China’s Xi Jinping bans Buddhist monks reincarnating without permission, Winnie the Pooh, classic novels and even the letter N

BANNING Tibetan Buddhist monks from reincarnating without government permission may seem like a laughable law.

But just like so many of the Chinese Government's bizarre bans in recent years, there is a very serious and calculated reason behind it.

Whether it's prohibiting classic novels, taking a full-offensive against Winnie the Pooh, or going after the letter N, President Xi Jinping always has a reason, and that reason is to maintain power and crush dissent.

The government's effort to "institutionalise the management of reincarnation", in the words of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, dates back to 2007.

In reality the law was meant to dis-empower the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader, more than 50 years after China invaded the small Himalayan country.

It's not only Tibetan Buddhists that are in the firing line - Muslims and Christians have faced their own trials.

Churches have been ransacked in recent times as Christians are encouraged to replace posters of Jesus with portraits of President Xi Jingping.

The crackdown on Christianity is part of a broader push by Xi Jingping to "sinicize" all religions in the nation by infusing them with "Chinese characteristics" - including loyalty to the Communist Party.

Islamic crescents and domes have been stripped from mosques, and a campaign launched to "re-educate" tens of thousands of Uighur Muslims.

Here are some of the most unusual aspects of everyday life that the President wants rid of.

Ban on unusually long beards

The Chinese government banned “abnormally” long beards in an effort to counter what it says is Islamic extremism.

The ban, which came into effect in 2017, also prohibited the wearing of veils in public places and made it an offence not to watch state television.

Tensions between the Uighurs, a minority ethnic group who practice Islam, and Han Chinese majority have caused bloody clashes over the last few decades with the government saying it was taking action against Islamist militants and separatists.

You might ask if the Dalai Lama's not safe, who is? The answer is not Winnie the Pooh.

Winnie the Pooh

Mentions of the lovable Winnie the Pooh have reportedly been removed from Chinese social media

Honey-loving Winnie the Pooh has been banned in word and picture form simply for his supposed resemblance to President Xi Jingping.

The lovable bear from AA Milne's books unwittingly stumbled into becoming a symbol of resistance to the authoritarian government.

The ban has been in the place since 2013, when a photo of President Xi and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was compared to Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore shaking hands.

Classical literature and film

If they're not going after children's cartoons, the Chinese government is attacking the other end of the spectrum - classical literature.

George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 have been prohibited in China, as well as the Chinese puppet film Emperor's Dream.

The moves make sense, when you consider the cautionary tale of 1984, and compare it to China's use of cameras loaded with AI to give citizens "social credit" scores.

Animal Farm was also an obvious choice to ban, given most take the children's novel as a thinly-veiled criticism of communism.

Emperor's Dream surmises exposing the corruption of the Kuomintang nationalist party using puppets in an exaggerated fashion.

The letter 'N'

If you're going after literature - why not try and knock-off an entire letter?

The ban on the letter now appears to be lifted, but it was temporarily blocked on Weibo after it was announced the Constitution of China would be changed to lift the limit on a two-term presidencies allowing President Xi Jinping to maintain his presidency indefinitely.

It has been speculated the block on the letter was out of fear it may be used on the social media site to allude to President Jinping's terms in office in that 'n > 2'.

Abnormally long beards

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