AIMS AND GOALS

Role of religion and the importance of spiritual life after the earthquake Governments role in the cultural and religious rebuilding process The state of rebuilding and reconstruction of religious sites Visit and document the current stage of cultural rebuilding Gather local feedback and comments Assess current unmet needs in the post-quake Beichuan area Help gather and provide assistance needed

FROM THE PRC GOVERNMENT: RELIGION

China is officially atheist CCP party members and government officials are not allowed to be religious

Government funds 25% of the rebuilding of religious sites of worship Amount of funding is calculated based on damages The 75% of financing the rebuilding of religious sites must come from grassroots fundraising and donations Many of the rebuilt religious sites are heavy in debt from local banks, just as many residents of Beichuan Schools and hospitals are the first and quickest to be rebuilt, religious sites of worship are among the last and least funded areas of the rebuilding process

But religious sites must be rebuilt, according to government mandates, or else the land will be taken away The fundraising process almost entirely rests on donations Religious rebuilding reflects CCPs policy on religious freedom and tolerance

FROM THE GOVERNMENT: RELIGION (CONT.)

Religion in the 60s and during the Cultural Revolution was banned All forms of worship were illegal and considered as superstitions

Individuals worshiped in secrecy

21st century: a revival of religion? Transforming temples into cultural relics The local residents need religion as a control system Government can use religion as a tool to help control and shape social values

Stringent process of legitimizing and approving religious institutions and associations in China Standardization process

 109 religious sites of worship (temples) were damaged during the earthquake in the Mianyang area The estimated damage is around 340 million RMB
Government will fund about 25% rebuilding costs Remaining unmet funds must come from fundraising 66 million RMB raised through fundraising 67 million RMB: borrowed and loaned

Government funds go to approved-religious sites

Five major religions: Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam, Catholicism

 The old social lives revolve around religious activities and events Religious rebuilding: 5 state-approved religious and related sites of worship
Indigenous religions The most devout often tend to be local people at distant places whose livelihoods depend on nature

The most devout elderly

Left behind by various government policies and development initiatives

Lian Hua Si, Mianyang ()

Currently in heavy debt A center of relief efforts, despite its own lack of resources

* Pastor Luo * Opened in 1986

community

* 4,000-5,000 members in the

* The rebuilding was quick * Largely supported by

overseas Christian groups and groups in HK, Taiwan * Biggest religious venue in Anxian * Number of believers increased after the earthquake

Yuli Township
Ancient

site of Beichuan from 634 AD to 1952 Home of Yu the Great (Dayu) Remains very poor after the earthquake Around 7,000 residents

Guanglian Si (

Guanglian Temple

Has not been rebuilt due to the lack of funds Nuns led by female abbot, Daocheng Only Buddhist temple in the Yuli area Extremely devout followers and lay Buddhists, Qiang people Hybrid of Buddhist and Qiang cultures Remains a popular site of social gathering

The Guanglian Community

Abbot Daocheng

Certified,

trained, and state-approved Previous abbot: not trained in Buddhism Importance of religious leadership

The Devout Followers

Very grateful to the government and the Party, as well as the PLA They believe they are now more civilized because of the influence of Buddhism

Values-education Did not receive formal education Buddhist teachings became their source of culture

Believed they all lacked culture.

Buddhism is able to console their heart, especially after the earthquake

More devout, grateful, and committed

Their interpretation on the causes of the earthquake The regions tradition of female leadership

OLD BEICHUAN COUNTY

Now turned into a historical site of remembrance Entry requirements

Earthquake tourism? More like a memorial Who are the tourists? Schools organized trips to see Old Beichuan Educational tours and trips Tour groups, families, elders, etc

FROM THE VISITORS

The forces of nature are just too powerful. I think the survivors are now stronger than ever. Ive become more interested in things of spiritual matter, such as Tibetan Buddhism. Its great to be alive!

I was very restless after the earthquake, and still am. I am still not at ease.
I am so surprised by the schools We are both survivors of the Tangshan earthquake (1976) in Hebei. It was all because of the CCP that the region was rebuilt so quickly. Religious belief? We believe in the Party as we are so grateful. If one runs into trouble, people from all directions will come and help ( We are surprised by the level of destruction, as we have now witnessed it with our own eyes. We cherish the present more and cherish life more.

FROM THE LOCAL RESIDENTS

We donated Old County to the government, without condition We lost our land, my 21-year old son left Beichuan and still does not want to return. I still believe there are relatives looking and searching for me. We are still unemployed and poor. Its hard to pay off the debts now that we have lost our land

BEICHUAN COUNTY
Beichuan Qiang Autonmous County The only Qiang autonomous county in the country Law-making power Mayor of Qiang descent Over 56% of the population is of Qiang ethnicity Government gave them favorable policies The Old Beichuan County was completed devastated in the 2008 Earthquake Relocated to its current location at Anchang Rebuilt by Shandong Province

Qiang ethnic group Local indigenous beliefs Nature, deities of nature, Dayu, etc. Beichuan County owes 10 billion in debt

THOUGHTS ON LIFE AFTER EARTHQUAKE

Impermanence Life is impermanent, as well as all earthily possessions such as money and titles Value of religious devotion The importance of religions power to pacify the heart or give someone the peace of mind ()

The importance of inheriting, protecting, and passing the Chinese culture (Chinese religion)
Gratitude to the government, belief in the CCP Unemployment, debt Divided housing & inequality

Conclusion: Cultural Rebuilding

Religious culture: part of cultural rebuilding contribute to the building of a harmonious society Party ideology and religion seem to be at odds at first glance, but the CCP has been working hard to make the two compatible

Ex: (survey) Those who are religious are stronger adherents and believers in the CCP Approval rating of 97.3% among the religious

Religion can and should make up the cultural vacuum experienced by many Chinese today The government focuses too much on the standardization and categorization of religious sites and practices Religions next step: indigenous beliefs broadening of religious freedom in China CCPs plan to cultivate and restore culture.

What outlets do people currently have to cultivate culture? Religion can be a perfect facilitator Religion as a tool and code of conduct for social control and value-shaping

Use Buddhism/religion as the channel to instill cultural values, norms, and guidelines for behavior