Page 25 - Tzu Chi Q&A_First Edition

General Information 1-2

1-1 What does “Tzu Chi” mean?
“Tzu” means “compassion” and “Chi” means “relief”
What is Tzu Chi Foundation?
in Chinese. Together, “Tzu Chi” means “relieving suf-
Tzu Chi Foundation is a Buddhist non-profit organi- fering with compassion.”
zation based in Taiwan and also an NGO under the
UN umbrella. 1-3
Who founded Tzu Chi and why?

Tzu Chi was founded in 1966 by Dharma Master
Cheng Yen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan.
One day in 1966 when the Master was visiting a pa-
tient at a clinic, she saw a pool of blood on the floor.
She was told that the blood was from an indigenous
woman who suffered from labor complications but
was carried away because she couldn’t pay a required
fee in advance. Feeling deeply for the woman, the
Master asked herself what she could do to help
the poor.

Not long after that, three Catholic nuns visited the
Master. During their conversation, the nuns men-
tioned the work Catholics had done for society and
asked the Master what Buddhists had done. The
nuns’ words struck a chord with her. In May 1966,
the Master founded Tzu Chi and started guiding her
Founded by Dharma Master Cheng Yen in Hualien, eastern Taiwan,
the Jing Si Abode is the spiritual home of all Tzu Chi members. followers to do charitable work.
(Tzu Chi Foundation)
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