From the IIIrd Century to the XIIIth Century
Among various Buddhist schools in Việt Nam during this period of time, Thiền (Zen) had been the most developed since the 3rd century with Master Khương Tăng Hội. He was the founder of Thiền in Vietnam, and the first to introduce Buddhism to the Hán (China) from Việt Nam. Khương Tăng Hội translated the Anapanassati (An Ban Thủ Ý), the Six Paramitas Sutra (Lục Ðộ Tập Kinh), the Prajnaparamita Sutra (Bát Thiên Tụng Bát Nhã or Ðạo Hành Bát Nhã)
), and Chi Cương Lương Tiếp (Kalasivi, or Chính Vô Úy) translated the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra)in the tradition of the Mahayana. Their disciples were well-known lay Buddhists such as Trần Tuệ, Hàn Lâm, Bì Nghiệp, An Huyền and Nghiêm Phù Ðiều. However, unfortunately, no record was found about Vietnamese Buddhist history in the fourth century.
In the fifth century, according to Folk Tales About Famous Monks, a Zen Master named
Huệ Thắng, a disciple of Đạt Ma Đề
Bà, had gone to China several times to disseminate Buddhism.
From the sixth century till the end of the Lý Dynasty, there were three main Thiền schools in Việt Nam.
1. Tỳ-ni-đa-lưu-chi School: In 580
Tỳ-ni-đa-lưu-chi (毘尼多流支, vinītaruci), (?-594), also called Diệt Hỉ (滅喜), an Indian Zen master and a disciple of Tăng Xán (sēngcàn 僧璨, sōsan, ?-606),came to Việt Nam in 580, and became the abbot at in Pháp vân Temple (Bắc
Ninh Province) until his demise in 590. This school continued with 19 masters, the last one being Zen Master Y Sơn, who passed away in 1213.
2. Vô
Ngôn Thông School: In 820 Vô
Ngôn Thông, a Chinese monk came to Việt Nam, and became the abbot at Kiến sơ Temple (Bắc Ninh). He demised in 826. This school had 17 masters. King Lý Thái tông
(1028-1054) belonged to the eighth line of this school.
3. Thảo
Đường School: Thảo
Đường was from Chiêm Thành in the South. In 1069 King Lý Thánh tông defeated the Chiêm. The monk was found among the captured, but was later honored and given the title Quốc sư (National Master), and became the abbot of Khai
quốc Temple. This school had 6 masters. Among its followers were famous dignitaries such as King Lý
Thánh tông (1054-1072), in the second line; Ngô Ích, a court subject, in the third line; King Lý Anh tông (1138-1175) and Đỗ Vũ, a court subject, both in the fourth line; Đỗ Thường, a court subject, in the fifth line; King Lý Cao tông (1176-1210) and court subject Nguyễn Thức, both in the sixth line.
(To be continued)
Sources:
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
