Study On Truc Lam Zen School Under Tran Dynasty Of Vietnam

Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam during the first years CE. According to present source materials, before True Lam (Bamboo Grove) Buddhism came to existence, there were already three main Zen schools transmitted from China, viz., Vinitaruci, Vo Ngon Thong, and Thao Duong. These Zen schools contributed significally to the establishment of country of Vietnamese. Before Truc Lam (Bamboo Grove) Buddhism was founded, though Buddhism developed with the appearance of different Buddhist schools but it still did not adapt the need of the period of Vietnamese history at that time, such as, Zen thought was not suitable to different classes of society, Buddhism developed without controlling, there was no unified Buddhist congregation, Buddhist ethics was not propagated, superstition pervaded everywhere. During the13th century, when the Ly Dynasty was replayed by the Tran Dynasty, Buddhism came to a new period with the birth and and development of the True Lam Buddhism founded by King Tran Nhan Tong. The formation and development of this new Zen school changed wholly the quality of Vietnamese Buddhism. By the leadership of three patriarches of this Zen school, with the support of Vietnamese court, True Lam Zen school developed quickly in all sides. At the same time, the formation of this Zen school enriched the people’s culture and created distinguishing features of Vietnamese Buddhism.This Zen school, however, was not studied carefully and systematically in all aspects, especially the preeminent or limited aspects, whether in Vietnam or in China. Therefore this dissertation tends to contribute unknown aspects of the Zen school. The outline of the dissertation is as follow:The brief survey of the situation of Vietnamese Buddhism before13th century, how three Zen schools were introduced to Vietnam from China and what were their own Zen thought.Based on the ancient source materials like Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu, Tam To Thuc Luc, Ke Dang Luc, Thanh Dang Luc...and the other works of modern scholars, we partly outline a true picture on the reasons leading to the formation, the process of establishment and development of True Lam Zen school through the lives and religious activities of three patriarches. By analysing represented works and verses of three patriarches, the writer will present prominent characteristics of True Lam Zen School and the influence of Chinese Zen (especially Lin Ji Zen school) to this school. The formation of True Lam Zen school was actually the conbination of the unity of three Zen schools came from China and social engaged thought of Vietnamese patriarches. Therefore, True Lam Zen school obviously was influenced by Chinese Zen. True Lam Zen school, however, kept its own aspects, viz., the harmonization of suddent and gradual teachings in Buddhism, the harmonization of three religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism), and the spirit of "the enjoying religious happiness in secular world."When Tran Dynasty was declined, Buddhism lost its point of appui. Confucianism gradually developed prominently in both the fields of politics and thought. The scholars were attracted to academic education to keep a high status in society. Meanwhile Buddhism did not emphasize on social fame, status, secular benifits and therefore it hardly attracted peope. At the same time, Truc Lam congregation faced some difficult challenges, such as it was not well organized, systematized, managed, monastic education and the training of the excellent inheritors were not concerned, the influence of the deformation of Tantrism and the Champa-Vietnamese war. These are main reasons leading to the decline of Truc Lam Buddhism.The new research presented in this dissertation are as follow:1. The writer tries to analyse the relationship between Chinese Zen and Vietnamese Truc Lam Zen to enlighten the cultural exchange rellations of Chinese and Vietnamese peoples.2. The dissertation presents a clear relationship between Buddhism and the nation, viz., Truc Lam Buddhism and royal classes as well as Vietnamese people during the Tran Dynasty.3. The dissertation also presents a clear prominent characteristics of Truc Lam Zen school, analyse its preeminent and limited aspects. At the same time, the reasons leading to development as well as decline of this school are anlysed.