Contemporary Vietnam is characterized by religious diversity. Such an extreme diversity is due notably to the close relationship this country has maintained over centuries with the Chinese realm (and its Confucianism, Daoism and Mahâyâna Buddhism), indianized realms (such as Champa) and later with the Malay world and Theravâda Buddhism kingdoms. But this diversity is also due to the numerous religious innovations that took place starting mid-19th Century and lead to a strong movement of reinterpretation of Buddhism. This talk will remind the roots of buddhsim in Vietnam then contextualize this revival of Buddhism within the national and Southeast Asian frameworks; it will also demonstrate its doctrinal and institutional diversity.
