A former maths genius who grabbed public attention in China last year for returning to secular life after years as a practising monk is in the spotlight again after becoming married.

Liu first gained national attention as a secondary school student after winning multiple international math competitions. In 2006, he secured a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad and was admitted to Peking University without entrance exams, where he was described as a "genius," according to Jiupai News.

After graduating in 2010, he declined a full scholarship to MIT, a decision that surprised many, and chose instead to pursue Buddhism. He became a monk at Longquan Temple in Beijing.

Liu said he abandoned mathematics because he found the subject was "a path to loneliness" and he wanted to "get close to the hearts of many people," as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Liu Zhiyu (L) when he was a monk at Longquan Temple in Beijing, China. Photo courtesy of Liu's Weibo

His decision drew strong reactions from his family. "I disapprove of what he did. I have lost contact with my son since he went back to Beijing in August," Liu's father in Hubei Province told the Global Times. He added that although the family knew of Liu’s religious interests, they were not informed of his decision. "I don't know what to do. He is an adult now, you know."

Longquan Temple is known in China for integrating religious practice with academic and technological work. It hosts monks educated at leading institutions such as Tsinghua University and Beihang University, and operates IT and animation teams. Its blog is published in eight languages, including English, Japanese, and Russian, according to People’s Daily Online.

During his time there, Liu reportedly spent up to 12 hours a day compiling Buddhist texts and managing the temple’s social media platforms.

In 2018, he left the temple, citing frustration with daily routines and interpersonal issues. He then spent several years as a wandering monk before reappearing in August 2022 to announce the launch of a psychological consulting company, Huaxia Xinyuan.

As a co-founder, Liu provides consultation services about six hours a week, focusing on individuals dealing with academic and work-related anxiety. "I want to be more true to myself. No need to play the role expected by others," he told Jiupai News in 2022.

"I think psychology can work together with Buddhism. They’re not contradictory. We can help people solve their mental health issues via psychological methods, and they can achieve better results if they study Buddhism at the same time."

Liu Zhiyu, 36, is now a founder of Huaxia Xinyuan, a psychological counselling company in China. Photo courtesy of Liu's Weibo

Liu also built an online presence on Douyin, where his first livestream attracted hundreds of thousands of views, and he has since amassed hundreds of thousands of followers.

Public reaction has been mixed. Some criticized his shift away from mathematics, arguing that China has a greater need for mathematicians. Others supported his decision, with one user saying people "forgot that first of all, he is a human being."

In 2023, when Liu announced he was returning to secular life, he explained that he had realised his heart was "closer to the wider public". One year later, Liu announced that he had married, adding that his wife shares his Buddhist beliefs.

He said she is the only woman he has ever been in a relationship with and credited her with helping him care for himself and others. "I’ve never met a person like her," he said. "She understands and supports me completely. I can share all my thoughts and feelings, my joy and sorrow with her."

He recently published his autobiography, "Every Step is Accountable," where he reflects on his journey across disciplines and beliefs.

"Mathematics led me towards Taoism. Taoism led me towards Buddhism. Buddhism led me towards psychology. They all led me towards the vast universe," he wrote. "At every turn of my life, I had to leave behind past glories, but I gained precious life experience."

"I am an ordinary person. I aspire to be true to myself and I hope people will accept this version of me."