Bảo tàng Cội Nguồn - Phú Quốc

BUDDHISM

Vietnam Buddhism was localized from Buddhism after it had been introduced by the Indians and Chinese. Vietnam Buddhism bears some characteristics different from the original one and other kinds of Buddhism.

According to the statistics of General Buddhist Association of Vietnam, throughout the country, there are nearly 45milions of believers, 839 Buddhism households, more than 44,498 monks and nuns and more than 14,775 pagodas, monasteries, temples, etc.

Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam quite early - in the first or second century A.D., from the legend of Chu Dong Tu, who learned about Buddhism from an Indian monk. Luy Lau (Bac Ninh province), capital of Giao Chi (former name of Vietnam), became the first important center of Buddhism in the country. The tales of Thach Quan Buddha and Man Nuong Buddha appeared in those speeches of preacher Ksudra during the periods from 168 to 169.

Since Buddhism was acquired from Indian, the word Buddha was transcribed to “But”, which is used in many folk stories. Vietnam Buddhism at that time served many features of Hinayana, But was considered as God, who always helped the weak and punished the bad. Later on, in the 4 or 5 Century, affected by Mahayana from China, the word But gradually disappeared and was replaced by “Phat”. In the Chinese-Vietnamese dictionary, the word Buddha was transcribed into “Phat Da” or “Phat Do” and then shortened to “Phat”.

Buddhism set its influence on the Vietnamese very early and it was strongly developed under the Ly and Tran dynasties, even considered national religion, which played much impacts on life's issues. Then, under the age of Later Le, when Confucianism severed as National religion, Buddhism started to go on decline. Early in the 17th century, King Quang Trung tried to reestablish the significant role of Buddhism by upgrading as well as constructing many pagodas, but his effort did not bring on much effect since he soon passed away. In the 20th century, when the westernization widely spread throughout the country,  Vietnam Buddhism surprisingly reached a breakthrough in its development; first started in southern cities with the major contributions of monks Khanh Hoa and Thien Chieu.

Buddhism in Phu Quoc was also developed due to the immigrations; especially when Mac Cuu founded Ha Tien town and built many pagodas for the residents to worship.