Robot Monk Blends Science and Buddhism at Chinese Temple

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 22 April 2016 10:20 IST
Robot Monk Blends Science and Buddhism at Chinese Temple
A Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Beijing has decided to ditch traditional ways and use technology to attract followers.

Longquan temple says it has developed a robot monk that can chant Buddhist mantras, move via voice command, and hold a simple conversation.

Named Xian'er, the 60-cm (2-foot) tall robot resembles a cartoon-like novice monk in yellow robes with a shaven head, holding a touch screen on his chest.

Xian'er can hold a conversation by answering about 20 simple questions about Buddhism and daily life, listed on his screen, and perform seven types of motions on his wheels.

Master Xianfan, Xian'er's creator, said the robot monk was the perfect vessel for spreading the wisdom of Buddhism in China, through the fusion of science and Buddhism.

Advertisement

"Science and Buddhism are not opposing nor contradicting, and can be combined and mutually compatible," said Xianfan.

Under the careful watch of China's officially atheist Communist Party, religion has slowly crept back into daily life since reforms got going several decades ago.

Advertisement

Xianfan said Buddhism filled a gap for people in a fast-changing, smart-phone dominated society.

"Buddhism is something that attaches much importance to inner heart, and pays attention to the individual's spiritual world," he said.

Advertisement

"It is a kind of elevated culture. Speaking from this perspective, I think it can satisfy the needs of many people."

The little robot monk was developed as a joint project between a technology company and artificial intelligence experts from some of China's top universities.

It was unveiled to the public in October.

But Xian'er is not necessarily the social butterfly many believe him to be.

He has toured several robotics and innovation fairs across China but rarely makes public appearances at Longquan temple.

Xian'er spends most of his days "meditating" on a shelf in an office, even though curiosity about him has exploded on social media.

Xian'er was inspired by Xianfan's 2013 cartoon creation of the same name. The temple has produced cartoon animations, published comic anthologies, and even merchandise featuring the cartoon monk.

Michelle Yu, a tourist and practicing Buddhist, said she first spotted Xian'er on social media.

"He looks really cute and adorable. He'll spread Buddhism to more people, since they will think he's very interesting, and will make them really want to understand Buddhism," she said.

The temple is developing a new model of Xian'er, which it says will have a more diverse range of functions.

© Thomson Reuters 2016

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Robots, Science, Xianer
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Oppo Reno 14 5G Series Launching Today: All You Need to Know
  2. Oppo Reno 14 Pro 5G Launched in India Alongside Reno 14 5G: See Price
  3. Vivo X Fold 5, Vivo X200 FE to Launch in India On This Date
  4. Honor Watch 5 Ultra With eSIM Support, ECG Tracking Launched
  5. Honor MagicPad 3 Launched With 165Hz Display, These Features
  6. Tecno Spark 40 Pro+, Spark 40 Pro and Spark 40 Launched: All Details
  7. Oppo Pad SE Launched in India With 11-Inch Display and 9,340mAh Battery
  8. This Google Chrome Flaw Allows Attackers to Run Code on Your Computer
  9. Oppo Reno 14 Pro First Impressions
  10. AI-Powered Gems are Coming to Gmail, Google Docs and Drive
  1. Tecno Spark 40 Pro+ With MediaTek Helio G200 SoC Launched Alongside Spark 40 Pro and Spark 40
  2. Oppo Pad SE Launched in India With MediaTek Helio G100 SoC, 9,340mAh Battery: Price, Specifications
  3. Naughty Dog Head Neil Druckmann to Step Away From HBO's The Last of Us TV Show to Focus on Games
  4. Google Chrome Update Patches Security Flaw That Granted Attackers Access When Users Visited Malicious Websites
  5. Google Is Bringing Gems to the Gemini Side Panel in Gmail, Docs, and Other Workspace Apps
  6. Meta Verified Users Claim ‘Useless’ Customer Support Amid Account Bans Despite Paying for Subscription
  7. Vivo X Fold 5 and Vivo X200 FE India Launch Date Set for July 14
  8. Infinix Hot 60 5G+ Leaked Images Show Off New Side Button, Triple Rear Cameras
  9. Microsoft Cancels Perfect Dark, Shuts Down Developer The Initiative in Widespread Xbox Cuts
  10. Google Updates Android TV Home Screen With Four New Promotional Category Tabs: Report
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.