TTLA: Nature in Vietnamese Buddhist literature during the Ly - Tran period

1. Full name of PhD student: Pham Thi Thu Huong
2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: December 1, 1979 4. Place of birth: Ninh Binh
5. Decision to recognize PhD students: 1806/2018/QD-XHNV dated June 29, 2018
6. Changes in training process (if any):
7. Thesis topic: Nature in Vietnamese Buddhist literature during the Ly - Tran period
8. Major: Vietnamese Literature 9. Code: 9229030.04
10. Scientific advisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
In the Ly Tran literature, especially Buddhist literature, nature is both an endless source of inspiration and a reflection of the times, expressing literary trends and bringing unique aesthetic messages. From the effort to study nature from the specific aesthetic perspective of Zen thought, analyzing nature as an aesthetic object in Vietnamese Buddhist literature of the Ly Tran period from many genres, we identify and explain the very unique concepts and linguistic philosophies of Zen masters, understanding the cultural practice space of Zen masters of the Ly Tran period. It can be said that nature in Ly Tran Buddhist literature has shown us the hidden currents of Buddhist thought and doctrine as well as the literary and artistic values ​​of this literature. From the interpretation of layers of meaning encoded through natural images, the thesis has contributed a perspective to study the spiritual world as well as the aesthetic concepts of monks and intellectuals who have a predestined relationship with Buddhism.
The thesis has covered Buddhist literary genres such as narrative prose, stele inscriptions, literary records, poems and verses, question and answer genres between monks and nuns, the form of explaining doctrinal issues through chanting, and the genre of lyric poetry about nature and landscapes by Zen masters.Each genre group has its own content, creating a unique "mosaic" of nature in Ly Tran Buddhist literature.
In this thesis, we want to study nature as an important subject in Vietnamese Buddhist literature during the Ly and Tran dynasties, thereby showing both the changing projections of history and the creative tendencies of the era as well as the author's style. The thesis studies the role, function, and meaning of images that play a metaphorical role of nature from the perspective of Zen philosophy and aesthetics. In addition, the thesis studies the philosophical and cultural nature of natural space reflected in stele inscriptions and narrative works as a space for building temples and a space for practicing.
To carry out the topic, we use the materials of Ly Tran poetry and literature, in which we use translations and exploit the original in some cases. The research object of the thesis is nature in narrative genres, in poetry and verses of Ly - Tran Buddhist literature composed by Zen masters and authors who have a predestined relationship with Buddhism.
In developing the thesis, we use the typological method to decipher the specific meaning of the types of Buddhist literary works written about nature. At the same time, we use the historical literary method to place the works in the synchronic and diachronic process, in the historical and social context. Besides, we use statistical, comparative and analytical operations to classify and systematize the types of natural images, and at the same time compare nature in Buddhist literature with nature in Confucian literature with metaphorical functions, aesthetic and religious meanings.
The thesis analyzed the narrative genres written about the portraits of Ly-Tran Zen masters in the space of mountain and forest practice, thereby attempting to explain the practice culture of Vietnamese Zen masters in this period with the characteristics of primitive Buddhism. In addition, the thesis identified and analyzed the characteristics of vivid and attractive metaphorical language in the genres of dialogue, explanation, and poems about Buddhist philosophical and ethical thoughts thanks to the Zen masters' use of familiar and close natural images. Through the study of the genres of nature lyric poetry and landscape lyric poetry, the thesis pointed out the aesthetics of natural images in Ly-Tran Zen poetry, the characteristics of relational Zen poetry, using Zen as an example, and using poetry to illuminate Zen.
12. Further research directions: Vietnamese literature
13. Publications related to the thesis:

 

1. Full name: Pham Thi Thu Huong
2. Sex: Female
3. Date of birth: December 1, 1979 4. Place of birth: Ninh Binh
5. Admission decision number: 1806/2018/QD-XHNV dated June 29, 2018
6. Changes in academic progress (if any):
7. Official thesis title: Nature in Vietnamese Buddhist literature of the Ly-Tran dynasty.
8. Major: Vietnamese Literature 9. Code: 9229030.04
10. Academic Supervisor: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Kim Son
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
In the literature of the Ly Tran dynasty, especially Buddhist literature, nature is both an inexhaustible source of inspiration and a reflection of the times, expressing literary trends and delivering unique aesthetic messages. After studying nature from a specific aesthetic perspective of Zen Buddhism thought and analyzing nature as an object in Vietnamese Buddhist literature of the Ly-Tran dynasty in many genres, we identify and explain the particular concept and linguistic philosophy of the Zen masters and understand the cultural space of practice of Zen masters in the Ly-Tran period. It can be said that nature in the Ly-Tran dynasty's Buddhist literature has indicated the lines of Buddhist thought and teachings as well as the literary and artistic values ​​of this literature. From the interpretation of the meaning expressed through the nature imagery, the thesis has provided a perspective to study the emotional world and aesthetic concept of monks and intellectuals who are predestined to Buddhism.
The thesis has covered various genres of Buddhist literature, including narrative prose, epitaphs, recorded sayings, poems, types of questions and answers between monks and nuns, the form of explanation of doctrinal issues through “stating topics, summarizing main ideas, and writing a poem,” and genre of Zen master's natural lyric poetry and landscape lyric poetry. Each genre conveys its content, forming a unique mosaic of nature imagery in Buddhist literature in the Ly-Tran period.
In this thesis, we want to research and consider nature as a vital object of Vietnamese Buddhist literature in the Ly-Tran dynasty to show the variable reflections of history and the author's composition trends and style. The thesis studies the role, function, and meaning of metaphorical images from the point of view of philosophical thought and Zen Buddhism aesthetics. In addition, the thesis clarifies the philosophical and cultural nature of the natural space, such as a space for building pagodas and a place for practice, reflected in the epitaph and narrative works.
To carry out this research, we have used materials from the Ly-Tran dynasty's poetry and literature, translations, and the original in some cases. The research object of the thesis is the nature imagery in narrative genres and poems of Buddhist literature in the Ly-Tran dynasty composed by Zen masters, and authors predestined to Buddhism.
We have used the typological method to clarify the specific meanings of the types of Buddhist literary works written on nature. At the same time, literary and historical methods are applied to place the piece in the synchronic and diachronic process and the socio-historical context. Furthermore, we use techniques such as statistics, comparison, and analysis to classify and systemize the types of nature imagery and compare nature in Buddhist literature with that in Confucian literature regarding metaphorical function, aesthetic meaning, and religion.
The thesis has analyzed the narrative genres written about the Zen masters of the Ly-Tran dynasty living in the practice space in the mountains. Thanks to that, it's able to explain the cultivation culture of Vietnamese Zen masters in this period with the characteristics of Theravada Buddhism. In addition, the thesis identifies and analyzes the characteristics of vivid and attractive metaphorical language in genres such as dialogues, explanations, and poems on philosophical and ethical ideas of Buddhism through using familiar nature imagery. Through studying natural lyric poetry and landscape lyric poetry, the thesis has presented the aesthetics of nature imagery in Zen poetry of the Ly-Tran dynasty and the characteristics of the relationship between poetry and meditation (using poetry to indicate meditation and meditation to express poetry ideas.)
12. Future research directions: Vietnamese Literature.
13. Thesis-related publications: