Wechat and transformation of Buddhist practices in contemporary China

Within the framework of this article, the authors attempt to identify the main trends in the mediatization of Buddhist practices in modern China. Religion in the PRC is a special area of governmental policy, the national and party elites pay serious attention to the institutionalization of religious communities. The religious sphere has always occupied a special place in the life of Chinese society. Religious syncretism allows the development of various currents, but they all are subordinated to public goals. Chinese Buddhism is currently one of the most popular religions in China in terms of the number of followers. Changes in the social life of modern society also affect religious practices. Based on the results of the study, the authors reveal that Chinese Buddhists, under the influence of certain factors, gradually begin to change their usual practices. One of the main tools and at the same time a form of digital Buddhism is the Chinese messenger WeChat (微信).