"Amid rows of colourful lanterns strung across the courtyard of Jogyesa temple in Seoul, an unusual ceremony unfolded this week: monks held a Buddhist initiation for a humanoid robot draped in saffron robe. They placed a string of 108 prayer beads around the robot's neck and affixed a lantern festival sticker to its mechanical arm in place of the traditional yeonbi ritual, in which burning incense is lightly pressed against the skin. The robot was then presented with a formal certificate listing its manufacture date, 3 March 2026, where a human initiate's birth date would normally appear."
"Venerable Sungwon's temple is the headquarters of the Jogye order, South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, and the initiation of its first robot monk comes at a time of uncertainty for the group, as they grapple with falling participation and interest. Just 16% of South Koreans now identify as Buddhist, down from about 23% in 2005. Among people in their twenties, the figure drops to 8%. Last year, the Jogye order ordained just 99 new monks, down from more than 200 a decade earlier."
"Yet by another measure, Buddhism has never been more popular. Under its president, Ven Jinwoo, the Jogye order has aggressively courted younger Koreans through what observers call hip Buddhism using merchandise, meditation apps and viral marketing. The ordination of Gabi the 130cm humanoid robot forms part of this effort to reach more Koreans. During the ceremony on 6 May, Gabi walked before an"
Monks at Jogyesa temple in Seoul held a Buddhist initiation ceremony for a humanoid robot dressed in saffron robes. A string of 108 prayer beads was placed around the robot’s neck, and a lantern festival sticker was attached to its mechanical arm instead of the traditional yeonbi ritual involving incense pressed against skin. The robot received a formal certificate listing its manufacture date, 3 March 2026, in place of a human initiate’s birth date. The ceremony was framed as beginning as a joke but becoming serious as robots enter daily life and people grow familiar with them. The Jogye order faces declining Buddhist identification and ordinations while also promoting “hip Buddhism” through apps, merchandise, and viral marketing, with the robot ordination part of efforts to attract younger Koreans.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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