Buddhist Association of China

The Buddhist Association of China (BCA; simplified Chinese: 中国佛教协会; traditional Chinese: 中國佛教協會; pinyin: Zhōngguó Fójiào Xiéhuì) is a major organization of Chinese Buddhism, which serves as the official supervisory organ of Buddhism in the People's Republic of China. It was founded in 1953 at the urging of followers of Taixu, and its headquarters are located in Guangji Temple in Beijing.

The BCA shares jurisdiction over Buddhists in China with the State Administration for Religious Affairs, which regulates all recognized religions.^[1] Specifically, the BCA is charged with serving as a "bridge" linking Buddhists to the Chinese government by communicating government regulations to Buddhists and mobilizing them to comply with national laws.^[2] It also encourages participation of Chinese Buddhists in international Buddhist fora and supports local Buddhist associations in paying clerics' salaries, in registering temples with the government, and in productively using temple labor. The association publishes a journal, Chinese Buddhism.^[1]

In 2006, The BCA and the Hong Kong Buddhist Association hosted the second World Buddhist Forum for dialogue between Buddhist monks and scholars from 50 countries and regions. The forum lasted for four days in the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province.^[3] The organizer of events was the president of the BCA, Venerable Master Yi Cheng. The vice president is Gyaincain Norbu, an 11th Panchen Lama.^[4] The 14th Dalai Lama was offered a conditional invitation if he were to stop advocating Tibetan independence and committing other "secessionist activities", but he refused.^[5]

The past presidents of the Buddhist Association of China include:

• Venerable Master Yuen Ying (1953)
• Sherap Gyatso (1953 - 1966)
• Zhao Puchu (1980 - 2000)
• Venerable Master Yi Cheng (2005 -)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ashiwa, Yoshiko; Wank, David L. (2009). Making Religion, Making the State: The Politics of Religion in Modern China. Stanford University Press. p. 130. 
2. ^ Congressional-Executive Committee on China, Tibet Special Report 2008-2009, October 22, 2009
3. ^ "2nd World Buddhist Forum opens in E Chinese city". Wuxi: Xinhua. 2009-03-28. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/28/content_11087458.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
4. ^ "China's Panchen Lama voted VP of state Buddhism body: report". Agence France-Presse. 2010-02-03. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i04cHcVW4urz2cwDUP8f5ck2s_kg. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
5. ^ "Dalai Lama not invited to World Buddhist Forum in eastern Chinese city". Wuxi: Xinhua. 2009-03-27. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/27/content_11082595.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 

External links

The following list is not complete since many Buddhist associations operating in China don't hold websites.

• Chinese Buddhist Association

• Chinese Buddhist Online Network
• Chinese Buddhist Culture Network
• International Chinese Buddhist Association
• Mount Wutai Buddhist Association
• Mount Emei Buddhist Association
• Mount Jiuhua Buddhist Association
• Buddhist Life Network
• Chinese Buddhist Temples Online Network
• Chinese Buddhist Music and Art Association
• Buddhist Information Network
• Chinese Buddhist System Center
• Chinese Buddhist Studies
• Chinese Buddhist Online Community
• Baoguang Temple Buddhist Association
• Huayan Temple Buddhist Association
• Tianjin Jile Temple Buddhist Association
• Guoen Temple Buddhist Association
• Daci Temple Buddhist Association
• Shaolin Temple Buddhist Association

Chapters

• Beijing Buddhist Association
  • Beijing Lay Buddhist Association
  • Lingguang Temple Buddhist Association
  • Baita Temple Buddhist Association
• Shanghai Buddhist Network
• Chonqing Buddhist Association and Buddhist Temples Network
• Guangdong Buddhist Association
  • Guangzhou Guangxiao Temple Buddhist Association
  • Hongfa Temple Buddhist Association
  • Meizhou Buddhist Association
  • Shenzhen Buddhist Association
• Fujian Buddhist Association
  • Xiamen Buddhist Association
  • Changle Buddhist Association
• Neijiang Buddhist Association
• Leshan Buddhist Association
• Anhui Buddhist Association
• Zhejiang Buddhist Network
  • Jiaxiang Buddhist Association
  • Yuyao Buddhist Association
  • Dafo Temple Buddhist Association
• Qiqihar Buddhist Association
• Inner Mongolia Buddhist Association
• Hunan Buddhist Association
• Henan Buddhist Institute
• Xuzhou Buddhist Association
• Yunnan Buddhist Association
• Hebei Buddhist Association - Bailin Temple
  • Xingtai Buddhist Association
  • Qinhuangdao Buddhist Association
  • Baoding Buddhist Association
• Hubei Buddhist Association
• Kunshan Buddhist Association
• Shandong Buddhist Association
  • Yantai Buddhist Association
• Mianyang Buddhist Association