China’s efforts to sinicize – or “make Chinese” – all official religions in the country have gained momentum in recent months. Evidence of this acceleration is, literally, blowing in the wind.
Buddhism
13-Year-Old Temple in Huangshi City Destroyed
Xishan Temple, which cost $1 million RMB to be built in 2005 by a Buddhist woman from Huangshi city, in the central province of Hubei, is now a pile of ruins — thanks to a government demolition crew.
Monks in Crisis After Temples Are Closed Down
Numerous Buddhist and Taoist temples throughout China have been sealed off or demolished, leaving the elderly monks and believers who lived there with nowhere to go.
Authorities Target Billboards Containing Word “Buddha”
China’s latest round of crackdown against Buddhist venues continues to intensify. Even shop signboards containing the Chinese character Fó (佛meaning “Buddha” or “Buddhism”) have been forcibly removed or painted over. The Buddhist supplies store was replaced by “arts...
Saving Buddhist Statues in Hebei
After the central government ordered to demolish all religious statues in Wu’an city, local people decided to conceal 500 Buddhist statues in an attempt to save them. An almost 30-meter-tall statue of Buddha did not survive.
A Temple Forcibly Demolished Despite Residents’ Protests
A Buddhist Temple in Fujian Province was razed to the ground because of the local authorities’ plans to use its land for a real estate development with private companies.
Authorities Crack Down on Buddhists at Mount Jiuhua
A memorial archway at one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism has been forcibly demolished, and the president of the Mount Jiuhua Buddhist Association has been placed under house arrest.
Religious Policies as a Means of Extortion
A local Religious Affairs Bureau in Hubei Province summoned local Buddhists to a meeting about the newly revised Regulations on Religious Affairs. Not only were they required to pay a participation fee, but also had to purchase national flags and fire extinguishers.
Buddhist Abbot Rendered Homeless by Authorities
After the temple was sealed off in March this year and all the monks were driven away, one of them kept coming back since he had nowhere else to live. Each time he was discovered by local officials who ordered him to leave.
Demolition of Temples Impacts Livelihood of Local People (Video)
As part of the nationwide campaign, the Wuhan city authorities in Hubei Province demolished a 36-meter-tall Guanyin statue in October. The demolition of Buddhist sites is not only an assault on religious liberties but also on the lives of locals who work there.