Gabi humanoid robot
I, robe-ot: the android monk working to reboot the faith of South Korea’s Buddhists
Jogyesa temple in South Korea initiated Gabi, a humanoid robot into its order this week, as it combats falling participation and interest
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.
“At first we discussed it casually,” Venerable Sungwon, the order’s cultural affairs director, says about the robot ceremony’s origins. “It began almost as a joke. But the more we thought about it, the more serious it became.
“Robots are entering our lives so quickly, and people feel familiar with them … They’re becoming part of our community.”
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 assembly of monks and worshippers, bowed towards the temple and received five Buddhist precepts.
Precepts – the ethical rules governing Buddhist practice – were specially adapted for Gabi. Four prohibited harming life, damaging other robots or objects, engaging in deceptive behaviour or acting disrespectfully towards people. Lire la suite »