Tzu Chi refers to Tzu Chi charitable foundations and non-profit organizations. Tzu Chi Charity Foundation was founded by Master Yan Zheng in a corner of Hualien, East Taiwan. At first, 30 housewives saved 50 cents a day and put them in bamboo tubes. Together with the five disciples, each of them increased the output of a pair of baby shoes every day. Tzu Chi was founded in the spirit of self-denial, diligence and overcoming difficulties, and began to take pleasure in helping the poor and pulling out hardships.

Later, with the permission of the State Council, Tzu Chi Charity Foundation was established, with the initial capital of 1 100 million yuan invested by Taiwanese Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, becoming the first national foundation established by a non-profit organization in China, managed by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, and held a listing ceremony at Suzhou Jingsi College.