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.
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.
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.
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.
The organizer of events was the president of the BCA, Venerable Master Yi Cheng.
The vice president is Gyaincain Norbu, an 11th Panchen Lama.
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[citation needed].
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 - 2010)
- Venerable Master Chuan Yin (2010–present)
Past honorary presidents of the Buddhist association of China include:
- Ben Huan (2010-2012)
