Buddhist Doctrine in the Formation of Vernacular Religions in Southern Vietnam: The Case of Hoa Hao Buddhism

Abstract

Religious traditions frequently undergo profound acculturation when introduced to new historical and cultural contexts. In Southern Vietnam, the interaction between universal Buddhist philosophy and indigenous cultural elements gave rise to new religious movements characterized by a distinct national identity, with Hòa Hảo Buddhism (HHB) serving as a quintessential example. HHB strategically adapted core Buddhist doctrines to address the specific spiritual and socio-economic imperatives of the regional agrarian population. This article analyzes the structural role of four fundamental Buddhist tenets - Karma, Reincarnation, Transmigration, and Incarnation - in the formation and development of HHB. Specifically, it examines how this religious framework shapes the cosmological worldview, ethical standards, and spiritual practices of its adherents. The authors selected these four doctrines for analysis because of their central importance in interpreting the human condition within the HHB context. Within this tradition, the founder, Huỳnh Phú Sổ, creatively reinterpreted and applied these philosophical concepts to accommodate the urgent existential needs of Southern Vietnamese communities during the early twentieth century. This process of conceptual transformation highlights the unique characteristics of HHB as a vernacular religion, simultaneously reflecting the dynamic adaptability of Buddhist thought. Ultimately, these four mutually supportive doctrines constructed a comprehensive system of ontological explanation and soteriological salvation, effectively responding to the spiritual aspirations and alleviating the existential anxieties of the masses during a period of intense historical upheaval.