Explainer | China thief steals 20 Buddha statues for worship, claims they can change his fate – how so?
Historical folklore, mystical belief and feng shui give Buddhist devotees powerful belief in worshipping statues
In the wake of theft of more than 20 Buddha statues by a man in China who said he went on the thieving spree in the belief that it would “change his fate” the Post explains why such beliefs exist on the mainland.
The man, surnamed Wang, had moved to Shaoxing in Zhejiang province in eastern China for work.
He believed that worshipping more Buddha statues would improve his destiny.
He set up an elaborate altar adorned with fruit, pastries, incense and candles in his cramped home, and even repainted some of the stolen statues in his favourite colour, red, creating an eerie atmosphere that shocked police.
The case, reported by the mainland news outlet, The Paper, has prompted people to ask why people believe such actions can alter their fate in Chinese culture.
Disaster and karma
