A Wishful Thinking Claim to Global Expansion? The Case of De Jiao

Abstract

De Jiao is one of these New Religious Movements (NRM) which emerged in Asia in the boom of religious innovation following the Second World War. Although originally a local reaction from Teochiu mediums against the Japanese occupation of Chaozhou (Northeast of Guangdong province), it rapidly took another dimension through the promulgation of a basic doctrine and, following the Communist takeover of 1949, it spread throughout several countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia). More recently, following divine oracles, it rooted back into China while starting a worldwide expansion. In this paper, the author analyzes the motivations involved in the origin of this ongoing process, and interprets its modest achievements by considering its sociological basis, organizational features and cultural orientation.