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About Vietnam
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 | About Vietnam >> Religions & Beliefts :>> Religions & Beliefts - Buddhism Buddhism is the most influential religion in Vietnam, with about 92% of Vietnamese being Buddhists. The number of practicing Buddhists numbers about three millions, those who frequently visit Buddhist temples and participate in Buddhist ceremonies number about thirty millions, and those living under the influence of Buddhism number in the tens of millions. There are two types of Buddhism found in Vietnam, Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada. Mahayana Buddhism first spread from China to Vietnam's Red River Delta region around 300BC and remains popular throughout the whole country, whereas Theravada Buddhism arrived from India into the southern Mekong Delta region between 300 - 600 AD and remains popular in only the south delta area of Vietnam. To this day, Mahayana Buddhism is largely affiliated with the majority ethnic Vietnamese. Buddhism was imported into Vietnam fairly early, at around the beginning of the Common Era with the legend of Chu Dong Tu studying Buddhism from an Indian monk. Luy Lau (in Bac Ninh Province), the capital of Giao Chi soon became an important center of Buddhism. Legends about Thach Quang Phat and Man Nuong Phat Mau appeared with the teachings of Ksudra in around 168 - 189.
Because Buddhism was imported directly from India, the word Buddha was directly imported into Vietnamese as But, still in use in many folk tales. At that time, Vietnamese Buddhism was influenced by Theravada Buddhism, and But was seen as a deity who helps good people and punishes bad people. In the 4-5th centuries, because of influence of Mahayana Buddhism from China, the word But gradually lost its Buddhist meaning and was replaced by Phat from the Chinese pronunciation of Buddha. Buddhism took roots in Vietnam very early. Ly Nam De (who became king in 544 ) was also known by the name Ly Phat Tu (Ly the Buddhist). In the Ly and Tran dynasties, Buddhism developed rapidly, was seen as the state religion, and influenced all aspects of life. In the Le Dynasty, Confucianism replaced Buddhism as state religion and Buddhism entered a period of decadence. At the beginning of the 18th century , King Quang Trung took efforts to revive Buddhism by building and renovating temples, but died before accomplishing his goals. In the 20th century, although strongly influenced by the process of Westernization, Buddhism experienced a resurgence, beginning in the southern cities with important contributions from the monks Khanh Hoa and Thien Chieu.
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