Introduction
Religion and belief have exerted a deep influence on Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese concept of life. The attitude toward life, death, and the world beyond bears a deep imprint of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, as well as the belief in the King and the Goddess in Vietnam.
Vietnam is a country with many different religions and beliefs. According to the Pew Forum Institute (USA), Vietnam ranks 12th in the world and sixth in the Asia-Pacific region for religious diversity.
This variety is the consequence of immigration, interference, and the fusion of indigenous and foreign faiths. In particular, given Vietnam’s ongoing international integration, religious diversity is expected to rise in the future.
Notable Aspects Of Vietnamese Religion And Belief
Features Of Religion And Belief In Vietnam
Features Of Religion
Religions in Vietnam mostly revere God and Godhead of Foreign Origin. In addition, the doctrinal systems of indigenous religions are largely copied or influenced by other religions.
Although Vietnam is a country of various religions, none of which have the same origin, they all strive for “truth, goodness, and beauty.”. Therefore, all religions coexist peacefully, and there is no record of intergroup conflict.
Furthermore, religious beliefs instruct people on how to conduct themselves and live their lives correctly. As a result, they become helpful citizens in society and help to construct a better-developed country.
Features Of Belief
Objects of worship in Vietnamese beliefs are rich and diverse. All gods of both genders: male and female; spiritual animals (dogs, dragons, snakes, etc.); forest gods; sea gods; and water gods.
Beliefs in Vietnam do not have a unified organization from the state like religion. On the contrary, only a few individuals or groups of people have direct control over the organization and execution of rituals. For example, the custom of honoring ancestors is family-scale, and the custom of worshiping communal houses is village-scale.
Furthermore, unlike today’s religions, Vietnamese beliefs do not have teachings. It only contains a few types of texts that are employed for ritual practice, like prayers, worship texts, and so on.
Types Of Religion And Belief In Vietnam
Types Of Religion
Buddhism
Buddhism arrived in Vietnam about the first century BC by waterway and landway. However, it has been adjusted to reflect Vietnamese culture. As a result, Vietnamese Buddhism has commonalities and distinguishes itself from Buddhism in other nations.
Buddhism is currently the most popular religion in Vietnam, with over 14 million members spread over the country. In addition, this is the religion with the most impact in Vietnam.
Catholicism
Catholicism was brought to Vietnam in the 16th century, although it did not grow significantly until the 17th century. This is a branch of the Catholic Church led by Vietnamese bishops who are associated with the Pope.
Furthermore, Catholicism is the second most popular religion in Vietnam, after only Buddhism. It is unevenly distributed, with concentrations in the northern delta and coastal provinces, several central provinces, the Central Highlands area, and Vietnam’s southern provinces.
Protestant
Protestantism was introduced to Vietnam in 1911. This is a branch of Christianity and belongs to the Protestant movement. Although it arrived in Vietnam relatively late, this is the fastest-growing and most stable religion, particularly since the late twentieth century. Currently, the state recognizes Protestantism as one of the major religions in our nation.
Cao Dai
Cao Dai religion is a Vietnamese indigenous religion founded in 1926 and centered on the Tay Ninh Holy See. This religion worships the Jade Emperor.
In addition, followers of this religion follow dogmas such as not murdering, living honestly, worshiping ancestors, praying, and fasting. Furthermore, this religion aims to offer happiness to everybody and return everyone to God to escape the cycle of rebirth.
Hoa Hao
Hoa Hao Buddhism is a religion based on Buddhist philosophy. In addition, the teachings of this religion are based on a blend of Pure Land Buddhism and Ong Ba religion, with a home-practice philosophy.
Furthermore, Hoa Hao Buddhism adheres to the idea of “studying Buddha to cultivate humanity,” which entails mastering the Buddha’s teachings to reform humans. Also, practitioners of this religion adhere to the “Four Graces” theory: parents, country, three jewels (Buddha-Dharma-Sangha), and mankind.
Types Of Belief
Ancestor Worship Beliefs
Ancestor worship has been the most widespread kind of belief in Vietnam. It is deeply ingrained in the human subconscious about the moral “When drinking water, remember its source.” Furthermore, this belief also creates a chance for blood-related members of each family or clan to close.
The Belief In Worshiping National Heroes
Vietnamese history is notable for the process of combating foreign invaders. Therefore, since ancient times, Vietnamese people have always carried within them a strong patriotic tradition.
In particular, the belief in worshiping national heroes also comes from that reason. It has a significant impact on people’s spiritual lives. This ritual shows our country’s patriotic history and communal cohesion.
Belief In Worshiping The Tutelary God
The worship of the Tutelary God is a common kind of belief in Vietnam. Worshiping the Tutelary God was once limited to villages; nevertheless, this belief was sanctioned by kings and has since become an official state ceremonial activity in localities.
Belief In Worshiping Mother Goddesses
The belief in Mother Goddess worship in Vietnam dates back to prehistoric culture, notably the matriarchal period. Although our culture honors numerous deities, not all are revered as Mother Goddesses.
Furthermore, the Mother Goddess is a divinity revered by the feudal court and the people for her authority and role. Worship and rituals dedicated to the Mother Goddess, in particular, differ from other types of ceremonial organization. Mother Goddesses revered today include Mau Son, Quoc Mau, Vuong Mau, Thanh Mau, and others.
In conclusion, that is all of the information on religion and belief in Vietnam that Student Exchange has gathered. We hope this knowledge about Vietnamese spiritual culture is valuable to overseas readers.