appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Alice Yan

A senior monk in China has attracted widespread social media attention for enthusiastically playing electronic games.
Venerable Huayan, from Mingjiao Temple in Hefei in central Anhui province, has been a Buddhist monk for 20 years.
He began to play e-games when he was a primary school pupil in the early 2000s, Counter-Strike (CS) is his favourite, according to the news portal Sina.com.

Huayan once achieved the Legendary Eagle Master position, a very high ranking in CS.
He said the most expensive items he bought were computer devices which cost him 40,000 yuan (US$6,000).
The temple he belongs to neither advocates nor forbids him from playing e-games. Huayan said his bottom line is not to become addicted.
Many people say playing CS, which is a violent and bloody game, will lead him to hell because it is not something a religious man should do.

Huayan argues that it is important to distinguish the virtual from the real world.
“Killing in the games is a necessary method to improve your gaming ability. It is like beating the opposite side in a chess game. Both are allowed under Buddhist rules,” Huayan was quoted as saying.
“According to their logic, people playing the part of a doctor soldier in another game and only saving others will go directly to heaven without practising Buddhism in the real world,” he added.

Huayan said he believed his hobby was a “good activity”.
“Why should I quit this good activity? While playing games, I can communicate and cooperate with people to achieve a win-win situation. I also gain empathy for others. These traits are all helpful for a person’s growth,” he said.
Huayan, who is in his 30s, was born and raised in Shanghai by his divorced mother.
He became interested in Buddhism when he was young. There was a compound near his residential community where lay Buddhists held discussions and he often visited there.
When Huayan decided to convert to Buddhism at the age of 15, his mother, who was a military official, strongly opposed it.

He then left home and travelled to temples in faraway cities multiple times, but his mother always brought him back.
She finally compromised and agreed to his commitment to Buddhism three years later.
Huayan said e-games and religion play the same role in helping him on his journey of self-discovery.
“They both require me to hone my ability to concentrate and to accept impermanence,” he said.


Chinese doctor with PhD leaves medical career to deliver food, pursue music part-time

China couple have 13 kids to avoid village bullying, elderly loneliness, dividing public opinion

Young Chinese women sew own underwear, clothes, amid frustration with fast fashion

Mooncakes for the dog? How China is reinventing its iconic festive snack

Trending in China

Video game-loving China monk defends hobby, says gaming, religion serve similar life purposes

A senior monk in China has attracted attention because of his passion for playing video games. He defends this hobby, claiming it allows him to connect with others. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Venerable Huayan, above, is focused in front of his screen as he plays the game. Photo:  Baidu    

A smiling Huayan smiles as he is interviewed about the unusual passion in his life. Photo: Baidu    

Huayan, above, says the violent and bloody nature of the game does not concern him. Photo:  Baidu    

Huayan pictured at the top of some steps. He says the game allows him to connect with others. Photo:  Baidu    

‘Innate kindness’ of Chinese people moves British granny, 74, travelling solo across country

A 74-year-old British grandmother travelling solo in China has received warm support from online users, highlighting the kindness of the Chinese people. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The 74-year-old British grandmother Gill, above, on one of her many stops in China. Photo: Douyin

Gill enjoys a bowl of tasty Chinese noodles and a side of vegetables. Photo: Douyin

Gill is pictured with her kind “helper”, Xiao Yue, in picturesque Guilin. Photo: Douyin

Tourists from Italy visiting the Bund area of Shanghai last year. Photo: Xinhua 

China live-streams expose minors undergoing harsh training designed for ‘rebellious youth’

Live-streams from mainland China have shown minors in camouflage uniforms undergoing harsh training, with programmes for “rebellious youth” costing up to US$20,000 monthly. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Youngsters take part in group training during a summer camp in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

A boy climbs a ladder at a military summer camp for senior secondary school pupils in China. Photo: Xinhua

Pupils enjoying games during a summer camp in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua 

The Devil Wears Prada 2 criticised for offending China with nerdy ‘Chin Chou’ character

The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been criticised for offending China by introducing a character named “Chin Chou”, which some say resembles the derogatory term “Ching Chong.” Photo: SCMP composite/IMDb/YouTube/IG@dip_magazine

Actresses Meryl Streep, left, and Anne Hathaway pose after receiving gifts during a recent press conference to promote the film in South Korea. Photo: AP

Hathaway, left, Streep, centre and actor Stanley Tucci pictured together. Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

The controversial character, above, played by Chinese-American actress Helen J. Shen in a still from the film. Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

In this photograph, the character Jin Chao appears alongside Hathaway. Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios

China worker gains envy after winning 7-day ‘rain leave’; boss also offers cash subsidies

An employee in China has been envied online after she won paid leave for seven days when it rains in a company raffle. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The lucky woman on the right was all smiles when she won her rain leave raffle prize. Photo: Sohu

People wade through a flooded street following heavy rains in Changsha, southern China. Photo: AFP

The above employee drew a raffle ticket that bagged her a hair drier as a prize. Photo: Sohu

Another lucky employee of the company won a US$30 cash subsidy prize. Photo: Sohu

Climbing lamp posts cross-legged challenge goes viral in China with players often needing rescue

An online challenge in which people climb lamp posts cross-legged has gone viral in China, with participants often looking foolish by becoming stuck. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

One woman, above, found herself unable to uncross her legs wrapped around the pole and had to be rescued by an emergency crew. Photo: Sina

The man above tried to execute the cross-legged challenge on a pole in a playpark. Photo: Sina

The woman above appears to be happy with her attempt. It is unclear if she was able to uncross her legs.  Photo: Sina

The so-called ice-bucket challenge, above, went global a few years ago. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

China Personalities

Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted


Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted.


Video gaming

Religion in China

Religion

Video game-loving China monk defends hobby, says gaming, religion serve similar life purposes

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted

Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted