The Muyu, a religious instrument symbolizing wakefulness inspired by the fish, serves three primary purposes in Buddhist practices: it encourages diligent meditation and chanting among monks and nuns, helps maintain rhythmic consistency during religious recitations, and fosters focus towards virtuous thoughts and actions. Beyond its religious utility, the Muyu also has musical applications, featuring in folk performances like Chaozhou opera and Cantonese opera.

The sudden popularity of “electronic Muyu” is linked to the phenomenon of "hell jokes," which are humorously dark jokes that often touch on personal misfortunes, political sensitivities, or painful historical events. These jokes are controversial, as laughing at them might suggest a lack of empathy, hence the association with "going to hell." The electronic Muyu offers a way for individuals to reflect and alleviate the guilt or discomfort from enjoying such humor, providing a form of self-comfort through a symbolic act of atonement, despite knowing it has no tangible religious effect. This represents a unique intersection of digital culture with traditional religious practices, encapsulating a modern form of self-reflection and absolution in the digital age.          

Beyond spiritual atonement, people also turn to the Muyu to ease the anxieties of daily life, such as endless working overtime, difficult clients, or academic challenges. This is part of a broader trend where individuals seek solace in Buddhist symbols, like lotus avatars or the scent of sandalwood, as a buffer against life's pressures and mundane irritations, with the Muyu being the latest addition to this spiritual toolkit.

This does not indicate superstition. In reality, most people do not understand the scriptures or the specific reasons behind the use of the Muyu in Buddhism. Few individuals engage with the "electronic Muyu" with the intention of delving deeply into religion. Faced with the multifaceted pressures from society, young people constantly search for outlets. When unable to alleviate negative emotions or achieve a strong vision for something in real life, they turn to such easily accessible forms of entertainment as a way to temporarily shift their focus and find emotional support in these uncertain times.
The popularity of the electronic Muyu represents a collective anxiety diversion rather than an earnest devotion to the deity. This phenomenon, including the spread of electronic incense, transforms the concept of divine powers into tangible digital symbols, breaking down traditional religious barriers. The boundary between the divine and the human seems to blur, suggesting a new form of faith defined by interaction with digital representations rather than traditional worship.

In this digital era, the interaction with cybernetic religious symbols like the electronic Muyu or incense is reshaping our understanding of faith and devotion.

We no longer have to look up and pray piously to the God high above, but can directly "worship" a simple picture of MUYU in the screen, and be the most loyal believers of the Cyber Buddha, and make sincere wishes to the electronic incense that burns, yet have we ignored the fact that the one who created the Cyber Buddha is only a human, not a god.

Knock! Knock! Knock!
︎敲击以积累功德！