Buddhism during the Ly dynasty (1009-1225) was a special cultural heritage of Vietnam, said the Director of the Hanoi branch of the Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute’s Hanoi branch.

The Most Venerable Thich Thanh Due was speaking at a seminar on “Buddhism during the Ly Dynasty with 1000-year Thang Long-Hanoi anniversary in Hanoi on July 29.

The event, co-organised by the Buddhist Institute and the Institute for Religious Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, forms part of the Buddhist Week to herald the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The monk affirmed that Buddhism in the Ly dynasty was one of the most important spiritual elements in the course of liberation and development of an independent and self-reliant Dai Viet – the former name of Vietnam.

He said Buddhism under the Ly dynasty laid the foundation for developing Vietnam’s own Buddhism in the 11th century before becoming a unified faith and flourishing in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

“Buddhism in the Ly dynasty gave birth to some of the nation’s great historical figures, particularly King Ly Thai To and the Great Monk Van Hanh, the two architects of the Ly dynasty and Dai Viet’s institutional regime, who opened up the pages of the glorious national history,” Most Venerable Due said.

Delivering more than 100 presentations at the seminar, local and foreign researchers focused on reviewing the achievements Dai Viet gained under the Ly dynasty and the transfer of the capital city from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province) to Thang Long (now Hanoi).

They agreed that while recording significant political and military achievements and pursuing a flexible foreign policy to reinforce friendship with neighbouring countries, the Ly dynasty was especially aware of the humanitarian values of Buddhist culture.

During that dynasty, Buddhist influences can be seen in the building of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), Vietnam’s first university, the opening of schools and the development of scholars.

Contributions made by Buddhism under the Ly dynasty have previously been evaluated only in terms of history and culture.

At this seminar, the participants continued to assess the religion’s contributions to the country’s development in a scientific and objective manner.

They also discussed ways and means to promote the good values of Vietnamese Buddhism in the course of industrialisation and modernisation.(VNA)