Religion, culture, and identity: the generational evolution of identification with Buddhism from the perspective of young Chinese Indonesians

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the generational shifts in identification with Buddhism from the perspective of young Chinese Indonesians. The study combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to collect data from 257 respondents spanning three generations (grandparents, parents, and children) across 10 provinces in Indonesia. The findings indicate a general trend of generational decline in Identification with Buddhism among Chinese Indonesians. Identification with Buddhist symbols declines most rapidly, while recognition of Buddhist behavioural patterns shows the least decline. The alignment with Buddhist values and perceptions initially changes slowly but accelerates in decline over time. Additionally, there is a negative correlation between Buddhist identity and emotional engagement, reflecting complex intergenerational dynamics. The analysis also reveals significant effects of regional differences, community relationships, and familial occupational backgrounds on the decline in levels of Identification with Buddhism.

KEYWORDS:

• Young Chinese Indonesians
• religious identification
• identification with Buddhism
• intergenerational transmission of religious beliefs

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the Indonesian Chinese Education Center for providing data support for the research in this paper. We also extend our appreciation to the National Social Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Education of China for their financial support towards this study.

Compliance with ethical standards

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Fujian Normal University (protocol code: FNU-20220102014, date of approval: 20/01/2022). Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study, and their confidentiality and privacy were strictly protected. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Data statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [XJ].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China [23YJCZH246] and the National Social Science Fund of China [21BYY170].

Notes on contributors

Xie Jingyi

Dr. Xie Jingyi is an associate professor at the International College of Chinese Studies, Fujian Normal University. Her research focuses on international Chinese education, the linguistic development of ethnic Chinese children, and cultural integration. Her work explores the impact of religious beliefs on family dynamics among Chinese adolescents, highlighting the significant role of religious identity in fostering community and preserving cultural connections.

Zhang Jiangli

Dr. Zhang Jiangli is a professor at Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College. Her research focuses on the inheritance of overseas Chinese culture and Chinese language education in Southeast Asia. She has led 2 National Social Science Foundation projects and 5 provincial and ministerial level projects. Dr. Zhang has authored over 40 papers in journals such as “Chinese Teaching in the World” and “Applied Linguistics,” and has published 3 academic books on related topics.