1st Edition
The Social Production of Buddhist Compassion in Chinese Societies
This book investigates and establishes a theoretical framework for the study of the social production of religious compassion in the era of shale modernity among Chinese communities in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. It argues that the production of Buddhist compassionate fields in the 21st century is a response to the rising social inequality and social needs of modern society. Religious compassion serves as an emotive force that propels the religious self and socio-religious groups to commit to the performance of acts of philanthropy that includes the delivery of welfare and care services, medical care, education and humanitarian aid. Through a combination of documentation analysis and anthropological research, the book examines the interconnectivity of reformist Buddhist teachings of compassion, charisma, gender and state in influencing the attitudes and actions of the sangha and Buddhist individuals in the production of Buddhist compassionate fields in a changing socio-economic landscape. It will be of interest to scholars from anthropology, sociology, religious studies and Asian studies.
Preface
1 Introduction
2 A Theoretical Framework for the Social Production of Religious Compassionate Fields
3 Technology of the Self and Compassionate Buddhist Giving
4 The Buddhist Care Industry of the Local Compassionate Fields
5 Hometown as Transnational Buddhist Philanthropic Field: The Hope School Project
6 Women Buddhists and Emotive Compassionate Performance
7 Emotional Spiritual Capital and the Production of Religious Care Funds
8 The State and Buddhist Elderly Care Services
9 Conclusion: Towards Sustainable Buddhist Compassionate Fields
Bibliography
Glossary
Biography
Khun Eng Kuah is Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Chinese Diaspora Studies at the School of International Studies and the Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies, Jinan University (Guangzhou, China); and Honorary Professor at the Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong.
"This volume treats the social production of religious —here specifically Buddhist—“compassionate fields” in the twenty-first century, drawing on three case studies: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. It is divided into nine chapters, each one centering on a particular aspect related to the Buddhist compassionate fields, which operate to cope with social inequality, social injustice, and social suffering of certain marginalized segments of the population, such as the case of elderly people, children, people with special needs or disabilities."
- Marzia Alteno, University of Vienna
