Religion in China, once suppressed under Mao Zedong, has grown rapidly over the past four decades. Today, about 40 percent of mainland Chinese say they believe in deities, religious figures, or ghosts, even if only one in ten formally identifies with a faith. This revival has created what analysts call a “temple economy” worth more than $14 billion a year. From ticket sales and donations to digital rituals, livestreaming, and e-commerce, temples and clergy have found multiple ways to profit. But this growth has raised questions about whether religion is being over-commercialized and drifting away from its spiritual roots, the Financial Times reported.
New rules to curb online practices
The National Religious Affairs Administration has now introduced strict rules governing how religion can appear online. Only licensed temples, churches, and religious organizations may conduct preaching or training on websites and apps. Almost every other form of online commercial activity is banned, including livestreaming sermons, short video preaching, or charging for digital rituals such as incense burning and chanting. Clergy are also warned against using artificial intelligence to generate or distribute religious content, with the code citing concerns about “illegal information.” Authorities made clear that online fortune-telling, divination, and the spread of “heretical cults” will be targeted.
The Shaolin scandal as catalyst
The timing of the crackdown comes just weeks after the Shaolin Temple, a world-renowned Buddhist institution, confirmed that its abbot Shi Yongxin was under investigation. Shi, known popularly as the “CEO monk,” faces allegations of embezzlement, improper relationships, and behaviour said to violate Buddhist precepts. State media also reported that several of his associates have been detained for questioning. For many, the case symbolized how religious figures had turned sacred sites into profit machines, often in partnership with local governments eager for tourism revenue. By moving decisively, Beijing aims to restore public trust while demonstrating that no institution, even one as globally famous as Shaolin, is above party discipline.
Local compliance and political motives
Across the country, local authorities have rushed to show their loyalty. In western Sichuan, officials convened study groups for Buddhist, Islamic, and Catholic associations to explain the new rules. Religious venues were ordered to conduct “self-examinations,” while government departments promised to “eliminate potential risks.” The political motive is clear: just as President Xi Jinping has pursued an anti-corruption purge among Communist Party cadres, the state wants to prevent clergy from amassing wealth or influence that could spark public unrest. By regulating online spaces, Beijing also ensures that religious teaching remains under its direct control, minimizing the risk of alternative networks of authority.
Tension between commerce and faith
For many monks and clergy, the restrictions will have immediate consequences. Sites like Mount Qingcheng in Sichuan, a sacred Taoist mountain, had already experimented with livestreaming and selling prayer beads and accessories through Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Some items sold for more than $1,400, attracting young consumers but also criticism. On social media, users joked that monks had become some of the wealthiest tourists, staying in luxury hotels and spending lavishly. The new code will curtail such ventures, though most observers expect workarounds to emerge. Analysts note that past campaigns have lasted only months before many banned practices quietly resurfaced.
A message of control
Ultimately, the crackdown reflects Beijing’s determination to keep religion firmly subordinate to the state. Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of China, observed that the real aim is not to eliminate online preaching altogether but to send a signal that the party is the ultimate authority. Religion may flourish, temples may profit, and millions may continue to worship, but only on terms acceptable to the Communist leadership. As with other aspects of Chinese society, spiritual life is tolerated so long as it serves stability, economic development, and party control.
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