Church of Virtue 德教会 Déjiàohuì |
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Classification | Taoist-inspired folk religious sect |
Origin | 1945 Chaozhou, Guangdong |
Other name(s) | Moral Uplifting Society |
Official website | http://www.dejiaohui.org |
The De teaching (Chinese: 德教 Dejiao, "teaching of virtue", the concept of De), whose corporate name is the Church of Virtue (德教会 Déjiàohuì), is a sect rooted in Taoism, that was founded in 1945 in Chaozhou, Guangdong. It is popular both in China and amongst expatriate Chinese populations.
Originally a reaction of Chaozhou shamans to the Japanese occupation of Chaozhou, it blossomed in the wave of religious innovation after the Second World War. After the communist takeover in Mainland China in 1949 the De faith spread to Overseas Chinese communities in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. In recent decades, it has spread back to China and started a worldwide expansion effort.