The National Museum of Vietnamese History has held a seminar and an
exhibition about the history of Buddhism in Vietnam and its
contribution to Vietnamese cultural identity.
The seminar,
organised in Hanoi last week, provided an opportunity for experts and
researchers to share their views about Buddhism in Vietnam, its
philosophy and the ideas presented by the sculptures, statues and icons.
Nearly
200 Buddhist artefacts dating from the early Common Era to the 18th and
19th century Nguyen Dynasty are on display at the exhibition, which
will run until August 2013.
Visitors can view a wide range of
Vietnamese Buddhist treasures, including 9th century Buddha heads from
ancient Champa, tiles decorated with Buddha images from the 7th-10th
centuries, and lotus flower lamps from the Ly Dynasty.
At the
seminar, Vietnamese culture researcher Prof. Tran Lam Bien delivered a
presentation about the history of Vietnamese Buddhism, presenting basic
knowledge about the Buddhist philosophical and ideological outlook on
life and the world; and the significance of works of art and sculpture,
worship statues and other objects.
Buddhism was introduced to
Vietnam very early and was quickly embraced by local people. It has
adapted itself over thousands of years to become an integral part of
Vietnamese culture represented by impressive temple architecture and
statues, as well as its philosophy, ethics, literature and rituals.-VNA