The Influence of Chinese Buddhism on Vietnam

Buddhism entered Vietnam through China early on, bringing heavy ideological influences from Chinese culture. This blend of Buddhism with Confucianism and Taoism created a mixed religion, making Vietnamese Buddhism different from its original form in India. The Vietnamese adopted Chinese ideas like reincarnation, karma, and monk veneration, shaping a religion more focused on rituals and formality than personal enlightenment.

In Vietnam, Buddhism often turns into a tool for seeking blessings, good fortune, and protection from misfortune, rather than exploring true enlightenment. You see, people visit temples not to learn Buddha's philosophy but to pray for wealth, health, and all sorts of things. This isn’t the essence of Buddhism but a mix with folk beliefs and Confucian influences. So, Vietnamese Buddhism has transformed into a religion of rituals and ceremonies, while the deeper philosophy of compassion, selflessness, and the path to enlightenment is overlooked.

Moreover, Chinese Buddhism's influence is clear in temple architecture, worship customs, and how people revere Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Instead of practicing meditation for self-realization, many focus on offerings and rituals, hoping for divine favors. This has become deeply ingrained in Vietnamese life over generations, making Buddhism more of a folk religion than the profound philosophy of its original teachings.

So now, Buddhism in Vietnam is more of a psychological comfort than a true path to liberation, partly because the shadow of Chinese Buddhism has deeply embedded itself in the Vietnamese consciousness over centuries.