CHARACTERISTICS OF HOA BUDDHISM THROUGH AN ETHNOGRAPHICAL SURVEY ON SOME PAGODAS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

Currently, the Hoa people live in 63 provinces of Vietnam but more than 50% of the population lives in Ho Chi Minh city. Therefore, they can preserve the ethnic cultural features including Hoa Buddhism. Based on previous studies, the researcher has conducted a survey on ethnographic fieldwork (observing ritual attendance, in-depth interview and interviewing the nuns, monks and Buddhists) at the Hoa pagodas such as Thảo Đường, Phổ Đà Sơn (district 6), Quan Âm, Từ Ân (district 11), Hoa Nghiêm (Bình Thạnh district), Vạn Phật (district 5), Long Hoa, Sùng Chính (district 8). The article identifies the characteristics of the Hoa Buddhism in Ho Chi Minh by: (1) History of the Hoa Buddhism; (2) Worship system; (3) The ritual of worship. The findings show that Hoa Buddhism in Hoa pagoda differs from Northern Buddhism in Viet pagoda in terms of placing Buddha statue in Little bell to ensure purity. The form of worshiping the Three Buddha nearby the five-person statue is Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, worshiping Maitreya and Emperor Jade. The pagoda organizes a religious ceremony for worshiping Sam, Dharma Vu Lan and a Thanksgiving ceremony to the gods. Folk beliefs are deep-seated in worshipping rites at Hoa pagoda.