Folk Religions and Practices in Southeast Asia Vietnamese Folk Religion Widely practiced/believed; similar to southern China. Gods / spirits are worshiped at shrines. Proscribed after 1954 (to about 1985); temples destroyed. Example: Ngoc Son Temple (Jade Mountain). In Hoan Kiem Lake. 18th century, honoring 13th century leader Tran Hung Dao (fought the Yuan dynasty), scholar Van Xuong, and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu). Confucian, also served as schools/universities.
Late 9 th century; university. Courtyards and ponds. Bachelor exams every third year; PhD exams a year later marked on stele (1442-1779), became mandarin. miếu: Temples; natural goods (earth, water, fire) đình: tutelary deities of place đền: Shrines of heroes, including kings. Origins: Confucianism. Confucius (551-479 BCE). Emphasis on stability, respect for hierarchy/authority/elders, consensus. No priesthood or formal rital. Taoism. The Way. Tao Te Ching by Laozi (6 th century BCE); later the Daozang. Philosophical basis: emphasis on naturalness and simplicity, and three treasures (compassion, moderation, humility). Divination. Yin and Yang. Chua Mot cot (One Pillar Pagoda), Hanoi. Built by Emperor Ly Thai Tong to resemble a lotus blossom: Goddess of Mercy handed him a male heir on a lotus flower.
Tay Ho (West Lake) Pagoda, Hanoi. Dedicated to Thanh Mau (Mother Goddess) who appeared as a beautiful girl, recited poetry to a fisherman, and vanished. A popular destination. Theology: linh = holy, between order and disorder. Associated with goddesses, and some animals (snake/amphibian, bat as bird/mammal, etc.). Cross boundary by sacrifice, and shamanism/mediums. Self-cultivation: improve, cultivate gentleness and wisdom, heal. Cao Đài [High Tower] Syncretist, with nationalist political character. Confucian ethics, Taost occult practices, karma and rebirth from Buddhism, pope and hierarchy from Roman Catholicism. Saints include Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, Muhammad, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, and Sun Yat-sen. Believes all religions are based on one same principal. Founded 1926 by Ngo Van Chieu. 2-6m adherents. Tay Ninh mother church. Established an army (!) in 1943; supported, then opposed Ngo Dinh Diem (who disbanded the army and forced the pope into exile). Repressed 1975-1997.. The Cao Dai, supreme God, is represented by the Divine Eye (left: Yang/masculine). Formerly practiced séances. Elaborate services. Esoterism focuses on meditation; exoterism for lay families cultivate Confucian duties and virtues; do not kill, steal, commit adultery, get drunk, lie; vegetarian at least 10 days a month; worship 4 times daily.
Many other groups have sprung up, often quite small. These include the Hòa Hảo Founded 1939. Buddhist. Huynh Phu So considered a prophet. About 2m followers, mainly in Mekong Delta. Practice Buddhism While Farming Your Land. Favors aid to the poor over building pagodas or elaborate rituals and customs. Ancestor Veneration: Vietnam Most Vietnamese households have an altar honoring ancestors. High, clean, respectful place. Photos, incense, flowers, offerings. On first and 15 th days of lunar month, put fresh flowers, water, fruit. Holidays: Grave visiting day Killing Gem/Double Fifth Sins Forgiving (like Halloween) Kitchen Ghosts Funeral: Observe for 3 days; then at 49 days; and at one year, and every subsequent year. After two years, dig out and clean the remains, and rebury. Body dies, but soul lives on and can help/bless the living. Ancestor workshop expresses: 1. Gratitude 2. Educates children about values 3. Strengthens family relationships 4. Teaches kindness, responsibility
Toraja Central Sulawesi. 1.1 million. Now mainly Christian and Muslim, but many hold on to the aluk ( Way of the ancestors). Traditional houses; elaborate burials. Creator(Puang Matua), and other gods and goddesses. Torajan houses Effigies of the deceased (tau tau). Save for buffalo. Cock fights plus buffalo sacrifice to help carry the deceased to puya.
Spirits Spirit houses are standard in Thailand. Burma: nats. 37 Great Nats (11 th century) mainly human beings who died violently; other nats are spirits of water, trees, and the like. Nat worship predates Buddhism, but incorporated into it. Most villages have a nat sin (shrine to the local nat/village guardian). Often a coconut with headdress. Nat House in Kalaw Nat festivals are popular, including at Mt. Popa (near Pagan) in December. Their consorts (nat kadaw) dance, often trance-like: formerly women, now also transgender women and male transvestites. Drinking (palm wine); ecstatic dancing.
Nat kadaw, Mingun, August 1989. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:nat_pwe.jpg
Pedestal Hill (Taung Kalat), volcanic plug near Mt. Popa (Taung Ma-gyi, mother hill). Buddhist shring and monastery plus house of nat. Visit, but do not wear red, black, or green, or bring meat.
Thích Quảng Đức [1] (1897 11 June 1963, born Lâm Văn Túc), was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963. [2] Quang Duc was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government led by Ngô Đình Diệm.