The rule is composed of 14 articles, including the aim of the rule, the principles, the prerequisites, the approval procedures, the duties and responsibilities of religious groups for reincarnation as well as punishment for those violating the regulations. The regulations have the following features:

    First, the rule was issued by the SARA as a ministry rule. In 2004, the State Council issued the executive "Regulation on Religious Affairs", which prescribed related procedures for living Buddha reincarnation in Article 27, Section two. The rule by SARA is made based on the Regulation on Religious Affairs. It has more details in the reincarnation governance and demonstrates that China has further legalized its management of living Buddha reincarnation.

    Secondly, it regularizes the government's role in living Buddha reincarnation. The government only administers religious affairs of state and public interest and will not interfere in the pure internal affairs of religion. The authority prescribed by the rule includes:

    -- accepting, verifying and approving applications for reincarnation;

    -- approving requests for exemption of such ritual as a boy candidate can only be enthroned after he draws the lot with his name on it from a golden vase;

    -- approving living Buddha succession;

    -- approving the candidates for master interpreter and chanter of Buddhist scripture for the living Buddha and other related issues formed throughout the history.

    The government does not interfere with the pure internal affairs of religion: such as the composition of groups for locating reincarnated soul boys, organizing activities of trying to find the soul boys, and identifying the soul boys. All these pure internal affairs of religion will be handled by the Buddhist association or monastery administration organizations according to religious ritual and historical convention.