 |
Buddhism/ Confucianism/ Three In One/ Catholic/ Animism/ Cao Daism & Hoa Hao Buddhist-Christian Beliefs/ Taoism/ Bibliography
More than 50% of VIETNAMESE are Buddhists. Another 6.5% are Roman Catholics, while the rest are Muslims, Hindus, Protestants, or member of syncretic sects, such as the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao. Animism and the philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism have been integrated into much of Vietnamese religious practice. (The cultures of the world Vietnam-1996-Marshall Cavendish)
BUDDHISM (PHAT GIAO)--(563-483 BC)
[Top
of Page]
The majority of Vietnamese are at least nominally Mahayana Buddhists. Buddhism
was introduced to the Vietnamese in 2nd Century AD. Hanoi was a center for
Vietnamese Buddhism during that day. According to Mahayana Buddhism, the
form of the religion that reached
Vietnam through China, one who has reached Nirvana may choose to remain
in this world to lead others to enlightenment. Buddhism was originated in
India in 534 BC by prince Siddharta, later called Gautama Buddha, which
means "the Enlightened one." For the first time in his life, he saw a sick
man, an old man, a holy man, and a dead man. Afterward he wandered
offensive for six years and then meditated for forty-nine days under a Bodhi
tree at Gaya in Magadha. He achieved Nirvana, or Enlightenment, and taught
Salvation in Bihar, West of Bengal, until he died at the age of eighty.
The aim of Buddhism is to reach a rational analysis of life and its problems,
and Buddha sought to solve this puzzle by formulating the Eightfold Path
and the Four Noble Truths: 1. Humans are born to suffer from one life to
another 2. Humans crave pleasure, possessions, and the cessation of pain,
and this craving causes suffering 3. The cure for craving is non-attachment
to all things including the self 4. To achieve non-attachment, one must
take the Eightfold Path to righteousness-right conduct, effort, intention,
livelihood, meditation, mindfulness, speech, and views. Buddhists believe
that dharma, or cause and effect, determines one's destiny. Humans go through
a cycle of rebirth, and the next life could be one of suffering or of ease
depending on one's dharma. The process of rebirth continues until a state
of enlightenment is reached.
CONFUCIANISM (KHONG TU)--(551-479 B.C) [Top of Page]
Confucianism was introduced to Vietnam over 2000 years ago. In fact, Confucianism
is a philosophy, although often thought to be a religion. Confucius was
a teacher and philosopher who lived in China during the period of the Warring
States. He formulated a code of ethics that prescribed the correct conduct
for all citizens of a state. The emperor had the heaviest responsibility,
and the well being of the people depended on his behavior. Confucius believed
that if an emperor ruled justly and wisely, and was free from personal corruption,
the affairs of state would proceed smoothly. The citizen was also expected
to develop certain qualities: 1.nhan ("nyuhn")--to treat others with mercy
and kindness; 2.le ("lay")--to respect the hierarchies of family and society,
and perform rites to maintain family and social order; 3.nghia ("ngee-ah")-to
help the needy; 4.chi ("chee")-to have willpower and determination; 5.and
tin ("tin")-to be loyal and trustworthy. Confucius hoped to create, through
this code of ethics, a society in which a sense of morality would guide
people to behave correctly.
THREE IN ONE (TAM GIAO) [Top of Page]
Many Vietnamese combine Buddhist beliefs with aspects of ancestor worship found in Confucianism and aspects of deity worship found in Taoism. Vietnamese scholars call this practice Tam Giao or the Triple Religion. Unlike religions such as Islam and Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism are open to the idea of accepting other religions or philosophies. Mahayana Buddhism accepts the existence of more than one Buddha; Taoism is based on the tradition of noninterference and incorporates the worship of many gods including patron saints and the spirits of famous generals; and Confucianism respects all forms of learning and advocates the worship of ancestors.
In Vietnam some aspects of animism, a belief in the spiritual nature of living and nonliving things, have also been incorporated into established religion. Five thousand years ago, the Vietnamese believed the world was populated by gods and spirits, some benevolent, others evil. These spirits were everywhere. A tree, a mountain, or a river might have a spirit or a number of spirits residing in it. One had to be careful not to mention a spirit by name, which could result in harm to the speaker. Dangerous animals like tigers, elephants, and crocodiles also had spirits, so when referring to them, one did not use their names, but called them "Lord" as a show of respect.
ROMAN
CATHOLICISM (CONG GIAO)
[Top
of Page]
Catholicism, the second most popular religion in Vietnam,
was brought to Vietnam in the 16th and 17th centuries by Portuguese, French,
and Spanish missionaries. Vietnam's Catholic population of 5 million makes
it the second largest in Asia after the Philippines. Catholic churches are
found throughout Vietnam, although at the time of the Vietminh takeover
of North Vietnam, 700,000 Catholics, fearing religious persecution, fled
to the south. During 1970s, land seized from the Catholic churches was gradually
returned to them.
CAO
DAISM AND HOA HAO
[Top
of Page]
Two Buddhist sects-the Cao Dai, founded in 1926, and
the Hoa Hao (a variant of Buddhism practiced in the Mekong Delta), founded
in 1939-were at their most active during Vietnam's period of nationalist
struggle. In the 1940s and 1950s, until their repression by President Diem,
the Hoa Hao was the most powerful military force in the Mekong delta. The
Cao Dai were also active resistance fighters who supported the Japanese
in the 1940s and aimed to drive out the French colonists. The Hoa Hao sect
has been described as "reformed Buddhism" based on personal faith rather
than elaborate ritual. There are an estimated 1.5 million.
BUDDHIST-CHRISTIAN
BELIEFS (TINH DO CU SI)
[Top
of Page]
Tinh Do Cu Si is a minority sect that combines Buddhist
and Christian beliefs. It was founded in 1945 by Nguyen Thanh Nam, nicknamed
the Coconut Monk because he is believed to have lived only on coconuts for
three years. His hope was to reunify Vietnam peacefully. He led a small
band of followers on Phung Island in the 1940s. He was imprisoned several
times for opposing the policies of the Diem government.
Founded by a Chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu, this religion teaches that the goal of becoming an Ultimate and Unconditioned being can be achieved through thrift, humility and compassion. Taoists may worship many gods, and value simplicity, patience, and contentment. They avoid confrontation and strive for harmony both between men and between man and nature. Some Taoist groups also worship deities or other religions. They have an organized clergy and temples. Though many Vietnamese do not practice this religion, Taoism has strongly influenced Vietnamese culture.
Website:
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/clinical/ethnomed/vietnamesecp.html
Books:
The Cultures of the World VIETNAM
Copyright:1996
By: Marshall Cavendish
