Analysis of the Shaping Process of Non-Governmental Charitable Organizations in Transnational Networks(跨国网络视角下善堂的形塑过程与特征) (original) (raw)

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, folk charitable organizations, primarily represented as charity societies and halls, have played a crucial role in providing effective charitable relief. These institutions supplemented the government’s social welfare responsibilities, thereby contributing significantly to maintaining social order. Against the backdrop of evolving state-society dynamics, the emergence of Chaoshan charity halls, blending charitable endeavors with religious beliefs, gave rise to parallel trajectories domestically and internationally. This laid the foundation for a transnational network of Chaoshan charity halls. However, prevailing research often disregards the formative process influenced by local governments’ crackdown on reactionary secret societies, dismissing the worship of the Saint Dafeng as feudal superstition. Consequently, this dismissal led to a decline in benevolent hall activities. Hence, utilizing historical records and field trip to chart the transnational development of Chaoshan charity halls is crucial, focusing on stages such as inception, expansion, overseas propagation, crises, stagnation, and revival. This article revealed that charity halls exhibited significant attributes in charity, grassroots involvement, religiosity, and trans- national connections within the sphere of social relief. In the evolving interplay be- tween society and the state, this study suggests an aspiration to establish a constructive interactive relationship between them. These findings hold considerable significance for understanding the evolution of modern Chinese charitable endeavors and welfare organizations.