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Awards and Recognitions


The beauty of an organization stems from individuals' efforts – this is what Master Cheng Yen firmly believes in. Thus, whenever the Master is accorded a recognition award or honorary degrees for her humanitarian achievements, she would unhesitatingly give the credit to all of her Tzu Chi followers “who made all the good works possible”.

Tzu Chi believes that the spirit of Buddhism can be best shown through social involvement. It is only through concrete philanthropic actions that Buddhist theories and social development can enforce each other. Thank you for all your recognitions. Tzu Chi will keep doing its best.


2015
  • Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia recipient of 2015 Better Malaysia Foundation Personality award
  • Tzu Chi Foundation USA Receives CREST 2015 Award
2014
  • Rotary International Award of Honor Bestowed to Master Cheng Yen
  • The Red Dot Design Award.  Jing Si Multi-purpose Folding Bed
2013
  • Tzu Chi Named NVOAD Member of the Year
2012
  • Tzu Chi Canada Volunteers received Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from Prime Minister
  • Penang State Gives Highest Civilian Honor to Master Cheng Yen
2011
  • Dharma Master Cheng Yen Receives 2011 FDR Distinguished Public Service Award
  • The Recognition of “Friend of El Salvador"
2010  
2009
  • Tzu Chi Accorded Elaine Field Award
2008
2007
  • The 2007 World Peace Prize from the American Los Angeles Chinese-American Elected Officials Organization (CEO).
  • The 24th Annual Niwano Peace Prize from the Japanese Niwano Peace Foundation.
2004
  • The 2004 Asian American Heritage Award for Humanitarian Services from the Asian American Federation of California (AAFC)
  • The first annual special Lifetime Achievement Award in Volunteerism from the Daily Volunteer Association, DVA, which was founded to recognize groups and individuals from various socioeconomic levels for their volunteerism and contribution to the community.
2003
  • The 3rd annual Top Ten Outstanding Educators Award from the Private School Culture and Education Association
  • Second Order Brilliant Star Decoration
2002
  • The Outstanding Female in Buddhism Award from the World Buddhism University
  • The Honorary Social and Cultural Doctorate degree from Jiaotong University
2001
  • The Honorary Doctorate degree in Social Science from Hong Kong University
  • Second-level National Medal from the President of El Salvador
2000
  • The Humanity Life Award from the U.S. Noel Foundation
  • Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi Foundation’s charitable facts and documentation were collected and chosen by the Canadian Department of Education as the teaching material in its high school elective course curriculum - "World Contact - - 21st century Geography”
  • Recommended by more than 30 U.S. academics and educators to receive the Honorary Model Hero Award as one of the world’s 27 most recognized contributors to human peace
  • Selected as one of the 50 Stars of Asia by the U.S. Business Week magazine
1998
  • Reported as one of the Taiwan's 200 most influential people in 400 years in the January issue of the Common Wealth magazine
  • The International Human Rights Award from UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, the so-called “Little U.N.”
  • The Outstanding Alumni Award by the Taichung Chingshuei Elementary School to recognize her outstanding contribution to society
1996
  • The Internal Affair’s First Medal and the “World Education and Relief” plaque from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • The Foreign Affairs First Medal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • The Hwa Guang First Medal from the Foreign National Commission
1995
  • Chosen as one of the 20 Outstanding Women in Asia by the Hong Kong Asia Weekly magazine
  • The Executive Yuan Cultural Prize from the Executive Yuan Cultural committee
1994
  • The Eisenhower international Peace Prize – the highest honor given by the PTPI
1993
  • Recommended for candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize
  • A Honorary Doctorate degree in Social Science from Hong Kong's Chinese University
1992
  • The International Communication Award from the Executive Yuan Bureau of Journalism
1991
  • The Magsaysay Social Leadership Award from the Philippine Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
  • The first annual Outstanding Community Movement Leadership Award from Community Movement Culture Foundation
  • The U.S. awards: Texas Honorary Citizen Award, St. Antonio Honorary Mayor Award, and St. Antonio Honorary Territory Award
1989
  • The Great Compassion World Relief plaque from President Li Denghui
  • The Social Service Prize from the Taiwan-U.S. Foundation
  • The Social Service Prize from the Wu San-Lian Foundation
1986
  • The China First Medal from Komintang, KMT
  • Elected as the 1986 annual Good People and Good Deeds representative