Still Point

Photo Essay / 2022 — 2024

Many young people in Hangzhou, China, are increasingly visiting Buddhist temples to seek empowerment and increase inner certainty in the face of anxiety and concern for the future. This trend has been linked to the city’s industrial characteristics, which have given rise to countless industries such as e-commerce, live-streaming, and TikTok, which all have a common traffic feature and considerable uncertainty. Many who offer incense at the temple are young people working in these industries who have taken pay cuts, lost their jobs, or are stressed about the general trend of economic growth. Even though visiting temples may not necessarily be about faith or religious concerns, it comforts individuals facing uncertainty and a lack of stability.

The Still Point, Buddism, feilaifeng
A religious cave in Feilaifeng, Linyin area.
The Still Point
Young couples and children play along the river near Lingyin Temple, one of China's earliest Buddhist monasteries.
The Still Point
Various kinds of Buddha beads are sold in shops outside the temple. The Buddha’s meaning is all about faith, balance, and attracting all good things. Many believe that wearing the beads can bring good luck and blessings to those who wear them.
The Still Point
Buddhas and Idols for sale. In Chinese culture, many people keep small Buddha statues in their homes to seek blessings and good fortune.
The Still Point
Two boys hold flowers and burn incense sticks, closing their eyes to show their devotion to Buddha in Hangzhou. According to them, this action is in the use of “Presenting Buddha with Borrowed Flowers (Jie Hua Xian Fo),” which is an idiom in Chinese that means to use something from someone else as a favour. However, it's not appropriate for this case.
The Still Point
A young man puts burning incense sticks to the censer.
Young couple take wedding photos in front of Xiangji Temple.
Young couple take wedding photos in front of Xiangji Temple.
The Still Point
A man standing and praying in Linyin temple.
The Still Point
Two young monks buy commodities in a grocery shop outside the temple, and one uses a phone to scan the QR code to pay. Monks in China nowadays can use phones to communicate and spread Buddhist culture via social media, mainly to connect with younger generations.
The Still Point
A young couple cling to each other in a Chinese pavilion.
The Still Point
A couple talks in front of the gate of Lingyin Temple. The words on the wall mean, "The Western Heaven is within reach."
The Still Point
Zeren dengzi (ཚེ་རིང་བསྟན་འཛིན།), 29, Tibetan Buddhist. "If young people can adopt the attitude of a practitioner when coming to a temple to seek or worship Buddha, that would be even better. If not, being close to the Buddha statue and the temple is enough to bring them peace of mind and strength. If you don't come here, you may be unable to calm your mind in the city".
The Still Point
A Praying room in the Lingyin Temple.
The Still Point
The Lingyin Temple at night. The word on the back means “Buddha.”