National Religious Affairs Administration

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The National Religious Affairs Administration (NRAA), formerly the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), is an external name of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

National Religious Affairs Administration
国家宗教事务局
Old Logo of the NRAA
Department overview
JurisdictionChina
StatusExternal name of the United Front Work Department
State Administration of the State Council (historical)
HeadquartersPrince Chun Mansion, 44 Houhai Beiyan, Xicheng District, Beijing
Department executive
  • Chen Ruifeng, Director
Parent departmentUnited Front Work Department
Websitewww.sara.gov.cn
National Religious Affairs Administration
Traditional Chinese國家宗教事務局
Simplified Chinese国家宗教事务局
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGuójiā Zōngjiào Shìwù Jú

Formerly, SARA was an executive agency directly under the State Council of the People's Republic of China which oversaw religious affairs in the country. In 2018, the agency and its functions were merged into the United Front Work Department. The names of the former agency were retained by the United Front Work Department as external names under the system called "one institution with two names".

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.: 12  The RAB was criticised during the Cultural Revolution.: 12  It was abolished in 1975.: 12 

In April 1979, the RAB was re-established with Xiao back as its director.: 12–13  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.": 12 

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

Name Chinese name Took office Left office Ref.
Shao Quanlin 邵荃麟 August 1950 January 1951 [citation needed]

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

Name Chinese name Took office Left office Ref.
He Chengxiang 何成湘 January 1951 1954 [citation needed]

Religious Affairs Bureau

Name Chinese name Took office Left office Ref.
He Chengxiang 何成湘 1954 March 1961 [citation needed]
Xiao Xianfa 萧贤法 March 1961 1975 [citation needed]
Bureau Disestablished 1975 1979 [citation needed]
Xiao Xianfa 萧贤法 April 1979 18 August 1981 [citation needed]
Qiao Liansheng 乔连升 1982 1983 [citation needed]
Ren Wuzhi 任务之 1983 1992 [citation needed]
Zhang Shengzuo 张声作 1992 1995 [citation needed]
Ye Xiaowen 叶小文 May 1995 March 1998 [citation needed]

State Administration of Religious Affairs

Name Chinese name Took office Left office Ref.
Ye Xiaowen 叶小文 March 1998 September 2009 [citation needed]
Wang Zuo'an 王作安 September 2009 June 2022 [citation needed]
Cui Maohu 崔茂虎 7 June 2022 18 March 2023 [citation needed]
Chen Ruifeng 陈瑞峰 20 March 2023 Incumbent [citation needed]

See also

  • United Front Work Department
  • State Ethnic Affairs Commission

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