Charisma and Compassion

C. Julia Huang

“Huang traces the development of Tzu Chi from its local Taiwanese origins to its growth as a powerful NGO. She uses the venerable Buddhist “three bodies” terminology in an inspired new way to explain Cheng Yen’s relationship to her devotees and makes an important theoretical contribution with her analysis of charismatic leadership in a religious movement. This study is important for our understanding of Taiwanese Buddhism, but will also appeal to scholars in gender studies, sociology, anthropology of religion, and globalization. There is no book like it. ”—Chun-fang Yu, Columbia University

“This book is the first to examine fully the history, organization and operation, charismatic leadership, and the followers’ world of the phenomenally successful global lay Buddhist movement Tzu Chi. Huang provides a detailed ethnography and an astute, sophisticated analysis. Charisma and Compassion will establish Huang as a leading authority on the topic. ”—Adam Yuet Chau, University of Cambridge

“This rich analysis of the Buddhist Tzu Chi movement and its charismatic leader Cheng Yen is fascinating both as a story of Buddhist compassion and as a story of the transformation of practices of doing good.”—Rebecca A. Allahyari, American Journal of Sociology

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