HANOI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
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Phan Thanh
THUAN QUANG BUDDHIST LITERATURE 17TH-18TH CENTURY: APPEARANCE AND FEATURES
SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS IN LITERATURE
Hanoi - 2020
Project completed at:
University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Vuong
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The thesis will be defended before the National University Council for thesis evaluation.
PhD meeting at . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
at hour date month year 20...
Thesis can be found at:
- National Library of Vietnam
- Information Center - Library, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
INTRODUCTION
1. Reason for choosing the topic
After taking office in Thuan Quang, Lord Nguyen built and developed this region comprehensively, expanding its borders and completing almost the map of Vietnam today.
Thuan Quang has an important position in the overall political, cultural and ideological history of Vietnam. The territorial isolation and independence in the 17th and 18th centuries created unique characteristics and influenced the development of Vietnamese culture and literature.
Lord Nguyen prioritized Buddhism as the foundation of Thuan Quang's ideology. This made Buddhism deeply influence the cultural and literary life, forming a prominent Buddhist literature, contributing significantly to the development of Thuan Quang literature in particular and Vietnamese literature in general.
To affirm the position of Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang, it is necessary to have a complete research work, describing the appearance and pointing out the outstanding characteristics of this literary body.
Based on the above theoretical and practical premises, we choose this research direction with the topicThuan Quang Buddhist Literature of the 17th - 18th Centuries: Appearance and Characteristics.
2. Research object and scope
Thesis research object: Thuan Quang Buddhist Literature.
Scope of research: Appearance and characteristics of Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang region in the 17th and 18th centuries. The time frame is specifically determined in 1600 with the event of Nguyen Hoang returning to Thuan Quang, officially separating from the Le Trinh court until 1802 with the event of Nguyen Anh unifying the country, ascending the throne with the reign name Gia Long.
3. Research purpose and tasks
4. Research methods
The thesis uses the following research methods: literary history research method; systematic method; comparative and contrastive method; interdisciplinary research method.
5. Contribution of the Thesis
Contribute to understanding the history, culture and ideology of Thuan Quang.
Contributing to the Vietnamese Buddhist literature archive a specialized study that summarizes Buddhist literature in the Thuan Quang region in the 17th - 18th centuries.
Contribute to identifying the unique and characteristic elements of Thuan Quang culture.
Affirming the position of Buddhism in the history of thought, culture and literature of the Vietnamese people.
6. Thesis layout
In addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, References and Appendix, the Thesis Content is divided into 4 chapters as follows:
Chapter 1: Overview of research situation
Chapter 2: Thuan Quang Buddhism in the 17th - 18th centuries and Thuan Quang literature in the 17th - 18th centuries
Chapter 3: Appearance of Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries
CONTENT
Chapter 1: OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH SITUATION
1.1. General issues
1.1.1. Concept of Buddhist Literature
Up to now, in the research community there are two concepts of Buddhist literature:
1) Buddhist literature includes only the Sutras, Vinaya, Abhidharma and Abhidharma - the three collections of Buddhist scriptures;
2) Buddhist literature includes all works related to Buddhism. We understand the concept of Buddhist literature in the scope of the thesis topic to be all works written about Buddhism, influenced by Buddhist thought directly or indirectly, to works that criticize Buddhism.
1.1.2. Thuan Quang region in the 17th - 18th centuries
Thuan Quang region is the common name of two regions Thuan Hoa and Quang Nam, stretching from Gianh River (Linh Giang, in present-day Quang Binh) to present-day Phu Yen province.
The 17th - 18th century timeline is calculated by us from 1600 to 1802.
1.1.3. Thuan Quang Buddhist Literature of the 17th - 18th centuries
Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang in the 17th and 18th centuries includes works that convey Buddhist thought, are influenced by Buddhist thought, and also works that criticize Buddhism written in the Thuan Quang region in the 17th and 18th centuries. The creative force includes authors living in the Thuan Quang region who are related to Buddhist thought.
1.2. The situation of collecting and researching Buddhist literary texts in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries
1.2.1. The situation of collecting Buddhist literary texts in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries
The situation of collecting Buddhist literary texts in Thuan Quang in the 17th-18th centuries includes two stages.
Firstly, the medieval period. Confucian scholars were conscious of collecting, compiling, evaluating the poetic heritage and preserving the literary works of their predecessors. Typical examples include Le Quy Don with his workSmall knowledge, Bui Huy Bich with his workHoang Viet Poetry Collection, Hoang Viet Literature Collection, Phan Huy Chu withChronicles of the Dynasties,Tran Viet Tho - Nguyen Phuc Hong Vinh withHam Long mountain legend....
Second, the modern period. Literary researchers continue to collect, translate, annotate and evaluate the value of their ancestors' literary works. Researchers use the National Language (Latin) script in researching works. We can mention the contributions of authors such as Phan Hua Thuy, Nguyen Q. Thang, Le Manh That, Hue Quang Translation Center, Lieu Quan - Hue Cultural Center... In addition, there are scholars who are monks who have collected texts from Zen libraries at pagodas. They provide a large number of texts including handwritten, woodblock, and printed texts.
1.2.2. The situation of translating and researching Buddhist literary texts in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries
First of all, we must mention the works written about the conduct and works of Zen masters of this period by Buddhist scholars such as Nguyen Lang - Thich Nhat Hanh, Thich Mat The, Thich Minh Tue; the monumental works of Le Manh That, Thich Hai An, Thich Nhu Tinh, Thich Dong Duong... Second are the works of researchers on Buddhist literature such as Dinh Gia Khanh, Bui Van Nguyen, Nguyen Huu Son, Tran Ngoc Vuong, Nguyen Kim Son, Nguyen Cong Ly, Tran Hong Lien, Phan Dang, Doan Le Giang...
Le Manh That is a person with great merit in collecting, translating and annotating a series of works from the beginning of the century to the 20th and 21st centuries. Among them are works that have been translated and annotated such asCollection of Vietnamese Buddhist Literature, History of Vietnamese BuddhismIn addition, Le Manh That has published series such as:Complete Works of Minh Chau Huong Hai, Complete Works of Toan Nhat Quang Dai... with full research, translation, and annotation of each work unit.
Translated by Thich Gioi HuongHue Pagoda Stele,History of Buddhism in Huecompiled by Thich Hai An - Ha Xuan Liem contributed to the study of Buddhist literary texts in Hue. Similarly, works on the history of each province that formerly belonged to Thuan Quang region also studied in the above direction such asThe deeds of the Zen masters of Quang, the history of the transmission of the Chuc Thanh Zen sectby Thich Nhu Tinh;Buddhism in Phu Yenby Nguyen Dinh Chuc - Thich Nhu Tinh;Typical pagodas in Binh Dinh provinceby Loc Xuyen Dang Quy Dich...
The above works are only initial studies for us to see the research achievements not only on Buddhism but more importantly the urgency of collecting, translating and researching Buddhist literary texts. From the above works, literary texts will be a valuable source of materials for the implementation of the thesis topic.
1.3. Situation of research on Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang in the 17th-18th centuries
1.3.1. Thuan Quang Buddhist literature of the 17th-18th centuries in Buddhist research works
Thich Mat The presented on the development of Buddhism in the workBrief History of Vietnamese Buddhism(1942). The author devoted chapters Eight and Nine to present “Buddhism during the North-South War” and “Buddhism under the Nguyen Dynasty”. However, because of his historical position, the author only mentioned poems or compositions to list the typical figures.
Vietnamese Buddhist Historyby Nguyen Lang,History of Vietnamese Buddhismedited by Nguyen Tai Thu, all have sections presenting the lives, deeds, and thoughts of famous Zen masters, including Zen masters from Thuan Quang region.
History of Buddhism in Dang TrongNguyen Hien Duc's 2 volumes on the history of Buddhism in Dang Trong are the most elaborate and valuable. The author mentioned great writers in literature such as Dao Duy Tu, Nguyen Cu Trinh, Ngo The Lan, Nguyen Duong Hao, Pham Thi Lam Anh, Nguyen Phuoc Tu, Mac Thien Tich... who were influenced by Buddhist thought.
The Institute of Buddhist Studies of the Southern Institute advocatesBuddhist and ethnic bookshelfhas published many works on Vietnamese Buddhism such asBuddhism in the Later Le Dynasty,Buddhism in the Nguyen Dynastyhas gathered outstanding articles on Buddhism in the post-Le and Nguyen dynasties, evaluating the role and position of Lord - Bodhisattva Nguyen Phuc Chu in expanding the territory, developing the country, as well as influencing literature.
In addition to general research works on Buddhism in Thuan Quang, which mention the literary works of the authors, there are also separate research articles on each author and work. Famous Zen masters such as Zen master Lieu Quan, Zen master Minh Hai Phap Bao, Zen master Toan Nhat Quang Dai, etc. have been studied by researchers with many works.
From the perspective of studying the history of religion and Buddhist thought, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th - 18th centuries has defined its basic features with a fairly extensive research history.
1.3.2. Thuan Quang Buddhist literature of the 17th - 18th centuries in literary history research works
From the reality of historical events, regional characteristics and the number of authors and works, researchers have viewed Thuan Quang Buddhist literature from the issues of literary theory, author biography, ideology and content of works.
SetHam Long mountain legendby Diem Tinh layman and Nhu Nhu Taoist introduced and commented on outstanding Buddhist literary works from Thuan Hoa, Quang Nam from the 17th to 19th centuries.
In 1972, Nguyen Van Sam wrote the bookNam Ha Literature - Dang Trong LiteratureIt can be said that this is a work that summarizes all the appearance and characteristics of Dang Trong literature. Nguyen Van Sam analyzed and evaluated authors of Thuan Quang literature such as Dao Duy Tu, Nguyen Cu Trinh, Ngo The Lan, Nguyen Huu Hao, Ngoc Han...
Le Manh That was interested in researching the history, ideology, and literary culture of Thuan Quang from a very early age and had many monumental works. For example,Complete Works of Zen Masters(1979),Minh Chau Huong Hai Complete Collection(2000) introduced, explained the authors' biographies, and evaluated the ideological content of the works of two great authors from the Thuan Quang region.
“Dang Trong Literature” by Cao Tu Thanh is the most in-depth monograph on Dang Trong literature, considering it as a separate research subject. The author has more or less mentioned the issue of religion, including Buddhism, how it influenced the literature in this region.
Hoang Xuan Han has researched and introducedTwin Stars Storyby Nguyen Huu Hao in 1987, copied, annotated and introduced by Le Ngoc Tru - Pham Van LuatMonkby Nguyen Cu Trinh in 1969, collected, translated, annotated, introduced by Phan Hua ThuyPoetry and Literature by Nguyen Cu Trinh1989.
Nguyen Q. Thang has a series of works on literature in the Dang Trong region such asQuang Nam country and characters (1996);Quang Nam in the journey of opening up and defending the country (2005);Vietnamese Literature in the New Land, Volume 1 (2007)… collected and evaluated literature in this new land.
Research theses on steles such asResearch on Han Nom stele in Quang Nam provinceby Nguyen Hoang Than (2014),Research on Thua Thien Hue stelesby Doan Trung Huu (2015), Research on Quang Ngai stele by Nguyen Ai Dung... evaluated the content value of the stele, affirming a literary genre related to Buddhism in Thuan Quang.
In constructionVietnamese Literature in the Le Mac Period, North-South Conflict(2018), Nguyen Cong Ly has summarized Vietnamese literature in the turbulent historical period of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. In section 4.10, the author has paid attention to Buddhist literature in the Thuan Quang region with the title "Representative authors of Buddhist literature".
In 2018,Scientific conference on Buddhism and Binh Dinh literatureheld in Binh Dinh, comprehensively evaluated Binh Dinh Buddhist literature, which is also a part of Thuan Quang literature.
From the above two research directions, it can be seen that Buddhism and literature of Thuan Quang have received great attention from researchers. However, these are only specialized studies on one aspect of Buddhist literature of Thuan Quang, and there has not been any work that fully presents the appearance and clarifies the characteristics of Buddhist literature of Thuan Quang in the 17th-18th century.
Chapter 2: THUAN QUANG BUDDHISM AND THUAN QUANG LITERATURE IN THE 17TH - 18TH CENTURIES
2.1. Thuan Quang Buddhism in the 17th - 18th centuries
2.1.1. Social context of Thuan Quang region in the 17th - 18th centuries
In 1558, Nguyen Hoang was ordered by the Le - Trinh dynasty to be the governor of Thuan Quang region. In 1600, after going to the North to pay tribute, Nguyen Hoang returned to Thuan Quang and officially separated from the Le - Trinh dynasty. Since then, the two Trinh - Nguyen groups fought many wars to conquer each other, finally taking Gianh River (Linh Giang) as the boundary to divide into two regions: Bac Ha (Dang Ngoai) and Nam Ha (Dang Trong).
At the same time as establishing the Dang Trong government, Lord Nguyen carried out the Southern expansion, expanding the territory to the South and perfecting the map of Vietnam as it is today.
The composition of Thuan Quang's population at first was very complicated. There were Cham, Viet, and Minh Huong people. This was both a difficult problem and an opportunity for the Nguyen family to develop their business.
For nearly two hundred years, with nine generations of lords, the Nguyen family built a large and comprehensive Dang Trong region that developed economically, politically, culturally, and militarily. After Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat died, the government fell into the hands of Truong Phuc Loan - an abusive ruler. Since then, the royal court gradually weakened, no longer able to manage society and care for the people's lives.
In 1771, the Tay Son brothers rose up to fight against the Nguyen lords. Dang Trong was once again plunged into continuous war. After that, Nguyen Hue defeated the Nguyen lords, the Trinh lords, and the Le kings, unifying the country from North to South. After that, Nguyen Anh defeated the Tay Son and ascended the throne under the current reign name Gia Long in 1802.
Lord Nguyen especially supported Buddhism with specific and positive actions such as building pagodas and towers, making statues, casting Dharma instruments, inviting high monks, opening ordination platforms to transmit Dharma... Thanks to the support of Lord Nguyen's government, Buddhism in Thuan Quang developed strongly. In addition to importing Zen sects from abroad, it was also the birthplace of two Zen sects that developed strongly later. Buddhism therefore had a profound influence on the cultural and spiritual life of Thuan Quang residents.
2.1.2. Thuan Quang Buddhism - the introduction and development of Buddhist sects
Thuan Quang Buddhism was introduced and developed very early. Thuan Quang inherited Cham Buddhism, and at the same time accepted Buddhism through the footsteps of Vietnamese immigrants. Not only that, the international open policy allowed Chinese monks to come to propagate the Dharma and open ordination platforms.
In Thuan Quang Buddhism in the 17th and 18th centuries, there were five Zen sects, including: Lam Te and Cao Dong Zen sects, which were introduced from China; Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect of Vietnam, which was introduced from Dang Ngoai; Two Zen sects that spontaneously emerged in Thuan Quang were Lieu Quan Zen sect and Chuc Thanh Zen sect. What is special is that the emergence of Lieu Quan and Chuc Thanh Zen sects demonstrated the development of Buddhism in this region. Thuan Quang Buddhism has greatly influenced the cultural and social life.
2.1.3. Thuan Quang Buddhism in the 17th - 18th centuries from the synchronic and diachronic perspectives
In terms of synchronicity, Thuan Quang Buddhism in the 17th and 18th centuries was born later than Buddhism in Dang Ngoai. However, compared to Buddhism in the South, Thuan Quang Buddhism played a role in the transition and accelerated the development of Buddhism there. Thuan Quang Buddhism played a role in continuing and creating a continuous flow of Vietnamese Buddhism.
Historically, Thuan Quang Buddhism inherited Cham Buddhism, then received and accommodated Zen sects from Dang Ngoai and China to develop two Zen sects, Lieu Quan and Chuc Thanh. It was this development that later on, Thuan Quang Buddhism continued its pioneering role in the development of Vietnamese Buddhism.
2.2. Thuan Quang literature in the 17th-18th centuries
2.2.1. Thuan Quang literature develops in Vietnamese literature
Compared with the literary centers of Ha Tien and Gia Dinh, the literary center of Thuan Quang was born earlier and has special features.
Before the 17th century, Thuan Quang literature went through many centuries without much prosperity when the creative team was almost small. In the 17th century, along with the expansion of the territory was the expansion of the boundaries of Vietnamese literature. Vietnamese literature followed the pioneers, and in fact, the Thuan Quang region was the intermediate step to bring the Dang Ngoai literature to shape in Dang Trong. Dao Duy Tu is considered the one who planned a new literary region, the Thuan Quang literary region. Thuan Quang literature accommodated and respected writers from Dang Ngoai. Thuan Quang was the gateway to create a springboard for the development of Vietnamese literature, completing the map of Vietnamese literature. If there was no Thuan Quang literary region with its own unique characteristics, there would probably not be a continuous literary flow from Dang Ngoai to Dang Trong to create a consistent literary stream of the history of national literature later on. The works in the Thuan Quang region, in terms of genre, became the original works for Vietnamese literature.Twin Stars Never Sleepby Nguyen Huu Hao is the first work marking the birth of Vietnamese Nom literary genre.Southern Dynasty Industrial Revolution ChronicleNguyen Khoa Chiem's work is the pioneer of the chapter novel genre in Vietnam.
Although it was planned by the intellectuals of Dang Ngoai, it soon formed a literary genre with distinct regional characteristics, contributing to the richness of Vietnamese literature. The special characteristics of the population created an advantage in developing new literary forms suitable to the practical needs of life. At the same time, because of that special characteristic, the academic style did not favor the literary tradition, creating conditions for literature to develop in the most natural way.
Moving south, Thuan Quang authors brought their own style to blend with the Gia Dinh and Ha Tien literary regions. Thuan Quang literary region has the mission of being the center to continue the flow of Vietnamese literature.
2.2.2. Buddhism and Thuan Quang literature in the 17th - 18th centuries
Buddhism has a position in the ideological, cultural and social life of Thuan Quang, so it has a great influence on Thuan Quang literature, creating a Buddhist literature with outstanding appearance and characteristics.
Chapter 3: THE APPEARANCE OF THUAN QUANG BUDDHIST LITERATURE IN THE 17TH - 18TH CENTURIES
3.1. Creative force
3.1.1. Zen Masters Authors
The Zen masters and monks are the core force of Buddhist literature. The profound philosophical theories of Buddhism, proven through their practice and expressed in the language of these authors, are the characteristics that distinguish them from other literary genres.
3.1.2. Authors of kings and nobles
Buddhism was sponsored by the Nguyen Lord's government, so this class, more or less, all understood Buddhism. They expressed their devotion to Buddha, praised Buddhism, and the scenery of Buddhist temples through poetry and literature.
3.1.3. Officials and Confucian scholars
The Nguyen Lords were people who played the role of a wise ruler, and also the role of a religious leader, or in other words, the Nguyen Lords combined royal power and religious power in their rule, so it is certain that the Confucian mandarins and scholars all supported that religious power. Whether they wanted it or not, in that general situation, the authors of the Mandarins and Confucian scholars were more or less influenced by Buddhist thought.
The above force of Buddhist literary creation proves that Buddhism has greatly influenced both the depth and breadth of social life.
3.2. Genre system
3.2.1. Poetry and Zen poetry
Poetry and Zen poetry in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature include: Dharma transmission and sect transmission poems, death poems, and inspirational Zen poetry. To grasp the content and artistic form of poetry, in addition to literary ability, the researcher also needs to have a certain understanding of Buddhist thought and Zen thought. Depending on the level of understanding, Buddhist perspective, and foundation, each person will perceive the thoughts of poetry differently.
3.2.2. Inscriptions
The 17th-18th century Buddhist stele in Thuan Quang includes: Presenting the merits of restoration and restoration, recording the names of the donors; Presenting the deeds, merits of conversion and attainment of enlightenment; Praising the Buddhist temples and famous landscapes of Thuan Quang, thereby presenting the philosophy of Buddhism.
The Thuan Quang Buddhist stele not only shows the historical development process of Thuan Quang Buddhism but also deeply expresses the Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, the combination of methods in practice such as dual practice of Zen and Pure Land.
3.2.3. Postscript
The odes in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature are of a praising and joyful nature. This genre dominates the total number of works with each work being very large in size and with diverse topics. The ode genre creates the distinctive features of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature.
3.2.4. Rich
The genre of fu in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th and 18th centuries was used to praise and glorify Buddhism, convey teachings or express inspiration for Buddhism. Fu in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature used Nom script, showing the unique features of specific regions.
3.2.5. Language record
This genre is not much in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature. Existing documents show two sayings, in which the saying of Patriarch Lieu Quan expresses the Mahayana spirit with the Emptiness of all dharmas, affirming the profound understanding and realization of Zen truth of Zen Master Lieu Quan, the founder of the Lam Te Lieu Quan Zen lineage.
3.2.6. Some other genres
Genre: Self, Afterword
The genre of prefaces and epilogues in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature is very rich, proving that in addition to the development of Buddhism, it also shows a very vibrant atmosphere of Buddhist literary activities.
Genre Religious treatise
The genre of classic commentaries by authors of this period shows that the academic situation and Buddhist research were highly focused on. At the same time, it proves that Zen masters and monks were very conscious in composing and propagating Buddhism through literature. This genre helps to enrich and diversify the appearance of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature.
3.3. Language system
3.3.1. Text
Historically, although Thuan Quang had Cham, Vietnamese, Chinese and Western people, Buddhist literature still mainly used Chinese and Nom characters to compose. In particular, Nom characters were widely used in genres such as poems and essays, creating the characteristics of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature.
3.3.2. Buddhist language system
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature of the 17th - 18th centuries fully possesses the characteristics of Buddhist language used through literary means, which are conciseness, suggestiveness, and intellectual association. At the same time, it also has a popular, common character with the aim of spreading religion widely to the masses. Thuan Quang Buddhist literary language is divided into two ranges: concise language, with the meaning expressed in words; the range of popular, simple, and rustic language.
3.3.3. Buddhist historical system
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has Vietnamized many Buddhist languages, Zen languages, and historical allusions of the Three Religions to make the work easy to understand and convey without losing the meaning of the author's thoughts.
3.4. Topic
3.4.1. Direct presentation of Buddhist teachings
This is the topic area for us to determine the difference between Thuan Quang Buddhist literature and other parts of the Thuan Quang region in the same period.
Presenting Buddhist teachings directly, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has entered into Buddhist philosophical theories such as Form and Emptiness, Nirvana, True Mind, Buddha Nature... presented with vivid, sparkling images of artistic language through a number of rhetorical devices so that the masses can clearly see the meaning of Buddha's teachings.
3.4.2. Nature
The realistic images of nature with their vivid beauty make the author feel and reflect through the senses of a poet with Zen eyes and of a Zen master with a poetic soul.
Natural images are symbolic and superlative in nature and are used to directly or indirectly express Buddhist philosophy. These are metaphorical images, in which nature becomes an object full of implications related to Buddhist philosophy.
3.4.3. Humans and earthly life
Praise those who have made great contributions to the practice and propagation of Buddhism. Famous Zen masters and wise kings who played specific roles in the development of Buddhism are praised and passed down.
The life of the worldly people is also partly described to show the influence of Buddhism on people's lives. Although not appearing much, readers will see the authors' confidences about the changing life. All are expressed in language, Zen and Buddhist senses with subtle emotional vibrations.
Chapter 4: CHARACTERISTICS OF THUAN QUANG BUDDHIST LITERATURE IN THE 17TH - 18TH CENTURIES
4.1. Assimilation of Vietnamese Buddhist literature
4.1.1. Transmitting the values of Buddhist literature from Dang Ngoai
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature continues Buddhist literature from Dang Ngoai, creating a unique and distinctive feature, then pushing Buddhist literature to the South of Thuan Quang. Thuan Quang Buddhist literature becomes the gateway for Vietnamese Buddhist literature to develop in a unified and comprehensive way.
4.1.2. Conveying Buddhist teachings
With a diverse system of genres, the teachings have been conveyed to sentient beings, helping them escape the suffering of reincarnation and attain enlightenment and liberation. In the matter of expressing Buddhist teachings, we clearly see the trend of movement and stratification. The first level is Buddhism for intellectuals (intellectual Buddhism), the authors often express the philosophical thoughts of Form and Emptiness, Buddha nature, exalting the word Mind and attaining the realm of Zen. The second level is Buddhism for the masses (folk Buddhism), the authors express closer and more practical thoughts such as Cause and Effect, Karma and Reincarnation...
4.1.3. Viewpoint on religious practice and worldly spirit
Buddhist literary authors have had practical concepts of practicing to attain enlightenment and liberation that are close to daily life. The practice of liberation is first of all keeping the precepts, reciting Buddha's name, and meditating.
The idea of "Living in Confucianism and admiring Buddhism" is the way to solve the problem of practicing for liberation and entering the world to save lives of Thuan Quang residents.
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has successfully built the character Dong Van, a concrete image of the concept of practice inseparable from life, practice for liberation and dedication to save lives of Vietnamese Buddhism.
4.2. Fusion of ideologies
4.2.1. The policy of "living in Confucianism and admiring Buddhism"
Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu initiated the policyConfucian scholar and Buddhist monkhas satisfied the social reality. That is to live by the spirit of compassion and wisdom of Buddhism and contribute to building society according to Confucian thought.
The concept of “living in Confucianism and admiring Buddhism” was a timely policy for the tolerance and integration of social ideology at that time. On the one hand, it was to connect the people’s hearts with the internal factors of the characteristics of the population and diverse culture. On the other hand, it was to oppose the Westernization trend that the Nguyen Lords feared would go too far from their exclusive position, while at the same time, it maintained the necessity of traditional life institutions, not running too fast and too far in the urban life of the people when Western culture - Catholicism was increasingly penetrating.
4.2.2. Synthesis of Buddhist sects
Thuan Quang Buddhism has a strong exchange between Zen sects and sects due to geographical and historical characteristics. Buddhism here is created from the mysterious spells and magic of Cham Buddhism; by Zen sects and dharma teachings imported from Dang Ngoai and from China. It can be said that in Zen, there is a harmony between Zen sects such as Lam Te, Tao Dong, Truc Lam, Lieu Quan, Chuc Thanh. In the dharma teachings, there is a harmony between Zen, Tantric, and Pure Land sects, creating the three practices of Zen, Mat, and Tinh Do.
4.2.3. Synthesis of the Three Religions: Buddhism - Confucianism - Taoism
Thuan Quang literary authors all have the intention of harmonizing the thoughts of the Three Religions, Buddhism, Confucianism, and more broadly, the Christian thoughts of the West.
The expression of other religious ideas in Buddhist literature is an attitude of behavior, on the one hand to select and absorb, on the other hand to affirm the position of Buddhism. To reconcile the Three Religions, the authors believe that Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism have the same origin, the same source, and the same house. The introduction of new ideas from the West, combined with internal contradictions, forced Buddhist literary authors to find ways to reconcile these ideas in a concrete way with many valuable images.
4.3. Concept of poetics - Zen and the movement trend of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature
4.3.1. Openness in the concept of Poetics and Zen
Not being constrained by the framework of words, the authors let their works form naturally like the character of the people in the new land. The Zen masters and monks were not constrained by the issue of names - which is inherently the "wordless" ideology of Zen, and were not constrained by the origin of words. Buddhist and Zen terms were used in a simple, familiar, and easy-to-understand way to target the masses who needed to be served. All had a liberal tendency.
4.3.2. The trend of popularizing Buddhist literary works
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has a genre selection that focuses on performance, singing, dancing, and chanting, which is popular in the daily life of the masses. Therefore, it can be seen that Thuan Quang Buddhist literature tends to bring literary works to life. Buddhist literary works are performed with the combination of music and rituals, making the works more lively, and Buddhist thoughts are easier to enter people's hearts.
4.4. Promoting Buddhism
4.4.1. Praising the scenery of temples and towers
Nature in Buddhist literature is divided into two forms: supernatural natural images, symbolic in nature, directly or indirectly expressing the philosophical thoughts of Zen Buddhism, and realistic natural images with vivid, fresh, interesting, and attractive beauty that the authors are moved by.
Images of nature touch the mind to awaken the true heart. The natural beauty of pagodas and towers in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature is always brilliant and beautiful, expressing a sense of love for life, love for the country, belief in prosperity and altruism in accordance with the compassionate spirit of Buddhism.
4.4.2. Praising the high monks
Zen masters and monks who attained enlightenment and had great influence on society were praised and honored, becoming the subject of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature. The character Dong Van became a prominent image in Buddhist literature. This is a distinctive feature of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th - 18th centuries, affirming its position in Vietnamese Buddhist literature.
CONCLUDE
Buddhist literature is an important part of Vietnamese literature. This part contributes to the appearance and characteristics of Vietnamese literature through the periods.
Thuan Quang was a new land compared to the Dang Ngoai region. The population was diverse, with many different cultures, including Cham, Viet, Minh Huong and Westerners. Faced with such a cultural foundation, Lord Nguyen chose Buddhism as the core ideology in his policy of uniting people, managing society and developing the new land.
Thuan Quang Buddhism has a special fusion. First of all, Thuan Quang Buddhism is the Buddhism of the Cham people, directly influenced by Indian Buddhism. Although the majority of Cham people left Thuan Quang, Cham Buddhist culture still exists and has profound assimilation and exchange with Vietnamese Buddhism. When Vietnamese immigrants followed Lord Nguyen to reclaim and establish new lands, they brought Vietnamese Buddhism from Dang Ngoai. Thuan Quang Buddhism not only had Vietnamese-Cham exchange but also had assimilation with Chinese Buddhism. One of the positive moves in the development of Buddhism by Lord Nguyen was to invite eminent monks from China to open ordination platforms, transmit the Dharma... That is why Thuan Quang Buddhism has a profound assimilation and exchange. In the 17th - 18th centuries, in Thuan Quang there were 5 major Zen sects, namely Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, Cao Dong sect, Lam Te sect, especially there were two endogenous Zen sects, originating right in Thuan Quang, Lieu Quan sect and Chuc Thanh sect.
The Zen sects have had strong exchanges, creating the unique features of Buddhism in Thuan Quang. Thuan Quang Buddhism has an important position in the development process of Vietnamese Buddhism. Thuan Quang Buddhism is both the gateway to continue the flow of Vietnamese Buddhism from Dang Ngoai and the source for the development of Buddhism in the South of Thuan Quang.
It is because of that development that Buddhism has had a great influence on the cultural and literary life of Thuan Quang. Thuan Quang has had a prominent Buddhist literature stream, contributing to the development of the Thuan Quang literary region. At the same time, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature also continues the flow and perfects Vietnamese Buddhist literature.
The creative force, the system of genres, the language and the reflective themes have created the appearance of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th - 18th centuries. Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has common points of medieval literature, and at the same time has the most basic distinctive points of Buddhist literature.
The creative force of Buddhist literature in Thuan Quang in the 17th - 18th centuries, besides Zen monks, also included Confucian scholars, mandarins, Nguyen lords and relatives. It is worth mentioning here that Buddhist literary authors were also the core creative force of literature in the Thuan Quang region. The reason is easy to understand because the policy of prioritizing the development of Buddhism by the Nguyen Lords created the influence of Buddhism on the creative force of literature in this period.
In terms of genre, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th - 18th centuries basically has all the genres of Buddhist literature of the previous period. The highlight of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature is the development of the literary genre. If the literary genre for Dang Ngoai literature in general and Dang Ngoai Buddhist literature in particular is just a plus sign in the genres, then Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has prioritized choosing the literary genre in its composition. This genre dominates the total number of works with the capacity of each work being very large and the topics being diverse. This is the first highlight that creates the uniqueness of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature.
Regarding the written language, besides using Chinese characters, Nom characters are used more in writing. The system of Buddhist terms and historical allusions are Vietnamized. This has contributed to the brilliant development of the national literature genre.
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has many distinct characteristics that are easily recognizable as a literature created under the direct influence of Buddhist thought. Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has integrated the ideologies of religious sects to create ideological diversity in literature. In particular, the concept of "living in Confucianism and admiring Buddhism", a policy proposed by Lord Nguyen, has greatly influenced the lives of residents in Thuan Quang in particular and Dang Trong in general. This is the second highlight of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature. Not only that, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has performed its role in conveying Buddhist teachings, views on religious practice and entering the world to practice. It can be seen that the issue of entering the world of Buddhist literature during the Ly-Tran period has been concretized by literary characters at this stage. The image of Mr. Sai inMonkof Nguyen Cu Trinh or the image of Dong Ong inPromised history storyof Zen master Toan Nhat Quang Dai is an image with many profound meanings, affirming the worldly spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism in building and developing society. If Dao Duy Tu is considered the one who built the image of a hero in troubled times, serving the wise king, saving lives, then the image of a monk who devotes himself to the world in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature is a unique feature.
Thuan Quang Buddhist literature shows a liberal spirit in poetic and Zen perspectives. The openness and the courage to create something new, breaking free from the pre-established model were fostered by a community of settlers who opened up new lands, coming to a vast land with favorable natural conditions. As we have mentioned, the liberal view in Vietnamizing Buddhist language in literature is not due to the lack of experience in a new land but is an affirmation of Vietnamese Buddhism. The authors seem to want to escape the influence of Chinese Buddhism. The form, genre and language of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature have clearly changed, affirming the awareness of building a Buddhist foundation as well as Vietnamese Buddhist literature.
In the process of development, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has tended to popularize literary works. This has made the literary life here more vivid and rich. If Dang Ngoai once developed the genre of telling the lives of high monks and enlightened Zen masters, the literary genre of Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has expanded the object of reflection. It has presented more deeply and diversely the aspects of life as well as learning and practicing Buddhism. The performance function of the genre has made Thuan Quang Buddhist literary works more intimate, vivid and easier to perceive.
Although it is a religious literature, it has had a great impact on the creation and development of literature in the Thuan Quang region. Buddhist literature in the Thuan Quang region plays a great role in shaping the Thuan Quang literary and cultural region. At the same time, it transfers the values of previous Buddhist literature from Dang Ngoai, creating an integration for Vietnamese Buddhist literature to continuously develop in the Gia Dinh and Ha Tien literary regions.
If we consider Thuan Quang Buddhism under the Nguyen Lords to have developed as in the Ly - Tran period, then Thuan Quang Buddhist literature is a prominent repetition of Ly - Tran Buddhist literature. The issue of development here is not in terms of quantity or quality of works but the position of this literary genre in the appearance and characteristics of Thuan Quang literature.
The establishment and development of Thuan Quang region plays an important role in the history of Vietnam, helping to expand and basically perfect the map of Vietnam today. In the field of literature, Thuan Quang literature plays a role in the reception and transmission of Vietnamese literature development, being a bridge to unify the flow of Vietnamese literature throughout the territory. It is the development of Thuan Quang literature that has filled the gap in the history of Vietnamese literature development for a long time.
Similarly, Thuan Quang Buddhist literature has played the role of acculturation and transmission of Vietnamese Buddhist literature to develop continuously and without interruption. It can be affirmed that Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th-18th centuries has an important position in the history of Vietnamese Buddhist literature in particular and Vietnamese literature in general.
LIST OF ARTICLES RELATED TO THE THESIS TOPIC
1. Thich Chan Dao (Phan Thanh) (2018), “Buddhism and the Thuan Quang literary region in the 17th-18th centuries”, Printed inProceedings of the conference on Buddhist Science and Binh Dinh Literature, volume 2 - Binh Dinh Buddhist Literature - Binh Dinh Literature, Social Sciences Publishing House, pp.50-67.
2. Phan Thanh (2018), “The imprint of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature of the 17th-18th centuries”, Printed inTran Nhan Tong and Truc Lam Buddhism - Unique ideology and culture, Tran Nhan Tong Institute, Hanoi National University Publishing House, pp.957-969.
3. Phan Thanh (2019), “Nguyen Cu Trinh's Viewpoints and Attitudes towards Buddhism”, Printed inProceedings of the East Asia International Conference: Issues in Literature Research and Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Culture and Arts Publishing House, pp.345-351.
4. Phan Thanh (2019), “Concepts of poetics and Zen in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature of the 17th-18th centuries”,Enlightenment Monthly, No. 285, December 2019, pp.39-44.
5. Phan Thanh (2019), "The development of Buddhism in Thuan Quang region in the 17th-18th centuries", Proceedings of the Scientific Conference:Quang Binh Buddhism past and present, pp.120-131.
6. Phan Thanh (2020), “The image of the character Dong Van in “Hua Su Truyen Van” by Zen master Toan Nhat Quang Dai”,Willow BarNo. 20, May 2020, Thuan Hoa Publishing House, Hue.
7. Phan Thanh (2020), “The trend of secularization in Thuan Quang Buddhist literature in the 17th-18th centuries”,Dat Quang MagazineNo. 194, June 2020.
8. Phan Thanh (2020), “Studying the genre of poems in the works of Zen master Toan Nhat Quang Dai”,Journal of Science and Technology, University of Science - Hue University.
9. Phan Thanh (2020), “Regional and international impacts on literature in the Thuan Quang region in the 17th-18th centuries”,Hue University Journal of Science, Vol. 129, No. 6D (2020): Social Sciences and Humanities in Vietnamese.
Author:ussh
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