玄学热

When life gets tough and hard work stops paying off, Chinese Gen-Z didn't turn to therapy — they turned to astrology, tarot, feng shui, and fortune-telling. '玄学热' captures the viral boom in mystical and metaphysical practices among young Chinese people, who use them partly for fun, partly for comfort, and partly because if the economy won't cooperate, maybe Mercury retrograde will at least explain why.

Against a backdrop of youth unemployment hitting record highs, intense academic and career competition, and post-pandemic uncertainty, many young Chinese began seeking meaning and agency through esoteric practices. Platforms like Bilibili and Xiaohongshu exploded with astrology content, tarot readings, and Ba Zi (八字) fortune analyses. The craze reflects a generation caught between rational pragmatism and a desperate need for reassurance.

年轻人在压力下转向占星、塔罗、风水等玄学寻求慰藉和指引的社会现象。