Key facts
- Young Chinese are seeking Thai Buddhist amulets to improve their fortunes amidst economic and social anxieties.
- The amulets are becoming a significant trend among Chinese youth.
- Their appeal stems from the translation of Thai religious efficacy into Chinese cultural concepts of protection and good fortune.
- The trade of these amulets is occurring across Hong Kong and mainland China.
Young Chinese individuals facing a challenging job market, income insecurity, and personal setbacks are increasingly seeking Thai Buddhist amulets as a means to improve their circumstances. What were once primarily folk religious items within Thailand's Theravada Buddhist tradition have now become a growing obsession among China's youth.
A report examining the transnational trade of these amulets in Hong Kong and mainland China highlights their dual role as a commercial market and a vehicle for religious translation. Through interviews with various stakeholders and analysis of online platforms, the study reveals how Thai amulets gain desirability among Chinese consumers. Their perceived value is not merely in their circulation but in how Thai religious narratives and claims of efficacy are reinterpreted into Chinese idioms associated with protection, wealth, attraction, and auspicious power.