TTLV: The phenomenon of worshiping Ho Chi Minh: Formation process, worship characteristics and religious nature

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Ngoc Phuong                

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: August 19, 1987

4. Place of birth: Ung Hoa, Hanoi

5. Student recognition decision No. 1883/2010/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated October 21, 2010 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic name:The phenomenon of worshiping Ho Chi Minh: Formation process, worship characteristics and religious nature

8. Major: Ethnology Code: 60 22 70

9. Scientific instructor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Department of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of thesis results:

Available sources show that the new religious movement began to develop strongly in Vietnam, especially in the Northern Delta region from the late 1980s onwards, when the country began its economic reform and international integration policies. There are currently about 80 new religious phenomena existing under many different names, including 8 religions imported from abroad. The new religious phenomenon in Vietnam has attracted not only religious administrators but also social researchers. Some initial studies on this phenomenon have been published (Central Committee for Mass Mobilization 2007; Government Committee for Religious Affairs 2008; Do Quang Hung 2001 & 2011; Hoang Van Chung 2014).

Studies have initially compiled a list of some “new religious” groups, explained the causes of the phenomenon and proposed practical solutions. However, in essence, most studies conducted by state agencies do not aim to analyze new religious phenomena as “religious beliefs” but tend to identify these phenomena with superstitious practices and propose administrative measures to prevent them. In addition to general studies, there have not been many studies aimed at understanding more deeply the history of formation, worship characteristics and religious nature of specific new religious phenomena. This thesis describes for the first time the phenomenon of Ho Chi Minh worship as a new religious belief and analyzes its characteristics and religious nature. Based on the ethnographic field research method, we have studied in depth three cases of Ho Chi Minh worship in Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Ha Tay (old). In addition, we also conducted a survey on the phenomenon of Ho Chi Minh worship on a larger scale, including Quang Ninh and Hoa Binh provinces.

Our research shows that although the above-mentioned religious groups all take the image of Ho Chi Minh as the supreme saint, their worship practices, methods of organization and religious beliefs are not the same. The names of the Ho Chi Minh worship groups are also inconsistent. Although the advocates of Ho Chi Minh worship tend to explain their religious practices as an effort to develop a new religious worldview, when examining the teachings and ideological content of the “founders”, it can be seen that their religious views originate from three main sources: 1) Ancestor worship; 2) Buddhism; 3) Mother Goddess worship. From the analysis of the “scriptures” and practices of Ho Chi Minh worship, we believe that the nature of the phenomenon of Ho Chi Minh worship is simply the act of recreating new religious ideas and practices on the basis of existing spiritual foundations, but still in a very rudimentary and contradictory form of grafting and borrowing. Ho Chi Minh worship groups have not yet created a common ideological and organizational consistency to create a new systematic religious belief.

11. Practical application:

11.1. Based on the cultural anthropological approach to religion using ethnographic fieldwork to explore the characteristics and religious nature of the phenomenon of Ho Chi Minh worship, the thesis has provided an additional approach not only to the phenomenon of Ho Chi Minh worship but also to the study of other similar new religious phenomena.

11.2. The research results of the thesis contribute to providing a scientific basis for religious managers and practical activities in identifying, responding to and managing new religious phenomena in Vietnam.

12. Further research directions:

- The phenomenon of worshiping Ho Chi Minh is still spreading and needs to be further studied on a broader scale;

- Further research to explain the causes and outbreaks of new religious phenomena in Vietnam since the renovation until now.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

Mai Thuy Anh, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong (2013), Some noteworthy new religious phenomena in the Central Highlands in recent years, Printed in: Proceedings of the Scientific ConferenceReligious change in the Central Highlands: current situation, policies and solutions. Dak Lak, pp. 1-20.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Ngoc Phuong 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: August 19, 1987; 4. Place of birth: Ung Hoa district, Ha Noi city.

5. Admission decision number: 1883/QD – XHNV – SDH of the Headmaster of USSH – NU. Dated: October 21, 2010

6. Changes in academic process: No.

7. Official thesis title: HONOURING HO CHI MINH: THE EMERGENCE, CHARACTERISTICS AND NATURE OF DEIFICATION

8. Major: Ethnology 9. Code: 60 22 70

10. Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Department of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The scholarship literature tends to indicate that the new religious movement has emerged and spread very quickly in Vietnam, particularly in the Northern Delta, from the 1980s onward, when the economic reform and international integration were introduced into the country. There exist about 50 new religious beliefs under various names, in which eight were imported from foreign countries. This new religious beliefs have indeed attracted interests not only from social researchers but also policy makers. Some initial studies on this phenomenon have been conducted and published (Central Committee for Mass Mobilization 2007; Government Committee for Religious Affairs 2008; Do Quang Hung 2001 &2011; Hoang Van Chung 2014).

Available studies have established a list of “new religions”, searching for causes of phenomenon and suggesting the solutions for practical activities. These publications were, however, conducted by the Government bodies which see the new religious practices as superstitious activities rather than looking at them as a religious phenomenon, and therefore, the prohibition is often suggested to deal with them. Apart from the very general studies on the new religious phenomenon, there have not yet been intensive researches dealing with the emerging, worshiping practices, and religious nature of these religious beliefs. This thesis for the first times describes the phenomenon of worshiping Ho Chi Minh as a new religious practice and analyzing its characteristics and nature, which is based on the ethnological fieldwork among three specific cases in Hai Duong, Hai Phong and (former) Ha Tay with reference to other cases on a wider area of ​​Hoa Binh and Quang Ninh Provinces.

Our studies show that the honoring Ho Chi Minh was found in various places by different groups where he was worshiped as a super deity but the ways of veneration, worshiping practices, organization are not similar. The names of groups are also different. Although the founders of this religious practice attempted to explain that they aim at “a new vision of religion” but by carefully examining their religious philosophy, we find that the beliefs are mainly borrowed from three following sources: 1) Ancestor worshiping; 2) Buddhism; and 3) Mother Goddess worshiping. Based on analyzes of the documents circulated by these religious practices, we suggest that the nature of Ho Chi Minh deification is in fact a form of recreation of new religious thoughts and practices on the basis of the old ones. This is just a form of borrowing and putting together parts of the old belief foundations with a lot of conflicts in it. The groups of honoring Ho Chi Minh have not yet created scientifically a unity of religious thoughts and organization.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

12.1. The thesis provides an alternative explanation of Ho Chi Minh's deification in Vietnam and in the same time, it suggests a new approach for analysis not only for Ho Chi Minh deification but also new religious beliefs alike.

12.2. From the policy-oriented point of view, this study makes its contribution to the practical implications and resolutions for new religious beliefs in Vietnam.

13. Further research directions, if any:

- Ho Chi Minh's deification tends to develop fast and it needs further studies on a broader scope;

- More intensive studies on the causes and development of the phenomenon of new religious practices and Ho Chi Minh deification should be promoted for practical activities.

14. Thesis-related publications:

Mai Thuy Anh, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong (2013), “Some observations on the new religious movements in the Central Highlands in recent years”. In: Conference ProceedingsRelgious transformation in Central Highlands: Reality,Policy and Solution”, Dac Lac Province, pp. 1-20.