National Religious Affairs Administration

History

Originally created in 1951 as the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB), the State Administration for Religious Affairs was closely connected with the United Front Work Department (UFWD) and charged with overseeing the operations of China's five officially sanctioned religious organizations:

• Buddhist Association of China
• Chinese Taoist Association
• Islamic Association of China
• Three-Self Patriotic Movement (Protestant)
• Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association

Xiao Xianfa directed the RAB from 1961 to 1965. The RAB was criticised during the Cultural Revolution. It was abolished in 1975.

In April 1979, the RAB was re-established with Xiao back as its director. RAB's responsibilities were "to protect the freedom of religious beliefs of Chinese citizens as required by law, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of religious groups and the venues of their activities, ensure the religious leaders can conduct regular religious activities, and ensure citizens who wish to do so can take part in regular religious activities" and to "prevent and curb illegal, irregular, and illegitimate activities under the guise of religion."

The State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) was established to oversee religious appointments, the selection of clergy, and the interpretation of religious doctrine. State Administration for Religious Affairs was also meant to ensure that the registered religious organizations support and carry out the policy priorities of the CCP. For instance, SARA has maintained a "living Buddha database" to track prominent Tibetan Buddhists who are loyal to the CCP.

Ye Xiaowen directed the SARA from 1995 to 2009. During his tenure, he issued the State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5, which furthered state control over reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism, and attempted to suppress underground Catholics loyal to Rome (which he considered "colonial") and not to the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. After Ye was promoted to the Secretary of the CCP Committee at the Central Institute of Socialism, the former Deputy Director Wang Zuo'an was promoted to Director. In 2018, that NRAA was merged into the UFWD as part of the "deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions".

Leadership

Directors

Religious Issues Research Group of the Cultural and Educational Committee of the State Council

Religious Affairs Department of the Cultural and Educational Committee of the State Council

Religious Affairs Bureau

State Administration of Religious Affairs

References

References

1. (21 March 2018). "Fears about Chinese influence grow as more powers given to shadowy agency". South China Morning Post.
2. Joske, Alex. (May 9, 2019). "Reorganizing the United Front Work Department: New Structures for a New Era of Diaspora and Religious Affairs Work".
3. "中共中央印发《深化党和国家机构改革方案》_中央有关文件_中国政府网".
4. Mariani, Paul Philip. (2025). "China's Church Divided: Bishop Louis Jin and the Post-Mao Catholic Revival". [[Harvard University Press]].
5. link. (2013-02-17 , 10 March 2010.)
6. (2016-01-18). "China publishes 'living buddha' list". [[BBC News]].
7. Chin, Josh. (2016-01-19). "China Launches Living-Buddha Authentication Site, Dalai Lama Not Included".
8. Cervellera, Bernardo. (17 September 2009). "CHINA Ye Xiaowen, party hound on Vatican and religions, is promoted".
9. [http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/94/1/1/1268390/1.html 宗教局長換人 專家指政策不變] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-02-23 (New Chairman for SARA, Experts Says Policy Has Not Changed), [[Ming Pao]], 18 September 2009.)