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Religion in Vietnam Vietnam has a diverse mix of religions that has exerted a deep influence on Vietnamese cultures and concepts of life. Belief of Vietnamese is most inspired by one or a combination of the religions that has long been introduced in Vietnam; Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity and other contemporary religions.
Buddhism, one of the world's great religions, is the predominant religion in Vietnam. Buddhism was introduced into Vietnam by two ways, the first is under the Chinese domination in the northern and another is by Indian pilgrims who came to southern Vietnam at the end of the second century. Buddhism had gradually increased its popularity till, between 11th and 13th century, it received royal patronage, recognition of Buddhism hierarchy, financial support for constructions of pagodas and the active participation of clergy in ruling the country and it was then proclaimed the official state religion in the mid-12th century. It started in the 13th century when monks who had served as government advisers during the previous decades were gradually replaced by Confucian scholars and then, in Tran dynasty, between 13th and 15th century Buddhism finally lost the status of a state religion as a result of the Confucianism revival. However, it regained its esteem in the 1920s. There are two rests of Buddhism: Mahayana and Theravada (Hinayana) in which they are different in many ways. Whereas Theravada strives to become one who attains nirvana (arhat), the Mahayanist ideal is that of the Bodhisattva -one who strives to perfect oneself in the necessary virtues (generosity, morality, patience, vigor, concentration and wisdom) but even attaining the perfection chooses to remain in the world in order to save others. Theravada Buddhism is most practiced in the Mekong Delta region, mostly by ethnic Khmers, thus, the Theravada school of Buddhism is called the Southern school as it took southern route from India to Southeast Asia. While the Northern school is used to call Mahayana Buddhism as it proceeded north into Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam and Japan. Mahayana Buddhism considered themselves as the Greater Vehicle and called Theravada 'Hinayana' -Lesser Vehicle- because they were built on the earlier teaching and able to expand the doctrine to be more responsive to the needs of lay people.
Confucianism is more religious philosophy than a religion. Since its introduction, it became a basis of Vietnamese every day life, believes and social system. Confucius, the founder of this religion, has stressed in the important of moral self as the basic duty of an individual which then plays an important role in the social system. Confucianism emphasizes duty and hierarchy. Confucianism was introduced to Vietnam by Chinese as early as the first century. After Vietnam achieved its independence, the country was ruled by emperors, and Confucianism became important because of its philosophy that was in favor of monarchy. Confucianism was promoted and supported by government to be basic of Vietnam's education system as its philosophy emphasized: as virtue could be acquired only through learning, education rather than birth made a person virtuous. People were taught to know their duties to the family, community and their own place in the society hierarchy to behave accordingly. Confucianism was not only a basic for education, society and people believes but as the civil service examinations selected the from among the country's best students who would join the nonhereditary ruling class, the mandarins, therefore learning Confucianism was also path of the political advancement.
Today Taoism in Vietnam forms a component of the widely practiced Triple Religions, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Taoism was introduced to Vietnam during Chinese rule. Lao Tse (600-500 B.C.), the founder of Taoism, advocated a philosophy of harmony between man and man, and between man and nature. He believed that confrontation was obstacle to achieving this state of harmony. By taking non action and keeping away from human strife and cravings, man cam reach harmony with himself, other people and universe. Taoism emphasized contemplation and simplicity, right path (Tao) can be reached only by inward probing and quiet meditation. Basically, Taoism was a religious philosophy but the followers transferred it into a religion with church and a clergy who involved in communication with deities, spirits and dead. Some Taoist clergymen claimed they could cure illness, alleviate misfortune, and predict future.
Christianity was introduced to Vietnam a little late, in the sixteenth century, by missionaries from Spain, Portugal and France. Back then it did not play important role in Vietnam's society until French conquest. The French encouraged its propagation to balance Buddhism and to serve as a vehicle for the further dissemination of Western culture. After the mid-1950s, it declined in the North while expanding in the South under the support and promotion of Ngo Dinh Diem, the president. During his presidency, many key positions in his government, army, and police were filled with Christians. Today there are about 3 million Christians in Vietnam, which mostly are Catholic. Although this presents a small percentage of population, it has played a major role in Vietnam's politic and history during the last three decade prior to the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Caodaism is the third today's largest religion in Viet Nam (after Buddhism and Roman Catholicism). 'Cao' means 'high'; 'Dai' means 'palace'. Caodai refers to the supreme palace where God reigns. The word is also used as God's symbolic name. Caodaism is a syncretistic religion which combines elements from many of the world's main religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, as well as Geniism, an indigenous religion of Viet Nam. It was found in 1919 by Le Van Trung who established a priestly hierarchy modeled along Roman Catholic lines. Their main center is in Tay Ninh, about 60 miles (100 km) North West of Saigon. They currently have 7 to 8 million followers in Viet Nam and about 30,000 members elsewhere, primarily in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States. Another religious sect is a Hoa Hao which is a reformed Buddhist sect of the Theravada variety. It was found in 1939 by Huynh Phu So, who later was killed by the communists. Hoa Hao stresses that the virtues in one's daily conduct are the chief way of achieving enlightenment, both personal and collective. This religious sect is concentrated in the Mekong Delta with a membership estimated at about two million. This article is authored
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