Traces of Shenism wind through the tapestry of Chinese life like an undercurrent, quietly shaping customs, art, and stories for millennia. Temples dedicated to local spirits dot every province, their ornate eaves and swirling dragon motifs reflecting a belief that the natural and supernatural realms must dance in harmony. That idea still ripples through modern city planning—feng shui consultants are regularly summoned to bless new skyscrapers or tech campuses, a nod to age-old spirit-worship practices.

Artistic traditions owe a huge debt to Shenism. Ink painters have long depicted mountain deities and water spirits, their brushstrokes capturing an invisible world where every rock or pine tree might house a guardian. Ceramics and woodblock prints often feature tiger-warding symbols and ghost-banishing talismans, a visual language born straight out of spirit lore. Even contemporary galleries showcase installations that evoke temple atmospheres—pillars of red lanterns, incense coils drifting skyward—bringing Shenist aesthetics into the 21st century.

Literature, too, brims with echoes of Shenism. Classic novels like “Journey to the West” and collections of Zhiguai (tales of the strange) weave in ghosts, fox spirits, and benevolent mountain gods. Poets have praised river deities alongside nature’s beauty, lending divine presence to otherwise ordinary landscapes. Fast-paced web novels and graphic novels today still mine that rich vein of folklore, as seen in hit series streamed on platforms like Bilibili, where demon halls and spirit trials capture millions of views.

Festival culture remains another living testament. During the Hungry Ghost Festival or regional spirit-release ceremonies, communities gather to offer paper money, rice balls, and lanterns, believing these acts keep harmony between both worlds. Against the backdrop of high-tech China—drone shows, TikTok dances—these age-old rituals prove that spiritual traditions aren’t relics but active forces, guiding everyday choices and inspiring new creative directions.