Mandatory cremation and purchase of cemetery spaces for the ashes are denounced as both a scam enriching greedy bureaucrats and an attack against ancestor worship.
Ancestral Religions in China
Shenzhen, 4,000 Villagers Confront the Police After Destruction of an Ancestral Hall
The 300-year old monument in Futian District has been demolished due to a combination of official disregard for spiritual traditions and land speculation.
Spirit Money in Nantong: The Ban That Wasn’t
The local authorities’ attempt to prohibit joss paper burning on April 4, Tomb-Sweeping Day, failed. But the story is more complicated than it may seem.
Elderly Man Dies Protesting Temple Demolition in Anhui Province
Buddhist and folk religion temples continue to be destroyed across the eastern province of Anhui, as their guardians face government threats and police violence.
Folk Religion Temples Wiped Out Across China
After the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were lifted in April, authorities took to destroying temples on various pretexts.
90+ Folk Religion Temples Destroyed in Henan’s Linzhou City
The municipal government launched a unified crackdown campaign, resulting in demolitions and takeovers of religious venues across rural areas.
Ancestral Temples Repurposed for Public Use
Even the venues where familial clans meet to honor their ancestors and celebrate important events have become targets of the CCP’s crackdown on religion.
Police Harass and Beat Believers Protecting Temples
Authorities in Anhui Province use force against people who try to prevent demolitions of their worship venues.
160+ Folk Religion Temples Demolished, Shut Down in Sichuan
Chinese authorities crack down on all things religious, including venues of indigenous religions that have been an integral part of life in rural areas for years.
Ancestral Temples Turned into Communist Party Propaganda Bases
Communist ideology continues to invade places of worship across China, as folk religion temples are repurposed to propagate President Xi’s Thought.