Early Buddhism
Hello list!
Sorry about the previous message if it got sent- somehow without being finished!
I am a recent Oberlin grad who has been living in HCMC for the past
several months doing research on the history of the relationship
between religions and the state throughout Viet Namese history. In my
current research I have found Nguyen Khac Vien's work: Viet Nam a Long
History to be an excellent introductory level text, as it provides a
broad overview of many topics, and thus is a good jumping off point.
Naturally, as the text is a "National Narrative", which I found, quite
honestly to be a bit teleological in it's approach, it did not focus
on the same issues I am interested in...However, they were of course
mentioned in passing.
So without further ado, some questions:
What about some more details with regard to the introduction of
Buddhism to Viet Nam?
Who exactly was the monk Chử Ðồng Tử? and what was his persuasion in
terms of Buddhist scholarship? Did he actually study under an Indian
monk? Does anyone have any information on this figure?
What schools did (excuse the lack of accents) Ma Ha Ky Vuc
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From: ryan nelson <sociolgst@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Unfortunately, I’m not able to view the accent marks relating to the monk you’ve inquired about; however, for your question about the introduction of Buddhism in Viet Nam, view a helpful The Religions of South Vietnam in Faith and Fact. US Department of Navy. Forgotten Books. p. 33+.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=GrXJ1GPbiB4C&pg=PA33&dq=buddhism+Vietnam&lr=&as_brr=1&sig=ihp-9CXfclkTO3LaTk6dE5QHqTE#PPA33,M1>.
For multiple pages covering a brief history of Buddhism in Vietnam view Harvey, Peter. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. 1990. Cambridge Press. p. 159.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=bj-ds_jd8QYC&pg=PA159&dq=history+buddhism+Vietnam&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=eEkmmTMq61dyHzJLACI75ew3taA#PPA159,M1>, Christopher S. Queen. Engaged Buddhism in the West. 2000. Wisdom Publications.
p. 36-7.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=ITBJd3UaYJIC&pg=PA36&dq=history+buddhism+Vietnam&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=BL0f0qN70ReN7FWDtVC30E3JpAQ#PPA36,M1>, and Keith Weller Taylor, John K. Whitmore. Essays Into Vietnamese Pasts. 1995. SEAP Publications. p. copious.
<http://books.google.com/books?id=A60OggwLPrAC&pg=PA82&dq=history+buddhism+Vietnam&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=sRoZMGXGgqYyDHJsOrlimqmsEqM#PPA81,M1> (particularly for this book type “Buddhism” into the ‘Search in this book’ engine)
Peace in Viet Nam
Ryan Nelson
William Noseworthy <wnosewor@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello list!
Sorry about the previous message if it got sent- somehow without being finished!
I am a recent Oberlin grad who has been living in HCMC for the past
several months doing research on the history of the relationship
between religions and the state throughout Viet Namese history. In my
current research I have found Nguyen Khac Vien's work: Viet Nam a Long
History to be an excellent introductory level text, as it provides a
broad overview of many topics, and thus is a good jumping off point.
Naturally, as the text is a "National Narrative", which I found, quite
honestly to be a bit teleological in it's approach, it did not focus
on the same issues I am interested in...However, they were of course
mentioned in passing.
So without further ado, some questions:
What about some more details with regard to the introduction of
Buddhism to Viet Nam?
Who exactly was the monk ChỠà ồng T� and what was his persuasion in
terms of Buddhist scholarship? Did he actually study under an Indian
monk? Does anyone have any information on this figure?
What schools did (excuse the lack of accents) Ma Ha Ky Vuc
--------
From: Minh Tran <mtran@csulb.edu>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 3:16 PM
There are a numbers of accomplished scholars on VSG that can make such as assessment on the mentioned figure and the surrounding circumstances. However, further researches on early Vietnamese Buddhism are stagnant in term of copious academic examination. After looking at my dilapidated 1993 edition of Nguyen Khac Vien’s VIETNAM: A Long History, I am unable to locate the monk, Chu Dang Tu? Chi Dang To? or the like due to the indecipherable reading. You may need to be specific on the period and inquiries. Only the first 150 pages focuses on pre-modern history.
Minh Huynh Tran
Grad Student
--------
From: T. Nguyen <nguyenthanhbl@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 5:05 PM
I believe that Chu Dong Tu was not a monk and his life story was first recorded in "Linh Nam Chich Quai." Life story and what Ma Ha Ky Vuc did can be found in "Eminent Monks" (Cao Tang Truyen) compiled by Hue Hao.
Best,
Thanh Nguyen
Minh Tran <mtran@csulb.edu> wrote:
There are a numbers of accomplished scholars on VSG that
can make such as assessment on the mentioned figure and
the surrounding circumstances. However, further researches
on early Vietnamese Buddhism are stagnant in term of
copious academic examination. After looking at my
dilapidated 1993 edition of Nguyen Khac Vien?s VIETNAM: A
Long History, I am unable to locate the monk, Chu Dang Tu?
Chi Dang To? or the like due to the indecipherable
reading. You may need to be specific on the period and
inquiries. Only the first 150 pages focuses on pre-modern
history.
Minh Huynh Tran
Grad Student
--------
From: pham hongtung <phamhtung@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Chu Dong Tu is a figure in a legend and "his life" is not documented in anny reliable written source. Until now he and his wife, the princess Tien Dung have been worshiping in Khoai Chau, Hung Yen. Maybe the legend reflects something concerning the early period of Vietnamese Buddhism. For studies on the topic, please see Nguyen Lang, Viet Nam Phat giao su luan (the first volume of two volumes) published in Saigon in 1973 by La Boi, or Nguyen Tai Thu (ed), History of Vietnamese Buddhism, Hanoi, 1995(?). This work was also published in Vietnamese some years earlier. Recently Le Manh That has raised many questions and new ideas concerning the topic.
Pham Hong Tung
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From: T. Nguyen <nguyenthanhbl@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Please be aware that the works of Nguyen Lang and Nguyen Tai Thu are considered as secondary sources.
Best,
Thanh Nguyen
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From: Chung Nguyen <Chung.Nguyen@umb.edu>
Reply-To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Attachments: winmail.dat
>What about some more details with regard to the
>introduction of Buddhism to Viet Nam?
For pioneering researches on the earliest period of Buddhism in VN, please consult prof. Le Manh That 3-vol "Lich Su Phat Giao VN" (History of Vietnamese Buddhism), esp. vol. I. Supplementary works, also by prof. Le Manh That, include "Luc Do Tap King Va Khoi Nguyen Lich Su Dan Toc Ta" (The Six Paramitas Collection Sutra and the History of the Origin of Our People.), "Khuong Tang Hoi Toan Tap" (The Complete Works of Khuong Tang Hoi) and "Nghien Cuu Mau Tu" (Study of Mau Tu).
Some of his remarkable discoveries:
- an earliest known song in Vietnamese vernacular preserved in Chinese source
- exegesis of "Luc Do Tap Kinh" that highlights how most of the earliest legends of Vietnam - Chu Dong Tu included, were created by Vietnamese monks. Also proofs that Luc Do Tap Kinh was originally written in Vietnamese vernacular, then translated into Chinese.
- a lot of the environment of early Vietnamese Buddhism could be deduced from the conversion of Mau Tu from Confucianism to Buddhism in Giao Chau, esp. from the first Buddhist work written in Chinese in Asia that he penned - "Ly Hoac Luan", and the training and enlightenment of Khuong Tang Hoi in Giao Chau, and his subsequent evangelical work in China.
- his discovery of 6 letters of exchange between monks Dao Cao, Phap Minh, and Ly Mieu with a local government official in the 5th century that captures a crisis in Buddhist thoughts in Giao Chau at the time.
Thich Nhat Hanh's 3-vol "Vietnam Phat Giao Su Luan" (published in VN under pen name "Nguyen Lang") is also helpful.
>Who exactly was the monk Ch? Ð?ng T?? and what was his persuasion in
>terms of Buddhist scholarship? Did he actually study under an Indian
>monk? Does anyone have any information on this figure?
- Prof. Le Manh That discusses this in details in Vol. I of Lich Su Phat Giao Viet Nam (pp. 13-29).
>What schools did (excuse the lack of accents) Ma Ha Ky Vuc
Also spelled "Ma La Ky` Vu+.c" (Marajwaka), an Indian monk who came to spread Buddhism in Vietnam in the 3rd century, according to Cao Tang Truyen. Everywhere he went, he performed various miraculous acts to impress the populace - a sign of Tantric Buddhism.
According to "Linh Nam Trich Quai" and "Co^? Cha^u Pha'p Va^n Pha^.t Ba?n Ha.nh", Ma Ha Ky Vuc arrived in Giao Chau with Khau Da Lai (of Man Nuong legend fame). Khau Da Lai stayed in Giao Chau while Ma Ha Ky Vuc proceeded to China.
The most complete encyclopedia to look up information of this kind is the 10-vol Tu Dien Phat Hoc Hue Quang (Hue Quang Dictionary of Buddhism).
-Chung
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