Trúc Lâm
Trúc Lâm Zen sect (Chinese: 竹林禪派), also known as Trúc Lâm Yên Tử (Chinese: 竹林安子, "Bamboo Grove of Yên Tử"), is a uniquely Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) Buddhist school founded in 1299 during the Trần dynasty by Emperor Trần Nhân Tông (1258–1308). It marked a synthesis of indigenous Vietnamese, Confucian, Taoist, and Mahayana Buddhist traditions. HistoryPrecursorsZen Master Hiện Quang of the Vô Ngôn Thông sect established a center at Yên Tử Mountain. His successor Đạo Viên was granted the title Trúc Lâm Quốc Sư by the young prince Trần Nhân Tông. King Trần Thái Tông himself was deeply influenced by Zen and authored Khóa Hư Lục and Thiền Tông Chỉ Nam. Đạo Viên's student, National Master Đại Đăng, combined Vietnamese Zen thought with Lâm Tế teachings brought by the Chinese master Thiền Phong. From Đại Đăng came Tiêu Dao, teacher of the lay Zen master Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ, a major influence on Trần Nhân Tông. Founding by Trần Nhân Tông After abdicating the throne in 1293, Trần Nhân Tông became a monk and founded the Trúc Lâm sect at Yên Tử Mountain in 1299 under the name Hương Vân Đại Đầu Đà.[1][2] He unified various Buddhist sects in Đại Việt and emphasized ethical practice, temple reform, and Zen training. His students included Pháp Loa and Huyền Quang. Pháp Loa Pháp Loa joined the Sangha at age 21 and later attained enlightenment after intense personal practice. He became the second patriarch, edited Trần Nhân Tông’s teachings into Thạch Thất Mĩ Ngữ, and helped engrave the Tripiṭaka. He ordained over 1,000 monks and trained prominent disciples like Huyền Quang. Huyền Quang Originally a high-ranking scholar, Huyền Quang renounced his post to become a monk. He succeeded Pháp Loa as the third patriarch, led Van Yên Temple, and oversaw the production and editing of Zen scriptures. Due to health, he passed the tradition to An Tâm. DeclineAfter the Trần dynasty fell, the rise of Confucianism and the Ming invasion led to suppression of Buddhism and destruction of many Zen texts. The Trúc Lâm tradition retreated into seclusion in Yên Tử and gradually declined. Only lineage records survive in the Thiền Uyển Tập Anh. RevivalDuring the Lê Trung Hưng period, Master Chân Nguyên Tuệ Đăng revived interest in Trúc Lâm texts. Under the Tây Sơn dynasty, scholar Ngô Thì Nhậm (1746–1803) promoted Trúc Lâm as a unifying spiritual path, harmonizing the "Three teachings" of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.[3][4][5][6] Modern Trúc LâmZen Master Thích Thanh Từ is credited with the modern revival of Trúc Lâm. He established many monasteries in Vietnam and abroad, spreading a modern form of Vietnamese Zen based on Trần Nhân Tông, Pháp Loa, and Huyền Quang’s teachings. Though rooted in Trúc Lâm heritage, he also draws from other sources:
Thích Thanh Từ’s influence made him the most prominent Vietnamese Zen master in recent times.[8][9] LegacyThe Trúc Lâm Zen sect is considered the first truly Vietnamese Zen school and a unifying force in medieval Vietnamese Buddhism. Its teachings continue to influence modern Zen practice across Vietnam and the diaspora. Lineage holdersThe following is the lineage of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Dai nam thien uyen truyen dang luc (zh. 大南禪苑傳燈錄), edited by monk Phuc Dien (zh. 福田):
Important centersAncient Truc Lam Zen relics
Truc Lam Zen Monasteries todayIn recent years, a new form of religious institution has emerged, associated with the Truc Lam Zen sect, which is the Truc Lam Zen Monasteries founded by the monk Thich Thanh Tu initiated. This is also a form of honoring and sublimating the Truc Lam Zen sect in modern social life.[11]
Gallery
See alsoReferences
|
||||||||||
