the list of china’s banned religious groups · of china’s banned religious groups edward irons...

TheListof China’sBannedReligiousGroups

EdwardIronsTheHongKongInstitute

CESNURKoreaJuly2016

Preliminaryversion.Pleasedonotreproduceorquotewithouttheconsentoftheauthor

• Iwouldliketospendthenext25minutesorsodiscussingChina’sofficiallistsofbannedreligiousgroups.Theselistshavebeenconsolidatedandpublishederratically.HowevertheyappeartobeanimportantaspectofthecontemporaryreligioussceneinChina.Iwishtoinvestigatethesetwoquestions:

• Whatistheirsignificance?

• Whatcanwelearnfromthem?

Overview

Firstproscriptionpublishedin1983

ConsolidatedLists1995,2000,Mar.25,2014

AgenciesInvolved:

q VariousPublicSafetyBureaus公安局

qGeneralOfficeoftheStateCouncil国务院办公厅

qGeneralOfficeoftheCentralCommittee中共中央办公厅LetmestartbysayingIamfocusedonthepublisheddocumentsandwhattheyindicate.Iamnotgoingtoarguefororagainstthegovernment’sposition,orwhetherornotthisgrouporthatdeservestobesingledout.Iamgoingtosuggestthatthematerialinthelistsisofspecialinteresttoscholarsofnewreligions.

Thefirstgrouptobesingledoutwasagroupsreferred toastheShouters,inacircularof1982.Othergroupsweresingledoutovertheyears.Consolidatedlistswerepublishedin1995,2000,andagainin2014.Thesethreearethe“lists”proper.Theyconstituteimportantdocumentsreflectingreligiouspolicy.Iwilldiscussthecircularsaswellastheconsolidatedlists,sincemanyofthemwerepublishedinlistform,andtheyprovidedcontentsubsequentlycompiledintolists.

Arangeofagenciesareinvolvedinthesecirculars,butthemajorlistsarepublishedbyPublicSafety,theStateCouncil,bothgovernmentagencies,andtheGeneralOfficeoftheCentralCommittee,adepartmentoftheparty.

Background:ChineseGovernmentStructure

Source:ChinaBusinessReviewhttp://cesran.org/images/stories/CCP_government_structure.jpg

OrgansUndertheStateCouncil国务院直属机构PublicSecurity公安部：Ministry underStateCouncil

StateAdministrationofReligiousAffairs（SARA）

国家宗教事务局

Organs Under theParty中共中央办公厅

GeneralOffice

oftheCentralCommittee

oftheCommunistPartyofChina

BusinessInsiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-communist-party-one-chart-2012-9

Background:HistoricalStages(asimplifiedview)

Consolidation

•1949-1966Stateco-option&control+

• “Anti”movements

CulturalRevolutio

n•1966-1978•Eradication &radicalattacksonreligions+rapidgrowthinruralareas

Reform&

Liberalization• 1979-2016

• Normalization&toleranceofsomereligiousactivity+growth ofunregisteredreligions

IntheinitialperiodofCommunistruletherewasaperiodofquietasthepartyconsolidatedpowerandpreparedforchange.Manyreligiousgroupscontinuedbusinessasusual.Startingin1950thisbegantochange.Religious institutionswerebroughtunderstatemanagementwithinthe“fiveestablsiehd religions” rhetoric.In1953aseriesofMovements,theFive-Antis,whichtargetedcpecific religiousgroups,notableYiguandao,JesusFamily,andLittleFlock/LocalChurches.

ThePeriodofConsolidation1949-1966

Inmyview,themostdevastatingblowtoallChristiansinthelate1950swastheanti-rightistmovement,whichpunishedarbitrarilyhundredsofthousands,shutdowndissentorevendialoguewiththestate,andnearlycriminalizedreligiousbeliefitself,despitethestateconstitution.

ThencametheGreatLeapForwardin1958,whichoccasioned…theclosingofover90percentofthechurcheswhichwerestillopen...

DanielBays

ANewHistoryofChristianityinChina,2012

Thisquotegivesonscholar'sviewontheconsolidationthattookplace inthe1950s.Itwasatimeofwrenchingchangeforreligiouspractitioners,manyofwhomhopedthenewregimewouldallowthemtopractice theirreligionasusual.

TheCulturalRevolution1966-1978

”...religionsdisappearedonlyfromthepublicscene.Notonlydidmanypeoplemaintaintheirfaithinseret,butperseveringbelieversalsogatheredforworshipathomeorinthewilderness.Religionsimplywentunderground.”

FenggangYangReligioninChina:SurvivalandRevivalUnderCommunistRule,

2012,p.73.TheCulturalRevolutionisoftendepictedasacatastropheforreligion. Butrecentopinioniscomingaroundtotheviewthatwiththestatebodiesbusywithpolitical struggle, itwasatimeofhiatus.True,placesofworshipweredamaged.Butmuchreligiousactivitysimplywentunderground.

DocumentsIssued:Types

ØIndividualPublicSecuritySectionPublicNotifications:“PublicSecuritySectionPublicNotification#39”2000.

ØStateBureauNotifications:“NotificationonSituationandWorkingOpinionRegardingPublicSecurityProscriptionofShoutersandotherEvilCultOrganizations中央办公厅、国务院办公厅下发《关于转发〈公安部关于查禁取缔"呼喊派"等邪教组织的情况及工作意见〉的通知》（厅字[1995]50号）

ØProvinceandCitiesmayissueothernotificationsØ“ConsolidatedList”Notifications:1995-50,2000-39.

TheformofthedocumentscanbePublicSecurityNotificationsorCentralCommitteeNotifications.Theyareusuallywritteninthisform:“NotificationconcerningXXProscription.”Theyaregivenyearandsequencenumbers,suchas“1995-50.”

Province,citiesandcountiesalsoissuenotifications.Someofthesemaketheirwayintotheconsolidatedlistsof1995,2000,and2014.

SettingtheStage:Publications

1982 中共中央印發〔1982〕19号文件關於我國社會主義時期宗教問題的基本觀點和基本政策

PartyCentralPublishingDocument1982-19:“RegardingBasicViewpointandFundamentalPoliciesTowardtheReligiousProblemDuringthePeriodofSocialism”

Thepronouncementsdonotspringfromavaccuum.Theyareoftenprecededbyarticlesorcommentaryinthepress,officialpublications,or,today,onlinecommentary.Oneimportantexamplewasthepublicationin1982ofanarticle“Concerning thebasicperspectiveandpolicytowardthereligiousquestionduringtheperiodofsocialism.” Thiswaspublication19in1982fromtheCentralPublicationBureauoftheCommunistParty.Thisarticle hintedattheneedtocontrolunregisteredgroupsclaiming tobereligious.

TheConsolidatedListsIbeginwiththesecondlist.14groupsarelisted,included6copiedfromthepreceding,1995summarydocument.Ausefuldefinitionofxiejiao isgiven.Thislistiswidelyavailableontheinternet.NotetheofficialPublicSecuritychop,dated2000.

Axiejiao isdefinedasanyillegalorganizationsthat:

a.establishesanillegalorganizationinthenameof

religion,Qigong,etc;

b. deifiestheirleaders;[8]

c. initiatesandspreadssuperstitionsandheterodox beliefs迷信邪說

d. utilizesvariousmeanstofabricateandspreadsuperstitionsandheterodox[orcultic]beliefstoexcitedoubtsanddeceivethepeople,recruitandcontrolitsmembersbymeans.

e. engagesindisturbingsocialorderinanorganizedmannerthatbringsinjurytothelivesandpropertiesofthecitizens.危害公民生命財產安全等活動。

Thetermxiejiao ishereusedas“cult.” Infactthistermhasalonghistory.Itwasborrowedinthe1990sasaconvenient,well-knowntermfortranslatingaforeignwordthathaditsowncomplexbackground.

ConsolidatedList2:2000-39Notification onSituation andWorking Opinion Regarding Public Security Proscription ofShouters andother EvilCultOrganizations中央办公厅、国务院办公厅下发《关于转发〈公安部关于查禁取缔"呼喊派"等邪教组织的情况及工作意见〉的通知》（厅字[1995]50号）

ØTotal14Groups

ØListedthesixproscribedgroupsinDocument1995-50andonemore(nodocument)verifiedas xiejiao bytheNationalCCPCentralCommitteeandtheStateCouncil

ØListedanadditional7certifiedasxiejiao邪教 inPublicSecurityannouncementsbetween1995and1999

ØDefinesanevilcult:

a.Illegalorganizationsestablishedinthenameof religion,qigong,etc.

b. that deifytheirleaders;

c. thatinitiateandspreadsuperstitionsandheterodoxbeliefs迷信邪說;

d. thatutilizevariousmeanstofabricateandspreadsuperstitions

andheterodox[orcultic]beliefstoexcitedoubtsanddeceivethepeople,recruit

andcontrolitsmembersbymeans;

e. thatengageindisturbingsocialorderinanorganizedmannerthatbringsinjury

tothelivesandpropertiesofthecitizens危害公民生命財產安全等活動。

ConsolidatedList1: 1995-50

Ø1995午11月，中央辦公廳、國務院辦公廳下發了《關於轉發〈公安部關於查禁取締「呼喊派」等邪教組織的情況及工作意見〉的通知》﹙廳字[1995]50號﹚

ØCentralOffice,NationalCongressGeneralOfficeCirculated“RegardingtheCirculationofPublicSecurityDepartmentNotificationontheCircumstancesandOpinionsRegardingtheProscriptionontheShoutersandotherCultorganizations”(1995-50)

ØTotalSixProscribedgroups

⁈

Andnow,thefirstchronological list,from1995.Iplace thissecondbecauseofaproblemIhaveintheresearch: Icannotfindahardcopy.KimChanandIhavelookedhard.Forsomereasonthisdocumentnoteasilyavailable. Verydifferentfrom#2000-39.Butitexists--itscontentsmakeupthecoreof#2000-39.

Thereare6groupsreferred toin@1995-50.

ConsolidatedList3Andnowtothethirdlist,fromMay,2014.Youcanseethatthisoneisnotissuedbyagovernmentagencyatall.ItisawidelydisseminatedlistfromtheChinaAnti-CultAgency,publishedJune4,2014,inresponsetotheMcDonaldsEasternLightningincident.Noneofthegroupsonthislistarenew--theyallappearedonlist#2.

Consolidated List3:May,2014;AftertheMcDonalds Incident…it’salldonethrough themedia

20Groups…NONENEW

Sidebar:ASuggestionEachpronouncementisthepublicface/expressionofanetworkofinterlacedfactors:publicsecurityactions,courtorders,opinionpieces,andcustomarypractises.

Pronounce-ment公布

Courtorders

Partypolicy

PublicSecurityActions

Opinionpieces

Publicpressure

Customarypractice

TheIndividualGroups

NowIturntoindividualgroups,batchedtogetherforconvenience.

Pre-19954Groups

TheShouters呼喊派／TeachingsofChángshòu常受教: recognizedinChineseofficialsourcesasdescendingfromtheLivingStreamMinistryfoundedin1965byLǐChángshòu李常受in

theUS(1983)

FullScopeChurch全范围教会: foundedinHénán in1984byXúYǒngzé徐永泽 (1988)

TheDiscipleSociety门徒会: startedbyLǐSānbǎo季三保 in

Shǎanxī陕西 (1989)

TheLingling Sect灵灵教: foundedin1986inJiāngsū江苏byHúaXǔehé华雪和 (1991)

Fewcircularswereissuedbefore1995.

19957GroupsAnointedKing被立王

established1992inĀnhùi安徽byWú

Yángmíng吴杨明(1995)

Churchof

AlmightyGod全能神教会/EasternLightning东方闪电／

TrueGod实际神／NewMasterofPower新能力主:

founded1989inHenan河南byZhào

Wéishān赵维山(1995)

GuanyinMethod观音法门,

founded1988byChing

Hai青海in

Taiwan(1995)

MainlandChinaAdministrativeDeaconStation中华大陆行政执事站:founded1994inHenanbyWángYǒngmín王永民(1995)

ChildrenofGod天父的儿女;

alternatively,TheFamilyInternational(家庭国际:foundedin1968

inCalifornia byDavidBerg(1995)

DamiMission达米宣教会:foundedintheearly

1990sinSouth

KoreabyLeeJangRim(1995)

TrueBuddhaSchool灵仙真佛:

founded1979inTaiwanbyLü

Shèngyán卢胜彦(1995)

Atonofgroupscameintoviewin1995,asreflected in#1995-50consolidatedlist#2.Clearly theincreased religiousactivity,especiallyinthecountryside,hadcreatedconcerninthegovernment.

Atthistimeanewpoliceagencywascreated:

PublicSecurityAnti-Cult公安部反邪教組1999年6月10日

610辦公室

“610Office”

Theanti-cultdepartmentunderPublicSecurity.Theinsigniausedisthatofthepolice.

1995-19998Groups

NewTestame

ntChurch新约教会 :

foundedbyKongDuenYee(江端仪JīangDūanyǐ)inHongKongin1963(1995)

BloodyHoly

Spirit血水圣灵(xǔeshǔishènglín

g):founded1988inTaiwanbyZǔoKūn左坤(deemedpartofNTC)(1995)

WorldElijahGospelMissionSociety世界以利亚福音宣教会, alsoknownastheWorldMissionSociety:startedinKoreain1964byAhnSahng-hong(1996)

theUnificationChurch统一教:founded1954byMunSon-myong inSouthKorea(1997)

LordGodSect主神教:

established1993byLíuJīagúo刘家国inHúnán(1998)

ThreeGradesofServants三班仆人派:foundedin1988in

HénánbyXúWénkù徐文库(1999)

Fǎlúngōng法轮功:foundedin1992inJilinbyLǐHóngzhì李洪志(suppressedfrom1999)

Yúandùnfǎmén（Perfect

andSuddenDharmaGate)圆顿法门:foundedbyXǔ

Chéngjīang许成江 in

Hēilóngjīang in1998

(suppressedasabranchofChingHaifrom1999)

Thelate1990ssawmorecirculars. ConsolidatedList#2,2000-39,includedFalungong,whichhadexplodedonthescenein2000.(Manyqigonggroupsweredeclared illegal atthesametime,butnotincludedonthiscultlist.)

Anotherneworganizationaldevelopmentinthsiperiod:

ChinaAnti-CultAssociation(CACA)中国反邪教协会Est.Nov.2000

“voluntary,”non-profitorganization

Mediatreatsannouncesasofficialnotices:June4,2014FrontPageLogo

TheChinaAnti-CultAssociationwasestablished in2000.Notethiswassetupasapseudo-NGO,notanagencyofthepoliceortheParty.Yetthemediatreateditsannouncements asofficialcirculars.

Post-19994Groups

Zhōnggōng中功:

establishedinthe1987asaqìgōnggroupbyZhāng

Hóngbbǎo张宏堡(2000)

SouthChina

Church华南教会:founded1990inHúběi byGǒng

Shènglìang龚圣亮(2001)

PureLandLearningAssociation净宗学会:

foundedby

BuddhistMaster

ChinKung净空 inTaiwanin1984

（deemedillegal2011）

AlcorLifeExtensionAssociation生命研究基金会:anon-

profitfirstfoundedinCaliforniabyFredandLindaChamberlainin1972（deemedillegal2011）

Fourmoregroupsweredeclared illegalinthe2000s.

1. Falungong法轮功2. ChurchofAlmightyGod全能神3. Shouters呼唤派4. DiscipleSociety门徒会5. UnificationChurch统一教6. GuanyinMethod观音法门7. BloodyHolySpirit血水圣灵8. FullScopeChurch全范围教会9. ThreeGradesofServant三班仆人派10. TrueBuddhaSchool灵仙真佛宗11. MainlandChinaAdministrativeDeaconStation中华大陆行政执事

站12. 灵灵教13. SouthChinaChurch华南教会14. Annointed King被立王15. LordGodSect主神教16. WorldGospelMissionSociety世界以利亚福音宣教会17. PerfectandSuddenDharmaGate圆顿法门18. NewTestamentChurch新约教会19. Dami Mission达米宣教会20. ChildrenofGod天父的儿女

ConsolidatedList#3:Aquickreminder,thelistfrom2014,ConsolidateList#3,contains20groups,noneofthemnew.OnlyZhonggong,theqigonggroup,isnotlisted.

Andnow,ontoa consolidated list.Notofficiallypublished.

TheConsolidatedList:23Groups• TheShouters呼喊派 (hūhǎnpài)／Teachings ofChángshòu常受教 (chángshoujìao): recognizedinChinese officialsources asdescendingfromtheLivingStreamMinistry founded in1965byLǐ Chángshòu 李常受intheUS(1983)

• FullScopeChurch全范围教会 (qúanfànwěijìaohùi): founded inHénán in1984byXú Yǒngzé徐永泽 (1988)

• TheDisciple Society门徒会 (méntúhùi): startedbyLǐ Sānbǎo季三保 inShǎanxī陕西 (1989)

• TheLingling Sect灵灵教 (línglíngjìao): founded in1986inJiāngsū江苏byHúa Xǔehé华雪和 (1991)

•AnointedKing被立王 (bèiliwáng)established 1992inĀnhùi安徽byWú Yángmíng吴杨明 (1995)

•ChurchofAlmightyGod全能神教会 (qúannéngshén jìaohùi)/Eastern Lightning东方闪电 (dōngfāng shǎndìan)／True God实际神(shíjìshén)／New MasterofPower新能力主 (xīnnénglìzhǔ): founded1989inHenan河南byZhàoWéishān 赵维山 (1995)

•GuanyinMethod观音法门 (guānyīn fǎmén), founded1988byChingHai青海 (qīnghǎi) inTaiwan(1995)

•MainlandChinaAdministrativeDeaconStation中华大陆行政执事站 (zhōnghúadàlùxíngzhèngahíshìzhàn): founded1994inHenanbyWáng Yǒngmín王永民 (1995)

•ChildrenofGod天父的儿女 (tiānfùde érnǔ); alternatively,TheFamily International(家庭国际 (jiātíng gúojì): founded in1968inCalifornia byDavidBerg(1995)

•Dami Mission达米宣教会 (dámǐ xūanjìaohùi): founded intheearly1990sinSouthKoreabyLeeJangRim(1995)

• TrueBuddhaSchool灵仙真佛宗 (língxīan zhēnfózōng): founded1979inTaiwanbyLü Shèngyán卢胜彦 (1995)

ConsolidatedList(cont.):23Groups•NewTestamentChurch新约教会 (xīnyūejìaohùi): foundedbyKongDuen Yee(江端仪Jīang Dūanyǐ)inHongKongin1963(1995)

•World ElijahGospelMission Society世界以利亚福音宣教会 (shījìeyǐlìyǎ fúyīn xuānjìaohùi), alsoknownastheWorldMission Society:startedinKoreain1964byAhn Sahng-hong (1996)

• theUnificationChurch统一教 (tǒngyījìao): founded1954byMun Son-myong inSouth Korea(1997)

• LordGodSect主神教 (zhǔshénjìao): established 1993byLíu Jīagúo刘家国inHúnán (1998)

• ThreeGradesofServants三班仆人派 (sānbānpǔrénpài): founded in1988inHénán byXúWénkù 徐文库 (1999)

• Zhōnggōng中功:established inthe1987asaqìgōng groupbyZhāng Hóngbbǎo张宏堡 (2000)

• Fǎlúngōng法轮功:founded in1992inJilin byLǐ Hóngzhì李洪志 (suppressed from1999)

• Yúandùnfǎmén圆顿法门: foundedbyXǔ Chéngjīang许成江 inHēilóngjīang in1998(suppressed asabranchofChingHaifrom1999)

•BloodyHolySpirit血水圣灵 (xǔeshǔishènglíng): founded1988inTaiwanbyZǔo Kūn左坤 (1995)

• SouthChina Church华南教会 (húanánjìaohùi): founded1990inHúběi byGǒng Shènglìang龚圣亮 (2001)

•PureLandLearningAssociation净空学会 (jìngzōng xúehùi): foundedbyBuddhistMasterChin Kung净空 (jìngkōng) inTaiwanin1984（deemedillegal2011）

•AlcorLifeExtensionAssociation生命研究基金会 (shēngmìng yánjìu jījīnhùi): anon-profit firstfounded inCalifornia byFredandLindaChamberlain in1972（deemedillegal2011）

Consolidated List:Noting10Overseas GroupsFully43%aresaidtohaveoverseas ties.

1. TheShouters呼喊派

2. FullScopeChurch全范围教会

3. TheDisciple Society门徒会

4. TheLingling Sect灵灵教

5. AnointedKing被立王

6. ChurchofAlmightyGod全能神教会

7. GuanyinMethod观音法门

8. MainlandChinaAdministrativeDeaconStation中华大陆行政执事站

9. ChildrenofGod天父的儿女

10. Dami Mission达米宣教会

11. TrueBuddhaSchool灵仙真佛宗

1. NewTestament新约教会

2. World ElijahGospelMission Society世界以利亚福音宣教会

3. theUnificationChurch统一教

4. LordGodSect主神教

5. ThreeGradesofServants三班仆人派

6. Zhōnggōng中功

7. Fǎlúngōng法轮功

8. Yúandùnfǎmén圆顿法门

9. BloodyHolySpirit血水圣灵

10. SouthChina Church华南教会

11. PureLandLearningAssociation净宗学会

12. AlcorLifeExtensionAssociation生命研究基金会

Consolidated List:Noting16Christian-inspired Groups70%areChristian-inspired












1. NewTestament新约教会












Consolidated List:Noting7Syncretic andBuddhist-inspiredGroups(30%)












1. NewTestamentxīnyūejìaohùi)












MinorGroups

ØKindnessSect恩惠教

ØDeclaredhereticalNov.1999incircularfromUrumuqi PublicSecurity

ØFounded1997byPanWei潘卫

Ø30house-churchgroupsinXinjiang

ØChinaGospelFellowship中华福音团切

ØTanghe County,Henan

Duihua ResearchJuly10,2014

www.duihuaresearch.org/search/label/Religion

Thisconsolidatedliststill leavesoffmanyminororlocalgroups.Someexamples...

TheLatestAdditions: 2011

AFinally, letmefocusonthelasttwoadditions. Iinclude theseforareason.ThePureLandLearningAssociationwasgrowingveryquickly insouthernChinathroughoutthe2000s.Ipersonally sawmanytraditionaltemplesinGaungzhouwereactuallyused asworkshops topackCDsandhandouts ofMasterChinKung.Heseemeduterly conventional.Sowhenthisgroupwasmadeillegalitsurprisedme.Onepossibility isthatitbecametoopopular.

PureLandLearningAssociation净宗学会:

foundedbyBuddhistMasterChin Kung净空

inTaiwanin1984（deemedillegal2011）

TheLatestAdditions: 2011

BThesecondgroup,AlcorLifeExtension,isnotareligiousgroupatall.It's includedherebecause itwasincludedinthesamecircularasthePureLandLearningAssociation. Itsuggests alevelofconcern. Andforus,anewdirectionofresearch.PerhapsinthiscasethePartyisaheadofus???

AlcorLifeExtensionAssociation生命研究基金会:

anon-profitfirstfoundedinCalifornia

byFredandLindaChamberlainin1972

（deemed illegal2011）

“Theworld’s leadingcryonicsorganization.”

Conclusion•Officialpronouncementscontinuetobeconsideredusefulforsocialcontrol

•Thepronouncementspartiallyreflectstatepolicyandconcerns,plusambiguities

•Pronouncementsmaybedated--notreflectingcurrentthinking

•Inclusiononthelist--illegalstatus--isamajorbarriertodialogandactivity

•TheListdoesreflectsonlyaportionofactivityontheground

•Thelistisneverthelessusefultoscholars

•A majordistinctionexistsbetweencults邪教 andreligions宗教 (neworestablished)

•Post-2000thegovernmentswitchedtoindirectmeansbesidesPublicSecurityCirculars…reflectstheinfluenceoftheinternetandamorenuancedmediapolicy?

Thankyou!

Conferencecyberproceedingsarepublishedfordocumentarypurposes.Theviewexpressedaretheauthor'sanddonotnecessarilyrepresentCESNUR'sopinions.