Julia Ching is professor of East Asian philosophy and religion at the University of Toronto and author of 14 books including Chinese Religions. In this engrossing memoir, she recounts her quest for meaning in a life swinging between East and West, illness and health, religious uncertainty and spiritual growth. At the heart of her struggle are three fierce battles with cancer and then miraculous recovery. Ching writes, "In seeking for healing on all levels, I'm also doing a religious duty. I'm nurturing God's great gift of life. Healing means becoming whole again. . . . To be whole in body and soul is itself one way of achieving one's salvation — and that of others. In fact, this is the basic goal in every life."

The author, who spent her childhood in Shanghai and Hong Kong, entered a Catholic religious order that fostered her higher education. Ching's Christianity over the years is deepened and enriched by her exposure to Buddhism, Taoism, and a variety of therapies. She eventually left the religious order, adopted a teenage son from China, and married a professor of comparative religion. The Butterfly Healing reminds us of the importance of the spiritual practice of openness.

秦傢懿（JuliaChing，1934-2001），江蘇無锡人，加拿大著名華裔漢學傢。1972年畢業於澳洲國立大學，獲哲學博士學位，導師為著名漢學傢柳存仁先生。後應哥倫比亞的狄百瑞（William T. de Bary）和耶魯的芮沃壽（ArthurWright）兩教授的邀請，先後在兩所大學執教。1978年任教多倫多大學，由於業績卓著，三年之間便晉升為正教授。又同時兼任宗教、哲學和東亞研究三係的教授，並且是《慎思錄》、《王陽明》等三部專論和三部譯著的作者。此外，還有六、七十篇學術論文。