Wow! eBook
Taiwan's Tzu Chi as Engaged Buddhism: Origins, Organization, Appeal and Social Impact
Author(s): Yu-Shuang Yao (Author)
- Publisher: Global Oriental / Brill
- Publication Date: 16 May 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 257 pages
- ISBN-10: 9004217479
- ISBN-13: 9789004217478
Book Description
This is the first comprehensive sociological study of a new Chinese Buddhist movement, known as Tzu Chi (otherwise, the Buddhist Compassion Merit Society). Based in Taiwan, it was founded in 1966 and is still led by a female Buddhist master Master Cheng Yen. Its members are laity and its main focus is medical charity and education of the wealthy in an ethical way of life.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Anyone who teaches, writes, or has a tendency to generalize about NRMs should read this book…One of the many interesting arguments that Yao makes in her book is that Tzu Chi’s concentration on benefiting society as a whole and educating its members in ethical beliefs can be seen as ‘bringing the practice of Eastern religion in line with that of Western Christianity, and thus as more suitable, and appealing, in a ‘modern’ era where ‘folk superstitions’ based on an unreasoning conformism are felt to be backward’.” Roger B.Beck, Nova Religio 18.1, August 2014
About the Author
Yu-Shuang Yao, Ph.D. (2001) in Sociology of Religion, University of London, is Associate Professor at Fo Guang University, Taiwan. She has published various articles in Chinese and won scholarships from the CCK, International Scholarly Exchange for Thesis Fellowship (1997), and the Fulbright American Study (2004).
