Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia \u2013 Liu Zhiyu was once known as one of China\u2019s\nmathematics prodigies. He won a gold medal at the International\nMathematical Olympiad (IMO), rejected the chance to study on a full\nscholarship at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology\n(MIT) in the United States, and chose instead to become a Buddhist\nmonk.<\/p>\n
Now, Liu\u2019s path in life has changed again. After leaving monastic\nlife and starting a family, the 38-year-old works more than ten hours a\nday through livestreaming to support his family.<\/p>\n
According to VN Express on Tuesday (15\/9\/2026), Liu\u2019s name returned\nto public attention after Deng Yu and Wang Hong became the first Chinese\nnationals to win the Fields Medal in July 2026. The Fields Medal is one\nof the most prestigious awards in the world of mathematics.<\/p>\n
That achievement led Chinese society to revisit Liu\u2019s story and the\npath his life has taken since leaving mathematics. Born in Wuhan, China,\nLiu showed extraordinary mathematical ability from a young age.<\/p>\n
In 2006, he won a gold medal with a perfect score at the\nInternational Mathematical Olympiad. The achievement earned him direct\nadmission to the mathematics programme at Peking University, one of\nChina\u2019s most prestigious universities.<\/p>\n
After graduating, Liu received an offer of fully funded study from\nMIT. However, instead of pursuing postgraduate studies in the United\nStates, Liu made a decision that surprised many. He chose to leave\nacademia and become a Buddhist monk.<\/p>\n
After years of monastic life, Liu officially returned to secular life\nin 2022. He then moved into the field of psychology.<\/p>\n
A year later, Liu began building his own business combining\npsychology and traditional Chinese culture through livestreaming and\nonline courses. In the same year, Liu married. He and his wife were\nblessed with a son in 2024.<\/p>\n
According to the Chinese media outlet The Paper, Liu now works from a\none-bedroom flat of less than 30 square metres in Beijing, which has\nbeen converted into a studio. His routine begins at around 07:00 to\n08:00 in the morning. At 09:00, Liu starts livestreaming.<\/p>\n
Apart from around three hours of meals and rest at midday, he works\nuntil about 21:00. His total working time can exceed ten hours a\nday.<\/p>\n
His work is also not limited to appearing on camera. Liu has to plan\nvideo topics, check scripts, record course material, manage staff, and\nrun in-person psychology workshops.<\/p>\n
He admits he has not yet been able to significantly reduce his\nworkload because the business he is building is still in its early\nstages.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire internet industry has a culture of extremely fierce\ncompetition. If you don\u2019t move forward, you\u2019ll be left behind,\u201d Liu said\nin an interview with The Paper in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen everyone is trying so hard to get ahead, sometimes you have no\nchoice but to compete as well,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Liu\u2019s business journey did not immediately yield large profits. When\nhe first started out, his financial situation was quite tight.<\/p>\n
He and his wife lived in the flat that is now used as a studio.\nMeanwhile, his first livestream was broadcast from his parents-in-law\u2019s\nbedroom using a simple backdrop and table.<\/p>\n
After about three years as an entrepreneur, Liu said his business has\nindeed not made him rich. However, at the very least, the venture is no\nlonger loss-making.<\/p>\n
Liu and his wife, who also works in the business, now live with their\nson in a rented two-bedroom flat. Their former home is now used entirely\nas a studio.<\/p>\n
Marriage and fatherhood have also changed Liu\u2019s views on money. When\nhe was only responsible for himself, Liu said he once thought he could\nsurvive on just 1,000 yuan, or about US$140, a month. At current\nexchange rates, that amount is equivalent to roughly Rp2 million.<\/p>\n
Even in the worst-case scenario, he felt it would not be a problem if\nhe had to sleep under a bridge. That view changed after he had a wife\nand child.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupporting a family requires money. You have to buy groceries, cook,\nand eat better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Liu\u2019s decision to earn money from his knowledge has also drawn\ncriticism online. Some internet users have questioned why a former maths\nprodigy and Buddhist monk now sells courses and products through\nlivestreaming.<\/p>\n
However, Liu sees no contradiction between his past life and his\ncurrent work. According to him, selling products is legitimate work as\nlong as the goods are chosen carefully and genuinely benefit\nconsumers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we sincerely want to help others, we also need to earn a living\nand make our work sustainable,\u201d Liu told Jimu News in an interview in\nAugust.<\/p>\n
Despite the pressures of running a business and the responsibility of\nsupporting his family, Liu said he is content with his life now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I do every day is meaningful, and it is something I am\ngenuinely interested in,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maths-genius-who-rejected-mit-to-become-a-monk-now-sells-online-1789447895", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }