The WeChat recruitment advertisement by the Donghua Buddhist Temple, in Guangdong, has gone viral among China's netizens for its use of anime, music and modern slang terms. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

A Buddhist temple in Guangdong province is generating a ton of buzz online after its attempts to fill eight positions with new followers via WeChat, China's most popular messaging app, went viral, the Beijing News reported Wednesday.

The Donghua Buddhist Temple recruitment ads, which are gaining attention because of their sleek designs and use of modern-day slang, read "Buddha Needs You" and have attracted more than 1.1 million hits.

It's also working--more than 4,000 people have applied for the eight openings being offered at the temple.

Master Huike, who heads the temple, said the idea of app recruitment came from the younger Buddhists at the temple. "I just planned to put a recruitment ad on the webs, but some of the younger laymen told me it would be inefficient. We need to turn to new media to let more people see the recruitment," said Huike.

The temple is looking to employ people with social media experience, as well as skills in photography and writing to better promote Buddha dharma, added Huike.

New employees filling the eight positions will work half of the time at the temple and the other half in big cities; the idea is to provide them with the environment to concentrate on studying Buddhist scripture at the temple, and learn about societal trends and the best ways to promote Buddhism to urban residents.

Huike said that even a Buddhist temple needs to keep pace with the times. Temple masters are now using Wechat because it is a cheap and convenient way to spread their beliefs. However, when they study dharma or have dinner, mobile phones are not allowed.

Most of the applicants for the eight positions are young people from big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou--some are even from overseas.