Seeking Solace in Spirituality: A Growing Trend Among China’s Youth

By Zeng Jinyuan
HKU Journalism and Media Studies Centre

BEIJING, CHINA —Inside the Yonghe Lamasery Temple during the QingMing Festival in April, 29-year-old Yu Ruojun had trouble moving her feet as the large crowd around her shuffled forward slowly. She was unable to see the front of the line as she waited to offer incense and pray for blessings.

She recalled there were even more people during the Spring Festival, as many as tens of thousands queuing up in the early hours to offer incense to the gods on the first day of the Lunar New Year. 

“I got up at 5:30 a.m. this Spring Festival to queue for incense offering and it was packed. Even my clothes had holes burnt in them, and it was full of young people just like me,” Yu said, adding that she also spends 80,0000 yuan (about US$11,000) a year to invite monks to hold blessing ceremonies for her company.

This is just a microcosm of what is happening in the tens of thousands of Buddhist, Taoist and other temples across China, where such scenes are common. Although the general perception is that only elderly people go to temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, nowadays, more young Chinese people, like Yu, are flocking to temples. 

The reason behind this trend is complex, reflecting Chinese youth’s current psychological state, the changes in society, as well as socio-economic uncertainties, including the recent economic downturn, experts said. Young people under the pressure of life are seeking help from the gods and finding comfort in traditional spiritual practices, as a response to their confusion about life, overwhelming choices, and feelings of helplessness, according to the experts and young people themselves.

This is also a sign of changing societal values in China.

“In this era of rapid societal development, many young people lack guidance from the older generation on future planning, leading them to seek insights through temple visits, drawing lots, and fortune telling,” said Zheng Gaobai, deputy director of the Guangzhou Taoist Sanyuan Temple’s Bao Gu Moxibustion Clinic.

Zheng has been teaching Taoist culture and medicine at Sanyuan Temple for over two years, aiming to promote a revival of Chinese traditional culture. 

“In my classes, students around 30 years old are the majority. There has been a surge in interest in religion among young people on the mainland,” Zheng said.

Revival and Relevance

Since 1978, China’s economy has taken off, becoming a world economic power, and with it, society has focused on pursuing materialism. However, the explosive growth of mainland China’s economy has put tremendous pressure on this generation of young people, most of whom are their family’s only child. They face the dual expectation from their parents and themselves to excel in both family and career realms. As a result, many young people are turning to temples for guidance, a significant change from past decades when few Chinese citizens frequented these spiritual sites. 

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), religious activities were completely banned in mainland China, and people were not allowed to offer incense or pray as part of the policy of “destroying the four olds” (old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits). This resulted in a gap in religious beliefs and practices.

Due to this period of China’s history, young people have had limited exposure to religious practices because the two previous generations before them – their grandparents and parents – did not engage in such activities due to restrictions. 

But since 1982 when the country embarked on a reform and opening policy, China’s religious revival has gradually occurred. In the process of correcting the mistakes of the Cultural Revolution, Chinese governments at all levels have made efforts to restore the policy of religious freedom, rectify the unjust and false cases suffered by religious figures in the past, and restore the opening of religious venues, mainly traditional temples

According to the China Religion Survey, the development of contemporary Chinese religion is not a natural continuation of history, but rather a “reconstruction.” Ninety percent  of today’s religious venues were approved after 1982, according to the Chinese Central Government’s portal website. 

After the end of the Cultural Revolution, religion can be said to have started from scratch, and this makes teaching traditional religions difficult, according to Zheng.

“Promoting Taoist thought widely is indeed challenging. On one hand, government restrictions on Taoist culture are shaped by China’s unique political and social background,” Zheng said. “On the other hand, young people face significant societal pressure, and the mainstream often involves Western psychology for mental relief, which can be overly simplistic.”

He tries to teach young peopleTaoist  methods for addressing psychological issues. 

“For example, many young people transcribe scriptures, a process that purifies the mind. These essential elements of Chinese tradition should be appropriately disseminated, ” Zheng said.

Statistics Reveal Significant Growth Among Young Chinese Believers

According to statistics from the central government website in 2005, there were more than 100 million religious believers in China. However, the number nearly doubled  about two decades later partly because  statistics gathering became more precise but also because  the number of believers increased significantly. According to the white paper China’s Policies and Practices for Protecting Freedom of Religious Religion published by the State Council in 2022, there were nearly 200 million religious believers in China. (Hyperlink of abovementioned white paper《中国保障宗教信仰自由的政策和实践》白皮书（全文）_中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 (scio.gov.cn))

Most believe in Chinese folk beliefs (including local religions, ancestor worship, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism), accounting for 73.56% of the total. The growth in Taoist believers, personnel and temple venues has been especially rapid in the past 20 years, according to the government white paper and academic research on religion.

According to data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) database of Renmin University of China (China’s first national, comprehensive, and continuous large-scale social survey project), in recent years, there has been a sharp increase in overall religious clergy, activity, groups and institutions, including those involving Taoism in China from 1997 to 2018.

The substantial growth in this trend – commonly referred to in Mandarin as “shang xiang or incense burning” –  among young people also can be seen from temple ticket orders and searches on social media platforms.

Based on data from Ctrip,China’s largest travel platform, ticket orders for temples and related scenic spots increased by 310% in 2023 compared to 2022. Among those who have purchased tickets since February 2023, people aged 20-35 accounted for nearly 50% of the total.

According to Mega Arithmetic’s Monitoring Index, ByteDance’s official database, the word “temple” was relatively unknown on social media platforms in 2019. However, by 2023, search volume for that word increased 368 times. From January 1 to March 16, 2023, the search index of the word “temple” experienced explosive growth, increasing by 586.81%.

The detection index of Mega Arithmetic also demonstrated that the proportion of young people aged 18-40 who searched for the word “temple” accounts for as high as 75% of the total.

On Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin, topics such as “Mainland Chinese youth’s fascination with incense,” “fortune-telling for stock trading,” “metaphysical bars,” and “Yonghe Temple bracelets” have also become trendy topics. 

According to a set of research data released in 2021 by Chinese Google-equivalent Internet portal Netease Digital Reading, the percentage of young people who have sought a “fortune teller” is as high as 78.81%.

Besides visiting temples in mainland China, many Chinese young people also visit temples in other places, including Hong Kong.

More young people from mainland China have come to Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong to pray for blessings, in recent years, according to a temple master.  

“Although it is not convenient to disclose the specific data of mainland tourists who come to Wong Tai Sin Temple to offer incense and pay religious rites, because this involves finance and company operations, however, the demand from mainland tourists has indeed increased in recent years,” said Lee Cung Hao, a member of the Hong Kong Taoist Cultural Association..

 “For example, during Lunar New Year (this year),  the number of mainland tourists registering for religious services increased by 10% to 15% compared with previous years, and their average age dropped significantly, ” Lee said.

China’s Youth Seek Comfort, Direction and Clarity Through Temples

The growing interest  among young people in temples and religious practices in the past two years reflects their attempts to seek spiritual solace and guidance in a stressful society, according to experts.

“Although materialism has become the mainstream value in Chinese society, it lacks a transcendent and sacred nature, preventing it from replacing traditional religions and moral values,”  Xu Jilin, executive deputy director of the Institute of Modern Chinese Thought and Culture and professor of history at East China Normal University, wrote in a 2008 report titled “Development and Harmonious Society in China” for the International Center for Chinese Studies, Aichi University.

Behind this trend may lie social issues such as high work-related stress, youth unemployment, emotional problems and so on, according to experts.

Under the increasing pressure of a competitive lifestyle in mainland China, young people say they hope to find definite answers through religion, reducing the internal conflicts they face and seeking a sense of security. 

“Because I’m an only child, I don’t have any siblings or relatives to discuss or communicate with about my future path,” said Lyu Siyan, a 28-year-old man who was praying at  Wong Tai Sin Temple. “As I am turning 30, I’m afraid of making wrong decisions, and every choice feels very significant. I really don’t know how to solve certain matters. In today’s society, I think psychology or other scientific principles can’t address these issues, so I ask various gods to help me.”

Another young mainland Chinese person at the temple, Nana,described herself as a “pragmatic”  Buddhist.

Nana is troubled by decision-making challenges at her company, particularly with personnel changes and potential brand collaborations. Additionally, she has long been wrestling with the decision of whether to emigrate to the United States, adding to her uncertainty about the future.

“Every time I visit any temple, I draw lots,” said Nana, a business woman. “Whether it’s Taoism or Buddhism, as long as it helps, that’s all I need. I’m looking to receive guidance from the deities.” 

But there are still some risks in revealing one’s belief in religious practices, so Nana requested anonymity. She is concerned that revealing her temple visits and seeking of fortune telling could lead to prejudice from colleagues, subordinates, or business partners, who might frown on such beliefs.

Lee, the senior member of Hong Kong Taoist Association, noted that people have diverse needs and expectations that motivate them to seek blessings from deities to address their specific concerns. 

“Some, facing unfavorable fortunes in the year of their zodiac, participate in rituals to improve their luck, while others look for romantic matches through prayers for marital blessings,” Lee said. 

Too Many Choices in Life’s Crossroads

Today’s Chinese young people are also facing multiple choices, which their parents didn’t have, and that can lead to pressure.

For those who are still students, they may need to continue to further their own education in order to have a competitive edge in society. 

Those who have graduated from school have to start thinking about marriage, as many young people are urged by their parents to find a partner in life. 

Faced with making their goals and choices in education, career, and marriage, some young people try to  enhance their sense of control over life’s events through ritualistic behavior such as “incense burning” and seeking fortunes.

Lyu, a project manager at an urban development company, praying at Wong Tai Sin Temple, said his father recently introduced him to his friend’s daughter, pressuring him to get married soon.

“My father wants me to go on a blind date with her and have a baby by 2026. But I don’t want to get married at all now. I am an only child, and my parents’ attention is all on me. The pressure is really high,” said Lyu.

Compared to his father, Lyu has more options. He has saved enough money after working six years, so he has enough money to start his own business, but he’s also considering going overseas

“I want to study abroad because I am about to turn 30, but I don’t really like my current job. I am in real estate, but this is a sunset industry. I want to change to an emerging industry such as the technology industry. Recently, a friend introduced me to a good one,” Lyu said. “There are many opportunities to do artificial intelligence, but there are many uncertain factors for me in these choices, so I am also very confused.”

Listening to Lyu list all the choices is a reminder of how much things have changed in China, in just one generation. Young people now have so many  options, but stress comes along with it. 

In contrast, Lyu’s parents’ generation had far fewer options: they could only work in a handful of state-approved jobs, marry individuals within their social circles or city, and even their purchasing options were limited to a narrow selection of goods in state-owned stores.

Lyu added: “Because today’s era is not as planned as our parents used to be, but for our current generation, there are too many choices, so it is also a worry.”

Lin Yaojin, a friend of Lyu’s and a soon-to-be graduate with a master’s degree from Hong Kong, who was also visitingWong Tai Sin Temple was himself contemplating his next steps. 

Lin is considering pursuing a Ph.D. in Hong Kong and said he can get a full scholarships and a Hong Kong identity card if he decides to do so

“If I don’t study for a Ph.D., I will look for a job in Hong Kong. There are not so many jobs in the mainland and the wages in Hong Kong are relatively high, so I don’t know what to do. I have more choices: continue to study, continue to work in Hong Kong, or return to the mainland to take the civil service exam,” Lin said. 

Seeking clarity, he prayed at  Wong Tai Sin Temple in hopes the deity might guide him towards the right decision.

Economic Strains Drive Young Chinese to Seek Divine Intervention

China’s post-Covid economic downturn, coupled with the large number of college graduates and job applicants as well as wave of company layoffs, has also led to an increasing number of young people experiencing mental crises under social pressure, and therefore turning to temples for guidance

The number of college graduates in China in 2024 will hit another record high of 11.79 million, an increase of 210,000 year-on-year, according to China’s Ministry of Education. 

In the same year, the number of candidates for the postgraduate entrance examination in mainland China exceeded 4.38 million, and the number of applicants for civil service examinations reached an unprecedented 2.5 million.

All of this means that competition for good jobs in the job market will intensify. At the same time, China is facing a wave of business closures, layoffs and unemployment. In June 2023, the unemployment rate among China’s population aged 16 to 24 rose to 21.3%, the highest level since the National Bureau of Statistics began reporting this data.

The Covid-19 pandemic  in mainland China did not end until December 2022. In this period of economic downturn, well-known companies have laid off employees and reduced recruitment quotas. 

In mainland China’s most prosperous Internet industry, which has the largest number of young people, layoffs are also continuing. China’s three major Internet giants – Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent – disclosed the number of employees in their annual financial reports released on December 31, 2023 – a total net loss of nearly 30,000 employees. 

As a result, young Chinese people are facing unprecedented anxiety and pressure. 

The National Health Commission released data in 2022 showing that nearly half of China’s young people are in a state of anxiety.  One of the major manifestations of anxiety is hair loss, with data showing 250 million people in mainland China suffer from hair loss, primarily in the age group of 20-40.

“During the autumn recruitment season in mainland China, I applied to over 50 companies, but all my applications were rejected,” said Lin, the man seeking deities’ guidance on whether he should pursue a Ph.D. degree in Hong Kong or go back to the mainland to take the civil service exam or look for work.

Even when he got a job offer, he decided he couldn’t accept it.

 “I previously received an offer from Meituan. But considering the high cost of living in Shanghai, the salary barely only can cover monthly food and rent. The environment is poor, and it’s mentally exhausting,” Lin said.

“The current environment is really struggling. For people like us from ordinary families, the only way to improve our social status and achieve upward mobility is through education,” Lin said.

His friend Lyu, the real estate agent who is interested in AI and has made money said he is also worried, which was why he was at the temple  seeking guidance from the gods.

“The mainland economy is currently in recession, but I have invested in the film and television industry. I plan to invest 2 million yuan ($276,000), which is not a small amount for me, so I am also worried about whether the investment amount will be profitable or not. So I  think that going to worship gods is a good choice,” Lyu said.

 A Glimpse into Future Trends

Besides going to temples, young people have developed a unique way of coping with anxiety – online prayers, according to a study by the Fudan Development Research Institute.

They would forward various pictures and emoticons on social media that represent good luck to each other and perform divination rituals such as tarot card draws in an attempt to have more certainty about what they are anxious about. 

Yu, the woman who was lining up to offer incense at Yonghe Lamasery Temple during the QingMing Festival, said that she will get up in the middle of the night to try to be the first to offer incense during the Lunar New Year next year, and will continue to spend  tens of thousands of yuan to perform rituals and pray for blessings.

 “I think having faith is a good thing; religion imposes many constraints, making you more cautious and preventing you from doing things that could harm others,” she said. ”That’s why I believe it’s important for young people to have faith.”

Advisor: Cindy Sui