On September 14, the Christian group along with various religious groups in Zhejiang Province co-hosted a press conference on "Guidelines for the Sinicization of Religious Activity Venues’ Construction in Zhejiang Province (Trial)" (hereafter referred to as the "Guidelines") in Hangzhou, said the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province.
The event saw the attendance of officials from the provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, the Department of Housing and Rural-Urban Development, expert representatives from the Zhejiang Institute of Architectural Design and Research, as well as leaders of the hosts.
The "Guidelines," categorized into sections for Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, and Islam, were jointly compiled by the Zhejiang Institute of Architectural Design and Research and various religious groups in the province. The compilers conducted in-depth research and analysis drawing on laws and regulations, religions, traditional culture, regional characteristics, organizational management, and construction safety to offer standardized guidance to the religious community to promote the sinicization of the construction.
The press conference addressed the utilization of the “Guidelines” to promote the sinicization of religions across the province. First, religious groups should adhere to the correct path for sinicization. Second, the “Guidelines” should be properly propagated, encouraging religious groups to integrate Chinese elements and highlight local cultural features when constructing or renovating their activity venues. The third point is to promote the implementation of the Guidelines, thereby advancing the interpretation and innovation for the sinicization of religious architecture, norms, moral culture, and doctrines.
