Research Article Journal of Global Buddhism 10 (2009): 413-458 The Influence of Chinese Master Taixu on Buddhism in Vietnam Elise A. DeVido Department of History St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York, 14778 USA
[email protected] Copyright Notes: Digital copies of this work may be made and distributed provided no charge is made and no alteration is made to the content. Reproduction in any other format with the exception of a single copy for private study requires the written permission of the author. All enquries to: http://www.globalbuddhism.org ISSN 1527-6457 Journal of Global Buddhism / 413 Research Article The Influence of Chinese Master Taixu on Buddhism in Vietnam Elise A. DeVido Department of History St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York, 14778 USA
[email protected] Abstract From the 1920s, Vietnamese Buddhist reformers revitalized their religion, inspired in great part by the Chinese monk Taixu's blueprint to modernize and systematize sangha education and temple administration, and by his idea of renjian fojiao, "Buddhism for this world," emphasizing the centrality of education, modern publishing, social work, and Buddhist lay groups to Buddhism's future in the modern world. This article first discusses the Chinese Buddhist revival, then the activities of Buddhist reformers in Vietnam 1920s–60s, and the flows of Buddhist personnel and materials between Vietnam and China. This article explores how renjian fojiao was interpreted and realized in Vietnam, especially its influence upon Thich Nhat Hanh as he developed his ideas on "Engaged Buddhism." Introduction From the mid-nineteenth century, many people in Asia strove to revive and strengthen Buddhism in their country in order to answer the challenges and crises brought by modernization and imperialism, and in Chinese Buddhism, Master Taixu 太虚大師 (1890-1947) is considered to be the pre-eminent modern reformer.