Buddhism in Vietnam is Buddhism that had been localized to Vietnam from India and later replaced with Buddhism from China. Vietnamese Buddhism has many characteristics different from Buddhism practiced in other countries. Buddhism is the most influential religion in Vietnam, with about 92 percent of Vietnamese being Buddhists. The number of practicing Buddhists numbers about three million, those who frequently visit Buddhist temples and participate in Buddhist ceremonies number about thirty million, and those living under the influence of Buddhism number in the tens of millions.
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Formation and spread
Buddhism was imported into Vietnam fairly early, at around the beginning of the Common Era with the legend of Chử Ðồng Tử studying Buddhism from an Indian monk. Luy Lâu (in Bắc Ninh Province), the capital of Giao Chỉ soon became an important center of Buddhism. Legends about Thạch Quang Phật and Man Nương Phật Mẫu appeared with the teachings of Ksudra in around 168-189. Because Buddhism was imported directly from India, the word Buddha was directly imported into Vietnamese as Bụt, still in use in many folk tales. At that time, Vietnamese Buddhism was influenced by Theravada Buddhism, and Bụt was seen as a deity who helps good people and punishes bad people. In the 4-5th centuries, because of influence of Mahayana Buddhism from China, the word Bụt gradually lost its Buddhist meaning and was replaced by Phật from the Chinese pronunciation of Buddha. Buddhism took roots in Vietnam very early. Lý Nam Đế (who became king in 544) was also known by the name Lý Phật Tử (Lý the Buddhist). In the Ly and Tran dynasties, Buddhism developed rapidly, was seen as the state religion, and influenced all aspects of life. In the Le Dynasty, Confucianism replaced Buddhism as state religion and Buddhism entered a period of decadence. At the beginning of the 18th century, King Quang Trung took efforts to revive Buddhism by building and renovating temples, but died before accomplishing his goals. In the 20th century, although strongly influenced by the process of Westernization, Buddhism experienced a resurgence, beginning in the southern cities with important contributions from the monks Khánh Hoà and Thiện Chiếu.
In summary, the history of Vietnamese Buddhism can be divided into four periods:
- from the beginning of the Christian Era to the end of Chinese domination is a period of formation and development;
- Buddhism reached its zenith during the period of independence (Đại Việt);
- from the Lê Dynasty to the end of the 19th century is the period of decadence;
- from the beginning of the 20th century until now is the period of resurgence.
Three schools of Mahayana Buddhism, now most influential, were imported into Vietnam: Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Vajrayana Buddhism.
Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism, known as Thiền in Vietnam, is a branch of Buddhism created by the Indian monk Bodhidharma in China at the beginning of the 6th century. "Zen" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character pronounced "chán" in modern Chinese, borrowed from Sanscrit "Dhyāna" (from Pāli "Jhāna") meaning "meditation". The first Zen sect in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism was established by the monk Vinitaruci. He was an Indian who arrived in China and then Vietnam in 580.
Pure Land Buddhism
Vajrayana Buddhism
Characteristics of Vietnamese Buddhism
Syncretism
Syncretism between Buddhism and traditional beliefs
Syncretism between different Buddhist branches
Syncretism between Buddhism and other religions
Yin-yang harmony
The yin-yang theroy is that your soul has two sides a dark side and a happy harmonious side these two forces will create your soul
Flexibility
Hoa Hao Buddhism
Religious freedom
Current political issues regarding freedom of religion
Vietnamese Buddhists in Other Countries
Thich Nhat Hanh is a prominent Buddhist practitioner of the Vietnamese Zen tradition who lives outside Vietnam.
The role of religion in maintaining culture
American Buddhist Centers
Buddhist Youth Association
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