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China is a united country of many ethnic groups. The Chinese government
pursues a policy of equality, unity and mutual assistance among
all the ethnic groups, respects and protects the right to freedom
of religious belief and the folk customs of the ethnic minorities.
The Law of the People's Republic of China on National Regional Autonomy
stipulates: "Organs of self-government in ethnic regional autonomous
areas protect the right to freedom of religious belief of the citizens
of all ethnic groups."
While making great efforts to promote progress in economy, culture,
education and other undertakings in the areas where ethnic minorities
live in compact communities, so as to improve the material and cultural
well-being of the broad masses of the ethnic minorities (including
believers in various religions), the Chinese government pays special
attention to their religious beliefs and the protection of their
cultural heritages. Special programs have been carried out to survey,
collect, classify, study and publish the cultural heritages-including
religious cultures-and folk arts of all the ethnic groups. In addition,
the State has made huge investments in the maintenance and reconstruction
of temples, mosques and other religious facilities of important
historical and cultural value in ethnic-minority areas.
Tibet is one of China's ethnic autonomous regions, and the Tibetans
mostly believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Since the peaceful liberation
of Tibet in 1951, and particularly since the introduction of the
reform and opening policies in 1979, citizens' right to freedom
of religious belief has been thoroughly carried out in Tibet. Since
the 1980s the central government has allocated more than 200 million
yuan in special funds for the maintenance and reconstruction of
the famous Potala Palace and the Jokhang, Tashilhunpo and Samye
monasteries. The State has also established special funds to support
the work of compiling and publishing the Tripitaka in the Tibetan
language and other major Tibetan Buddhist classics as well as the
work of establishing the Advanced Buddhism College of Tibetan Language
Family of China in Beijing and the Tibet College of Buddhism in
Lhasa.
At present, there are in Tibet over 1,700 places for Buddhist
activities and a total of 46,000 resident monks and nuns. Small
prayer halls or shrines are virtually universal in the homes of
believers, and pilgrims coming to Lhasa number well over one million
each year. Believers performing Buddhist rituals, and prayer umbrellas
and Mani rocks carved with Buddhist sutras can be found all over
the Tibet Autonomous Region. In addition, religious activities during
the annual Sholton Festival and the traditional practice of circling
Mount Kangrinboqe in the Year of the Horse and circling Lake Namco
in the Year of the Sheep along pilgrim paths have been carried on
and respected by society at large.
The reincarnation of holy men, or "Living Buddhas,"
is a unique form of succession in Tibetan Buddhism which has long
been recognized and respected by the State. In 1992 the Religious
Affairs Bureau of the State Council approved the succession of the
17th Karmapa Living Buddha. In 1995 China successfully concluded
the search for and identification of the reincarnation of the 10th
Panchen Lama and the title-conferring and enthronement of the 11th
Panchen Lama after lot-drawing from a golden urn according to the
established religious rituals and historical conventions of Tibetan
Buddhism, and with the approval of the State Council. These actions
highlight the fact that the Tibetan people's right to religious
freedom is respected and protected, thus winning endorsement and
support from the converts of Tibet.
Considering the special place of the Grand Living Buddhas in Tibetan
Buddhism of past generations in Tibetan social life, the Ming (1368-1644)
and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties gradually put the identifying of
the reincarnation of the Living Buddhas within the jurisdiction
of the central government and into the framework of the State's
laws and statutes. In 1792 the Qing government issued an order that
the reincarnation of the Grand Living Buddhas above the Hutuktu
rank be determined through drawing lots from the golden urn, which
later developed into a historical institution and was accepted as
a permanent religious ritual in Tibetan Buddhism. The "soul
boy" confirmed through lot-drawing from the golden urn as the
reincarnation of a Grand Living Buddha must be reported to the central
government for approval prior to his official enthronement. The
lot-drawing may be dispensed with under special circumstances, but
this must also be reported to the central government in advance
for approval. The practice of lot-drawing from the golden urn not
only upholds the central government's supreme authority and the
sovereignty of the State, but religiously displays the "decision
by Sakyamuni's Dharma" as well. Since 1792, in the reincarnation
system of the Grand Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism over 70 "soul
boys" have been identified by confirmation through lot-drawing
from the golden urn and with the approval of the central government.
Therefore, the approval of the reincarnation of the Grand Living
Buddhas by the central government is a religious ritual and historical
convention of Tibetan Buddhism, and is the key to safeguarding the
normal order of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Chinese government also respects and protects the Moslems'
freedom of religious belief as well as their folk customs. The departments
concerned in the government have provided special pilgrimage-related
services for Moslem pilgrims, to the acclaim of the latter. Since
the 1980s the number of Chinese Moslems going to Mecca on pilgrimages
has exceeded 40,000. In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region alone,
there are now more than 23,000 mosques, with 29,000 clergymen, having
thus met the needs of believers' religious life. Out of full consideration
for the dietary habits and funeral rites of those ethnic-minority
people who believe in Islam, the Chinese government has enacted
regulations on the production of halal food and opened Moslems-only
cemeteries. In recent years Chinese judicial organs have provided
legal protection for the lawful rights of the Moslems. Some cases
concerning publications badly hurting the religious feelings of
the Moslems have been handled according to law.
The Chinese government resolutely opposes attempts to split the
country along ethnic lines, and any use of religious fanaticism
to divide the people, split the country or harm the unity among
all ethnic groups or engage in illegal activities and terrorist
actions under the signboard of religion. Meanwhile, the Chinese
government firmly upholds national unity and social stability in
areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities, and safeguards
the normal religious activities of the ethnic-minority believers.
The Chinese government respects the generally accepted principles
regarding religious faiths in the international community, and holds
that these principles must be applied in accordance with the concrete
conditions and be carried out according to the domestic law of each
country. The Chinese government opposes creating confrontations
in religion or interfering in the internal affairs of another country
under the pretext of religion.
The facts make it fully clear that remarkable improvements have
been achieved in the situation of human rights of the Chinese people,
and the freedom of religious belief has enjoyed full respect and
legal protection since the founding of New China, particularly in
the recent two decades following the implementation of reform and
opening policies. The Chinese government will, as always, make ever-greater
efforts to safeguard human rights and specifically to protect the
freedom of religious belief.
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