Current rules for Taoism and religious affairs: temple administration, the appointment and conduct of clergy, ordination rules, and the Regulations on Religious Affairs.
The full text of the Code of Conduct for Taoist Clergy adopted by the China Taoist Association in 2020. Its fifteen articles require patriotism and devotion to the faith, observance of precepts, daily liturgy, and celibacy for Quanzhen priests, and list prohibited conduct.
The customary rules for Quanzhen Taoists lodging at a public monastery: the prescribed hair, robes, caps, crowns, socks, and shoes; the bows and questions at the registration office; reciting the liturgy; and the formal visits to the guest hall, the hall of the ten directions, and the kitchen.
The full text of the Covenant of Taoist Temples and Monasteries issued by the China Taoist Association. Its eighteen rules prescribe penalties—from reflection before the deities to expulsion from the hall or from the Taoist order—for crimes, betraying one’s master, embezzlement, gambling, misconduct, and irreverence.
The full text of the China Taoist Association’s Measures for the Administration of Taoist Temples and Monasteries as revised in 2025, in eleven chapters covering management organizations, the Taoist community and disciples, religious activities, finance, safety, heritage, archives, self-support, and supervision.
The full text of the China Taoist Association’s measures governing Taoist abbots and presiding masters: qualifications, principal duties, the procedure for inviting and filing appointments, term of office, departure, and the handling of misconduct.
The full text of Item 10, “Approval for the Construction of Large Outdoor Buddha Statues,” of the Detailed Implementing Rules for Certain Administrative Licensing Items in Religious Affairs, covering the legal basis, conditions, application materials, procedure, time limits, and definition of such statues.
The full text of the Measures for Teacher Qualification and Professional Title Evaluation at Religious Schools, covering how teachers apply for and are granted qualification, the conditions and procedures for the four ranks from teaching assistant to professor, and supervision.
The full text of the Measures for Conferring Academic Titles at Religious Schools, which set out the three levels of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral titles, their naming, the eligibility of schools to confer them, the conditions for award, the evaluation and defense committees, and supervision.
The full text of State Administration for Religious Affairs Order No. 4 (2006), setting out the conditions, materials, and procedures for filing the appointment and departure of abbots and other principal clergy of venues for religious activities. It was repealed in 2021.
The full text of the Code of Online Conduct for Religious Clergy, which requires clergy to abide by laws and regulations when posting and acting online, prohibits online proselytizing, fundraising, and religious hype, and sets out the responsibilities of their religious bodies and venues.
The full text of State Administration for Religious Affairs Order No. 15, in seven chapters and 52 articles, setting out the rights and duties of religious clergy, their accreditation and filing, the appointment and departure of principal clergy, supervision, and legal liability, effective May 1, 2021.
The full text of the Regulations on Religious Affairs as revised by the State Council in 2017 (State Council Order No. 686), in nine chapters and 77 articles covering religious bodies, schools, venues, clergy, activities, property, and legal liability, effective February 1, 2018.
The full text of Item 6, “Approval of Large-Scale Religious Activities,” of the Detailed Implementing Rules for Certain Administrative Licensing Items in Religious Affairs, setting out the legal basis, seven licensing conditions, application materials, procedure, and time limit.
The 2012 Opinions (Guozongfa [2012] No. 41) jointly issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs and other departments, calling for an end to unauthorized temple building, contracting out and commercial exploitation of monasteries and temples, and profiteering in the name of religion.
The full text of the China Taoist Association’s provisions on Quanzhen ordination, first adopted in 1989: requirements for ordinands, qualifications of host temples and the Eight Great Masters of the altar, full versus expedient ordination, ordination certificates, and penalties for violations.
The full text of the implementing rules issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, in five chapters and 38 articles, governing collective religious activities of foreigners in China, temporary venues, religious exchanges, religious items, prohibited activities, and legal liability, effective May 1, 2025.