Detailed Implementing Rules for Certain Administrative Licensing Items in Religious Affairs (Item 10: Approval for the Construction of Large Outdoor Buddha Statues)
1. Basis for the Administrative License
Decision of the State Council on Establishing Administrative Licenses for Administrative Approval Items That Must Be Retained, No. 363.
2. Conditions for the Administrative License
1. Buddhism has a long history of dissemination in the locality and has a large number of believers;
2. Local believers strongly request it, and the consent of local residents has been obtained;
3. The statue to be built conforms to the requirements of Buddhist doctrine and canon rules;
4. The necessary construction funds are available and are raised by the Buddhist association or monastery itself; governments, enterprises, and any other organizations or individuals may not invest in the construction of large outdoor Buddha statues;
5. It is guaranteed that the proceeds will be used for activities consistent with the purposes of the Buddhist association or monastery and for other social welfare undertakings;
6. It conforms to the relevant construction planning requirements;
7. Its layout is reasonable.
3. Application Materials for the Administrative License
1. A letter of application;
2. A statement on the history of Buddhism within the administrative area of the districted city where the statue is to be built;
3. A statement on the believers within the county-level administrative area where the statue is to be built;
4. A statement on the consultation of residents within the township or town (subdistrict) where the statue is to be built;
5. Proof of conformity with local construction planning;
6. A statement of the budget and sources of funds;
7. A preliminary design plan and a feasibility study report;
8. A written opinion issued by the Buddhist Association of China stating that the statue conforms to the requirements of doctrine and canon rules;
9. A letter of commitment guaranteeing that the proceeds will be used for activities consistent with the purposes of the Buddhist association or monastery and for other social welfare undertakings.
4. Procedure for the Administrative License
1. The Buddhist association or monastery intending to build a large outdoor Buddha statue submits the application materials to the Buddhist association of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government, which then files the application with the religious affairs department of the provincial-level people’s government.
2. The religious affairs department of the provincial-level people’s government shall seek the opinions of the people’s governments of the districted city and the county where the statue is to be built and, when necessary, the opinions of the land and construction departments of the local provincial-level people’s government. If it intends to approve, it reports to the State Administration for Religious Affairs.
3. The State Administration for Religious Affairs makes the licensing decision.
5. Time Limits for Processing the Administrative License
1. The religious affairs department of the provincial-level people’s government shall issue its review opinion within 30 days of accepting the application.
2. The State Administration for Religious Affairs shall make the licensing decision within 60 days of receiving the review opinion and materials from the religious affairs department of the provincial-level people’s government.
6. Supplementary Provision
A large outdoor Buddha statue, for the purposes of this administrative license, means a single Buddha statue exceeding 10 meters in height (including the base) or length, or a group of more than 10 Buddha statues.