Converted to Buddhism or Longing for an Idyllic Imaginary Life? Conflict and Fantasy Liberation under Employment Pressure in China

Abstract

At present, there is a phenomenon of temple craze among young people in China when choosing careers. Contemporary young people do not believe in Buddhism, but they are willing to work in temples, which, to a certain extent, reflects the phenomenon that Chinese Buddhism adapts to Chinese local society and turns from secularization to localization. This article aims to analyze how Buddhism, a religion, has been localized and secularization in China through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis based on grounded theory, starting with four themes: media, treatment, pressure and self. The current popularity of temples cannot be separated from the development of the Internet era and the assistance of social platforms. At the same time, the high salary and leisurely content of temple work itself provide a good outlet for young people facing enormous pressure. There are various reasons for the popularity of temple work, but in the process of its popularity, it also invisibly increased the influence of Buddhism and promoted its dissemination in China.