China in effort to tackle commercial abuse of Buddhism

China has explored numerous means, including information disclosure and lawmaking, to tackle the increasing commercialization in places of worship across the country, according to a senior official in religious affairs.

New forms of infringement of religious rights and interests have sprung up, making it more urgent to protect and promote these rights, said Jiang Jianyong, deputy head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, during a meeting of the Buddhist Association of China held this week in Changsha,Hunan province.

According to some delegates, companies and individuals in some regions are increasingly exploiting Buddhism for commercial interests under the guise of Buddhist cultural parks and eliciting donations.