cats on overpasses at that time. Later, in late 2006, I started rescuing dogs,” he told China Internet Information Centre.
Over a 28-year period, he has expanded his efforts and now leads a small team operating an animal shelter that cares for more than 9,000 stray cats and dogs.
He revealed that the annual total cost of running the shelter is about 12 million yuan (US$1.7 million). This is partially offset by donations from well-wishers.
Zhi Xiang trains some skilled animals to become police or military dogs, allowing them to support themselves while contributing to society.
Protective papa

Wu Bing, 49, from Jiangsu province in eastern China, also known as Monk Daolu and affectionately dubbed “Papa Wu”, has dedicated his life to providing shelter and assistance to pregnant women and abandoned children.
Originally a successful businessman, Wu became a monk in 2010 and transitioned into philanthropy.
Initially, the children he adopted lived in the temple, but they were later relocated to a small house known as the “Protective Abode,” which accommodates more than 50 children, ranging from newborns to 10-year-olds.
Wu has rescued more than 600 pregnant women and their children.
His team also sells vegetarian food and tea on Douyin and has 480,000 followers.


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Master Chishan welcomes photographers and goes out of his way to accommodate them. Photo: 163.com

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Zhi Xiang’s devotion to saving animals has made him an online favourite. Photo: SCMP Films

Wu Bing offers help and shelter to abandoned children and pregnant women. Photo: Douyin

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News

People & Culture

China Personalities

Power of social media manifests itself in unlikely halls of Buddhist faith as monks become online influencers


As the tentacles of social media touch almost every facet of human life, some Buddhist monks in China have become something akin to key opinion leaders (KOL).


Icons and Influencers