This book presents the welfare regime of societies of Chinese heritage as a liminal space where religious and state authorities compete with each other for legitimacy. It offers a path-breaking perspective on relations between religion and state in East Asia, presenting how the governments of industrial societies try to harness the human resources of religious associations to assist in the delivery of social services. The book provides background to the intermingling of Buddhism and the state prior to 1949; and the continuation of that intertwinement in Taiwan and in other societies where live many people of Chinese heritage since then. The main contribution of this work is its detailed account of Buddhist philanthropy as viewed from the perspectives of the state, civil society, and Buddhists. This book will appeal to academics in social sciences and humanities and broader audiences interested by the social role of religions, charity, and NGOs, in social policy implementation. It explores why governments turn to Buddhist followers and their leaders and presents a detailed view of Buddhist philanthropy. This book contributes to our understanding of secularity in non-Western societies, as influenced by religions other than Christianity.

Part I. Secularity and Buddhist Philanthropy.- 1. Multiple Chinese Secularities.- 2. Welfare, Religious, and the Liminality of Philanthropy.- 3. Welfare Regimes in Chinese Societies.- 4. Buddhism and Welfare in Comparative Perspective.- Part II. Chinese Buddhist Philanthropy Beyond the PRC.- 5. The state, religious, and welfare in ancient and imperial times.- 6. Welfare insecurity and religious during the Republican period.- 7. The state and religious Philanthropy in Taiwan since 1949.- 8. Welfare and Chinese religions in Post-Colonial contexts.- 9. The variety of Chinese welfare regimes and Buddhism.- 10. Multiple Chinese Secularities.