religion

How a Tibetan Village Became a Giant Factory for Buddhist Art

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China’s growing obsession with Buddhist paintings has transformed life in the historically Tibetan village of Wutun — and sparked local soul-searching about the trade-offs between economic progress and religious faith.

Wu Peiyue

Chinese Seniors Find Peace — and a New Home — in Temples

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

As the country ages, new forms of elder care are needed.

Qi Tengfei

Young Chinese Embrace Temple Visits to Evade Life’s Pressures

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Online travel platforms are seeing a surge in bookings to religious sites from young people seeking a “heart-cleansing experience.”

Ye Zhanhang

Post-COVID, China’s Taoist Temples Are Still Finding Their Way

Taoist Temples spent the past three years moving services online. Can they bring devotees back?

Zhu Yiwen

Pray to Pay: Buddhism’s Questionable Virtual Future

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Working, shopping, and romance have all gone virtual. Why not Buddhism?

The Paper

China to Rectify Religious Sites After Temple Honors War Criminals 

Reports of a woman worshiping World War II criminals have sparked a backlash over the past week.

Southwest China’s Migrant Monks Face an Uncertain Future

Monks from Myanmar and Laos helped keep Xishuangbanna’s Buddhist tradition alive, but tighter border controls could force them out.

Ma Zhen

China’s Taoist Temples Try a Little Marketing 101

Are temples’ trendy new talisman lines good business — or mass-produced sacrilege?

How a Forgotten Religion Shaped China

In a small temple in the southeastern city of Quanzhou, half a world away from his birthplace, visitors can find one of the last still-standing representations of the Persian prophet Mani.

Mao Ming

Chinese Social Sites Ban Online Influencers Capitalizing on Buddhism 

Several state media outlets have criticized the trend dubbed “foyuan” for turning religion into a profit-making tool.

Luo Meihan

The Divine Legacy of a Dutch Taoist

Kristofer Schipper’s decision to approach Taoism as a living, breathing religion was revolutionary.

The Men Who Lost Their Wives to ‘Eastern Lightning’

Also known as “Church of Almighty God,” the forbidden religious group keeps attracting members, despite prosecution.

Du Xinyu

Fishers Among Men: Lake Tai’s Catholics Bid Farewell to the Waters

For centuries, the lake’s has been home to a unique population of Catholic converts. A new fishing ban means the end of an era — but not their faith.

How Old Beliefs Are Adapting to China’s ‘New Normal’

After months of being closed, Shanghai’s places of worship are cautiously reopening to the public.

Shaolin Temple’s Trademark Spree Spurs Copyright Debate

The famed religious institution was discovered to have claimed ownership of hundreds of phrases.

Kenrick Davis

A Taoist’s Quest to Memorialize China’s COVID-19 Martyrs

The author, a Taoist priest, has set up over 550 memorial tablets to those killed in the country’s fight against the coronavirus.

Liang Xingyang

How Guan Yu Became China’s God of War, Wealth, and Everything Else

Born 1,860 years ago, the bearded warrior’s unlikely combination of traditional values had something for both emperors and commoners alike.

Wu Haiyun

The Hermit Culture Living On in China’s Misty Mountains

Disillusioned recluses have come to the Zhongnan Mountains for centuries. Now, a government campaign threatens their way of life.

Lin Qiqing

Jack Ma Mania Borders on Religious Fervor

To many of his most fervent devotees in China, the billionaire tech tycoon is today’s god of money.

Catch, Release, and Catch Again: The Problem With ‘Fangsheng’

In hopes of earning good karma, many Chinese are releasing animals into the wild — but they may be doing more harm than good.