The Adaptation to Local Conditions of Vietnam Buddhism

Buddhism appeared in Vietnam as early as the 2nd century AD.  By that time there was an important Buddhist center in the Dâu area in Hà Bắc Province.  Vietnam then was under the domination of the Hán, and its name was changed into Giao Chỉ Bộ, until in 203 it was renamed Giao Châu.  Buddhism was introduced into Vietnam by Indian monks who traveled in cargo ships via southern sea routes.  Luy Lâu (in the Dâu area, Hà Bắc) was probably a port where early monks and merchants from East India came to the land of the Hán through Việt Nam.

According to A Recorded History of the Thiền Lineage  (Thiền uyển truyền đăng tập lục),  a venerable monk named Đàm Thiên in his dialogue with a Chinese king in the 6th or the 7th century mentioned a route that connected Giao Châu (Việt Nam) with East India.  That was why there was such an important Buddhist center in Luy Lâu, Giao Châu, with over twenty Buddhist temples, more than 500 monks and fifteen collections of sutras, while Buddhism was still new to the Chinese at that time.  Buddhism probably entered China  from Vietnam.  In the 3rd century Ngô Tôn Quyền from Giang Đông (China) learned the Dhamma  with Venerable Khương Tăng Hội, who was from Giao Châu.  He later ordered to build Kiến Sơ Temple.  In A Complete History of the  Country of Đại Việt (Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư) and Records of the Ngô (Ngô chí) (written in the IV century AD), there was a copy of a letter written by a Hán named Viên Huy and sent to a court subject named Tuân Úc in 207.  The letter mentioned that whenever the Governor of Giao Châu (Thái thú) Sĩ Nhiếp went out of his palace, there were Indian monks following him with fragrant incense burned and musicians playing brass instruments, flutes, bells and cymbals. 

Because North Việt Nam first came into contact with Buddhism from India, in the local language of Northerners there is the term "Bụt," which originated from the term Buddha (meaning the Enlightened) from India.  Gradually, the direct dissemination of Buddhism from India by sea routes subsided with the increasing influence of the Mahayana School, which came to North Việt Nam from China.  At the same time, in South Việt Nam, Theravada Buddhism from Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand has continued until the present.

(To Be Continued)

Source:
Lê Anh Dũng (1999). The Path of the Three Religions in Việt Nam (Con Đường Tam Giáo Việt Nam), (Ho Chi Minh City: Ho Chi Minh City Publishing Co.), pp.8-10.
http://thuvienhoasen.org/D_1-2_2-84_4-19764_5-50_6-2_17-97_14-1_15-1/tu-tuong-phat-hoc-va-su-heban-dia-hoa-tai-viet-nam.html