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Zhongdian Monastery, Yunnan, China |
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 After
the widespread destruction of the Cultural Revolution period, most of the Chinese Buddhist heritage was in shatters. Temples, ornaments, and
religious books were systematically eliminated by bands of students that
carried out the Party's philosopy: wipe out all reminders of the past, and
eject religion from society.
This brutal jump into modernisation caused immense damage to one of the largest cultural heritages in the world, and has recently been reconsidered by the Chinese authorities. The message is now "tolerance of religious creed", as long as it does not contradict the Party's political message (and it attracts tourism). Whitin this framework a number of temples are being restored with government's money. Young monks are still rare, but at least they do not risk their life anymore. As the Chinese authorities take into account the wills of whealty tourists, visitors showing appreciation for religious background and respect for the monasteries will produce a positive impact on their future. Have more details in our "what you can do" section. |
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