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

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…

By Samantha Johnson / April 30, 2026

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.

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

Huayan once achieved the Legendary Eagle Master position, a very high ranking in CS.

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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.

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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.

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

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