CHINESE BONZES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHISM IN COCHINCHINA IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

Abstract

In the cause of expanding settlements and territory, building a new dynasty firmly at the new land in the South, the Nguyen Lords did not hesitate to choose Buddhism as a support for long-term strategy of gaining the sympathy of the people, stabilization kingship. In fact, the Nguyen Lords, especially Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu, Nguyen Phuc Khoat implemented policies to  develop Buddhism, such as restoring and constructing of pagodas, inviting veteran bonzes of high virtues from China, correcting the degradation of Buddhism… However, when speaking of the prevalence of Buddhism in the South (called Đàng Trong) during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, we have to mention the merit of the Chinese bonzes with their unexhausted cause of missionary activities (propagation of faith) in this so-called “cruel land”.