In 1982, six years after the Cultural Revolution ended with Mao Zedong’s death, the Chinese Communist party issued a paper known as Document 19. In its 10 pages, the party admitted that during the previous two decades leaders had erroneously suppressed religious expression, forcing believers underground and persecuting those who attempted to practise their faith openly. Those days were over, Document 19 declared: religious practices would henceforth be permitted, although subject to the oversight and regulation of the party-state.
1982年,即文化大革命(Cultural Revolution)隨著毛澤東的去世而結束6年后,中國共產黨發布了“19號文件”(Document 19)。在這份10頁紙的文件中,中共承認其領導人在過去20年間錯誤地壓制了宗教表達,迫使宗教信徒轉入地下并對那些試圖公開從事宗教活動的信眾進行迫害。那個時代已經結束,19號文件宣布:從今以后,宗教活動將被準許——盡管要接受一黨制的國家的監督和管理。