It's estimated that there is something like 100 million believers in Buddhism in China. The responsibility for organizing the faith's formal religious activities and training falls to the Buddhist Association of China. On September 8 in Beijing, the association's chairman, Abbot Yi Cheng formally assumed his role as head of one of China's key centers of Buddhist education.

An ordinary morning, but a special day for the monks in the Fayuan Monastery. On September 8, they are anointing a new abbot, the head of the Buddhist Monastery. The ceremony for an abbot to take office is called an assumption of the seat, a position that commands worship and respect.

Yi Cheng, 76-year-old, was elected the President of the Buddhist Association of China last year. Before coming to Beijing, he had practiced Buddhism for 50 years. He insists on combining religious practice with self cultivation and takes great joy in seeing increasing numbers of his disciples integrate Buddhism with Chinese culture. The new abbot's spokesman describes the changes Yi Cheng has seen.

Abbot Xuecheng, vice president of Buddhist Association of China, said: "Buddhism has increasing numbers of followers in China. The monks have become much younger and better educated."

The Fayuan Monastry is the home of the Chinese Buddhism College and one of the oldest and biggest temples in Beijing. Its foundations go back 1,300 years. Since the 1980s, it has become a sacred place for Chinese monks to receive training in the religion's doctrines and practice. It's also a special place for ordinary believers to pray.

A Buddhist said: "I began believing in Buddhism when I was 9. I think religion is not superstition. Buddha teaches people to be good in the same way that Confucius and Laotze did."

Unlike Taoism and Confucianism which originated in China, Buddhism was introduced from India about 2,000 years ago. It's been through ups and downs in that time and made a comeback in recent years.

(CCTV.com September 9, 2003)