Abstract:
Throughout twenty centuries in the long history of Vietnam, Vietnamese
Mahayana Buddhism has been closely linked with the survival of the nation,
whether in its rise and fall. Since the early days of its introduction, the mind of
Vietnamese Buddhists has been so well imbued with the Buddha‘s Teachings
about love, tolerance and sympathetic understanding that Vietnamese Buddhism
has been able to co-exist in peace with other religions for over 2000 years. On the
one hand, generations of Vietnamese monks and nuns and lay followers, unknown
or well-known, have somehow participated in making it a unique Vietnamese
religion colored with Vietnamese ways and customs. On the other hand,
Vietnamese Buddhism has had a great influence on Vietnamese literature, art,
music, architecture and Buddhism, so to speak, has become a part of Vietnamese
life. Vietnamese Buddhism can be roughly divided into 4 periods: from its
beginning in Ancient Times to the 10th century A.D., Its Golden Age from the
11th century to the 14th century, Its Decline in the 15th century and its Restoration
in later centuries, Contemporary Vietnamese Buddhism and its Activities in the
present situation. Once Buddhism has taken root in any new land, it makes its
penetration into all aspects of life there. Take Vietnamese Buddhism for instance,
since its very beginning, it has been closely connected with the country for over
two thousand years, and Buddhist pagodas have witnessed the ups and downs of
the nation’s fortune, as well as the Vietnamese cultural and religious activities
through the ages.
