Vietnamese Beliefs
A religious history of Vietnam.
Spiritual Origins of Vietnam
Vietnam has long been a majority Buddhist nation, but its religious history is a mix of many faiths and native folk beliefs. Running beneath the historical influence of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Catholicism is a more ancient animist faith. These beliefs, sometimes dismissed as superstitions, survived among the peasant farmers and fishermen of Vietnam for thousands of years. This worldview sees a spiritual presence in all things, which can help or harm human beings based on their conduct. Particularly powerful entities, including dangerous animals, were therefore referred to with titles of respect rather than by name. Managing relations with natural spirits shaped many customs of daily life in Vietnam, some of which are still observed today.
The Triple Religion in Vietnam
The major organized faiths of Vietnam arrived through China. Over time, the practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism merged to form the Triple Religion, or Tam Giao. These faiths did not contradict each other, instead informing separate aspects of Vietnamese life. While Confucianism organized the state and social hierarchies, Buddhism and Taoism offered guidance for personal development. Confucian worship primarily manifests as ancestor reverence. Deceased members of a family are enshrined in household altars for nine generations. Taoist and Buddhist rites may be conducted within the same temple in each village.
Christianity and Vietnam
Religion became a point of contention in Vietnam with the arrival of European missionaries. Vietnamese kings were initially wary of Catholicism, the faith brought to its shores by the French. The missionaries soon began intervening in Vietnamese politics, including organizing military factions. Their initial progress, however, was soon met with resistance by later Nguyễn dynasty rulers. This conservatism was most pronounced in North Vietnam, particularly after the outbreak of the Vietnam War. Hundreds of thousands of Catholic refugees streamed to the South for fear of persecution. The Southern government under Ngo Dinh Diem came into conflict with its resident Buddhist monks, who accused him of favoring the Catholics. In 1963, a Mahayana monk named Thích Quảng Đức lit himself on fire to protest the discrimination.
Religion in Modern Vietnam
Today, Vietnam’s government practices broad religious tolerance. The state itself declares no religion and encourages atheism. Around 80 percent of its population practices either no faith or its folk religion. Of the remainder, the vast majority observe Buddhism or Catholicism.
References
Crawford, Ann Caddell. Customs and Culture of Vietnam. Tuttle Publishing. 2012.
FitzGerald Frances. Fire in the Lake. Little, Brown, May. 2009.
Goscha, Christopher. Vietnam: A New History. Basic Books. 2016.
McLeod, Mark W and Thi Dieu Nguyen. Culture and Customs of Vietnam. Greenwood Publishing. 2001.
Taylor, K.W. A History of the Vietnamese. Cambridge University Press. 2013.
“The World Factbook: Vietnam.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 12 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
