TTLA: Buddhist cultural and ideological aspects through inscriptions from the Ly-Tran dynasties.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Mai Thi Thom                            

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: October 24, 1972

4. Place of birth: Binh Dinh

5. Decision to recognize doctoral students No. 2798/2012/QD-XHNV-SDH signed by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on December 28, 2012.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:Buddhist cultural and philosophical thought as seen through the inscriptions of the Ly and Tran dynasties.

8. Specialization: Sino-Vietnamese Studies Code: 62.22.01.04

9. Scientific supervisors/mentors:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Kim Son.

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

- Contributing to the identification of the architecture, type, layout, and function of Buddhist temples, pagodas, and festivals as found in the Ly-Tran dynasties' inscriptions.

- Contributing to the identification of the ideas, examples, and characters of the Lotus Sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra in Buddhist and social life as seen in the Ly-Tran inscriptions.

- Contributing to the identification of Buddhist activities by Buddhist and Confucian schools, as well as their views on the role of Buddha and the Saints, and Buddhist and Confucian scriptures in religious and social life as seen in the Ly-Tran inscriptions.

- The Buddhist terminology annotated in the 10 representative inscriptions in the Appendix also contributes to clarifying the translation and understanding of the original meaning of the inscriptions.

11. Practical applications:

- Restoring temples, pagodas, and festivals of Vietnamese Buddhism.

- To serve as a reference for studying Buddhist thought in Vietnamese Sino-Vietnamese documents.

12. Future research directions:

Continue researching the cultural and ideological elements of Buddhism in the entire system of Han-Nom inscriptions.

13. Published works related to the dissertation:

1. Mai Thi Thom (2009),The Avatamsaka Sutra – The source of Buddhist culture during the Tran Dynasty.Phuong Dong Publishing House.

2. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “Bells of the Ly-Tran period”,Past & Present Magazine(331), pp. 32-35.

3. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “The beauty in Buddhist festivals during the Ly-Tran dynasties”,Past & Present Magazine(342), pp. 24-27.

4. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “The beauty in Buddhist festivals during the Ly-Tran dynasties”,Past & Present Magazine(343), pp. 26-27.

5. Mai Thi Thom (2013), “A long, chilling howl that chills the earth and sky”,Past & Present Magazine(419-420), pp. 48-51.

6. Mai Thi Thom (2014), “The family tradition spirit of Truc Lam Buddhism during the Tran Dynasty”,Journal of Buddhist Studies(5), pp.10-13.

7. Mai Thi Thom (2015), “Some aspects of the imprint of the Lotus Sutra in Ly-Tran inscriptions”,Han Nom Journal(3), pp. 36-44.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Mai Thi Thom 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: October 24, 1972 4. Place of birth: Binh Dinh

5. Admission decision number: 2798/2012/QD-XHNV-SĐH of Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humannities date 12/28/2012.

6. Change in academic process: Non

7. Offical thesis title: Buddhist culture and ideology through epitaphs during Ly - Tran dynasties

8. Major: Vietnamese logographic Code: 62.22.01.04

9. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Kim Son.

10. Summary od the new findings of the thesis:

- Pagoda – Tower – Festival of Buddhism during Ly – Tran dynasties can be restored and reappeared in a lively way making the religious elements of Buddhism manifest clearly through religious practices.

- Saddharmapundarka sutra and Avatamsaka sutra ideologies are strictly recorded in detail, which helps to affirm the tremendous value of the two creeds taking place in the Buddhists' life and contemporary society.

- The phenomenon of practicing the THREE RELIGIONS of Buddhism – Confucianism – Taoism during Ly – Tran dynasties were specifically identified completing other researches about practices and amalgamation of the THREE RELIGIONS in Vietnam.

- Buddhism terminologies which are referenced in 10 typical epitaphs in the annexes also contribute to more unravel for translation and understanding of the true meaning of the epitaphs.

11. Practical applicability:

- Reconstruct the pagoda - towers - Festival of Buddhism in Vietnam.

- Using as reference document in studying Buddhist thought in Vietnam Han Nom documents.

12. Further research directions:

Continue to study the culture and ideology of Buddhist thought in the Han Nom stelae.

13. Thesis-related publications:

1. Mai Thi Thom (2009),Avatamsaka Sutra – The Buddhist cultural wellspring of Tran Dynasty, Phuong Dong publishing house.

2. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “The bell of Ly – Tran Dynasties”,Then & NowMink(331), pp.32-35.

3. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “Festival of Buddhism during Ly – Tran dynasties”,Then & NowMink(342), pp.24-27.

4. Mai Thi Thom (2009), “Festival of Buddhism during Ly – Tran dynasties”,Then & NowMink(343), pp.26-27.

5. Mai Thi Thom (2013), “A long sound makes universe cold”,Past & Present Magazine(419-420), pp.48-51.

6. Mai Thi Thom (2014), “Family tradition of Buddhist Truc Lam during Tran Dynasty”, Buddist study Magazine (5), pp.10-13.

7. Mai Thi Thom (2015), “Traces of the Lotus Sutra in Ly-Tran dynasties' Stelae”,Han Nom Magazine(3), pp.36-44.