NEWS

Founder of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism Commemorated with Theater Production

By Craig Lewis | | Buddhistdoor Global

A new play entitled Vua Phat (the Buddhist king), about the life of the legendary monk-king Tran Nhan Tong, is scheduled to debut in Vietnam in December. A national hero, Tran Nhan Tong is the founder of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism, and is renowned as a monarch, a Buddhist philosopher, and a poet. The play commemorates the 707th anniversary of Tran Nhan Tong’s attainment of nirvana. Venerable Thich Duc Thien, secretary-general of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam, the only Buddhist sangha in the country recognized by the government, said he was confident that the play would present an accurate account of the king-monk’s life. “It takes hard work and intelligence to stage such a meaningful play, which recounts the country’s history in general and Vietnamese Buddhism’s history in particular,” he added. “I’m sure the audience will enjoy the play.” (Viet Nam News)

Venerable Thich Duc Thien, secretary-general of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam.

From vietnam.net

Tran Nhan Tong (1258–1308) was the third king of the Tran dynasty of ancient Vietnam, then called Dai Viet. As a young boy, Tran Nhan Tong exhibited remarkable intelligence and was an able student, quickly gaining a thorough knowledge of Buddhism. In 1274, at the age of 16, Tran Nhan Tong was given the title of crown prince by his father, King Tran Thanh Tong. Five years later, the king ceded the throne to his son. During his 15-year reign, from 1279–94, Tran Nhan Tong succeeded in twice defeating attempted Mongol invasions before establishing a long period of peace and prosperity in the country. After abdicating, the former king left his palace to become a Buddhist monk. He spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province, the site of many temples, pagodas, and other historical relics, and now a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims and tourists. It was here that he practiced and propagated Buddhism, founding the Truc Lam School of Zen and working to unify the different schools of Buddhism in Vietnam.

A statue of Tran Nhan Tong erected on Yen Tu Mountain in 2013.

From vietnam.net