Contributions of Buddhism in Southern Vietnam to the Revolution Prior to 1975

During this period, “National Salvation" organizations affiliated with social and religious groups were established in Southern Vietnam. Many monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists enthusiastically joined these organizations such as the Youth for National Salvation, Elders for National Salvation, Sangha for National Salvation and Buddhists for National Salvation. Numerous monks from pagodas such as Long An, Giac Lam, Giac Vien, Sung Duc, Long Van and Giac Hoang responded to the call, offering their support and participating in these National Salvation organizations,…

2. Contributions of Buddhism in Southern Vietnam during the Resistance War against US Imperialism (1954-1975)

The resistance war against US imperialism unfolded in a new context; consequently, the contributions of Buddhism to the revolution in Southern Vietnam entered a new chapter. Under the banner of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, the forms, scale, and number of monks, nuns and lay Buddhists participating in revolutionary activities steadily increased. Firstly, the late 1950s and early 1960s witnessed a reaction from the Buddhist community in the South against the authoritarian rule and religious discrimination of the Ngo Dinh Diem administration. In particular, the self-immolation of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc undertaken for the sake of national independence and the Buddhist faith at the very heart of the Saigon regime served as a powerful catalyst that ignited vigorous protests among monks, nuns, lay Buddhists and the youth of Saigon. There have been examples of sacrifice by monks, nuns, and Buddhists against the Saigon government, such as: Buddhist nun Thich Nu Niem Quang, Venerable Thich Tieu, Buddhist Quach Thi Trang, Venerable Thich Quang Huong, Venerable Thich Thien My, Buddhist Dao Yen Phi, Buddhist nun Thich Nu Thanh Quang, Venerable Thich Thien Tue, Nhat Chi Mai,...

The Buddhist struggle movement against the Saigon administration in the late 1960s and early 1970s aligned with the struggle for the liberation of the South under the leadership of the Party. Right at the heart of the Saigon administration's power base, the Buddhist community mounted a movement against the US-backed regime, employing a wide variety of methods. Following the 1973 Paris Agreement, monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists alongside diverse segments of the Saigon population took to the streets to voice their demands. They combined these demonstrations with press campaigns, seminars, and rallies to call for the withdrawal of US troops, national peace and reunification, and freedoms regarding the press, belief and religion. This protest movement continued uninterrupted from 1973 until April 1975.

The Association of Patriotic Monks of Southwestern Vietnam comprises three levels (regional, provincial, and district); it is a distinct socio-political organization within the Khmer monkhood, a member of the National Liberation Front and operates as a mass organization within the political system. Based on the determination that: “In order to save the religion, one must save the country; without national independence and victory over the invading US imperialists, the true Dharma cannot survive or flourish”, the content and operational methods of the Association for the Solidarity of Patriotic Monks involved disseminating information and mobilizing Khmer monks and Buddhists to support and participate in the revolutionary movement.

Following the establishment of the Association for the Solidarity of Patriotic Monks of the Southwest, provinces and cities across the Mekong Delta successively established their own provincial-level Associations for the Solidarity of Patriotic Monks. Specifically: Soc Trang (1963), Tra Vinh (1965), Ca Mau (1966), Kien Giang (1968),... From its very inception and throughout the resistance war against the US to save the nation, the Association of Patriotic Monks of Southwestern Vietnam effectively fulfilled its role and made significant contributions; it mobilized and united large numbers of Khmer compatriots and monks in the struggle against the US and in support of the revolution, participating in numerous demonstrations and hunger strikes to protest the war and demand peace, thereby joining the entire nation in liberating the South and reunifying the country. Many Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples in the Southwestern region served as revolutionary bases, sheltering and protecting revolutionary cadres such as O Mich, Me Lang, Can Nom, and Prokhup (Tra Vinh province old, now Vinh Long province) pagodas and Rach Cui pagoda (Ca Mau province),...

3. Prominent monks, nuns and lay Buddhists in Southern Vietnam who contributed to the August Revolution (1945–1975)

Most Venerable Thich Minh Nguyet (1907-1985) whose secular name was Ly Duy Kim participated in the August Revolution under the alias Tam Khong. He subsequently held various positions of trust, including President of the Southern Vietnam National Salvation Buddhist Association, President of the My Tho Province National Salvation Buddhist Association, President of the Saigon -Gia Dinh region National Salvation Buddhist Association and member of the My Tho Province Fatherland Front, as well as the Saigon - Gia Dinh region and Southern Vietnam Viet Minh Regional Committee.

Most Venerable Thai Khong (1902-1983) whose birth name was Hoang Long Phi participated in the Buddhist Revival Movement led by the Cochinchina Buddhist Studies Association in 1930. In 1941, he joined the revolutionary cause, heading to the resistance zone to directly take part in the struggle against French colonial rule. In 1945, Most Venerable Thich Thai Khong was elected Head of the Executive Committee of the National Salvation Buddhist Association in Bến Tre Province and served as a member of the Viet Minh Front in Giồng Miếu District. When the French colonialists reoccupied Southern Vietnam, he called upon and mobilized monks and novices to “cast off their saffron robes and don the warrior’s garb”. Between 1947 and 1949, the Most Venerable Monk also launched a movement to share food and clothing with the National Guard (Ve quoc Doan) of Ben Tre province. During the 1960 Dong Khoi (Concerted Uprising) movement in Ben Tre, he was appointed as a member of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam for Ben Tre province and concurrently served as the Chairman of the National Liberation Front for Thanh Phu district.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Hao (1911-1997), whose secular name was Truong Minh Dat, served as the president of the Southern National Salvation Buddhist Association upon its establishment in 1945. During his time operating in My Tho and Ben Tre, Most Venerable Thich Thien Hao had the opportunity to meet with senior monks who led the National Salvation Buddhist Associations of My Tho and Ben Tre provinces such as Most Venerable Thich Thai Khong and Most Venerable Phuoc Chi. In 1952, he was invited by the Lien Viet Front to attend the National-Religious Unity Congress in the Dong Thap Muoi resistance zone and to study the policies of the Vietnam Workers’ Party in preparation for engaging in religious outreach affairs.

During the resistance war against US imperialism, following the establishment of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, Most Venerable Thich Thien Hao was invited to serve as a member of the Front’s committee for the Southwestern region. In 1961, he became a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. He was re-elected to the Presidium of the Central Committee in 1964. In 1968, he was appointed as a member of the Advisory Council of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.

Venerable Huu Nhem (1929-1966) engaged in revolutionary activities starting in 1947, making significant contributions to mass mobilization efforts, particularly among the Khmer ethnic community. In 1947, he was elected as a member of the Rach Gia Provincial Fatherland Front. In 1962, Most Venerable Huu Nhem was elected Vice Chairman of the National Liberation Front for the Southwestern region. In 1963, he was elected Vice Chairman of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Defense of world peace. When the Association of Patriotic Monks of Southwestern Vietnam was established, Most Venerable Huu Nhem served as its advisor. On February 20^th, 1964, he was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam. On July 10^th, 1966, Most Venerable Huu Nhem laid down his life while on duty at Tam Hiep Pagoda, Tran Hoi Commune, Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau province.

Venerable Thach Som (1906–2011) embarked early on an arduous revolutionary path, beginning with the resistance against French colonial rule. A significant contribution to the revolution was his leadership of over 10,000 monks and Khmer people from Cau Ke in a massive demonstration involving more than 40,000 participants that marched to the Tra Vinh provincial capital during the 1960 Dolta festival. In 1961, the Most Venerable Monk directed the “Evacuating the Buddha” political campaign launched after Saigon troops occupied O Mich Pagoda in Cau Ke - under the slogan: “A pagoda is only a pagoda when the Buddha is present; without the Buddha, it is merely an enemy outpost!” This campaign at O ​​Mich Pagoda resonated widely across the provinces of Southern Vietnam. Following these events, Most Venerable Thach Som was captured and brutally tortured by the enemy, but was subsequently rescued by revolutionary forces and brought to the resistance zone to continue his activities. From 1964, the Most Venerable served as Chairman of the Association for the Solidarity of Khmer Monks in Southern Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the National Liberation Front for the Southwestern region and a member of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. For a long period, he was tasked with leading the movement of monks and lay Buddhists across three provinces with significant Khmer populations: Tra Vinh old (now Vinh Long province), Soc Trang old (now Can Tho city) and Bac Lieu old (now Ca Mau province).

Senior Nun Huynh Lien (1923-1987), whose secular name was Nguyen Thi Tru, actively mobilized the community of nuns and lay Buddhists to participate in the struggle for peace, national independence, and the preservation of the Dharma. In this process, Ngoc Phuong Vihara founded by Senior Nun Huynh Lien became a central hub for the Mendicant (Khat Si) order of nuns and a focal point for the struggle against US imperialism and the Saigon regime in the Saigon - Gia Dinh area prior to 1975.

Following the liberation of the South (1975), serving as Vice Chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh city Fatherland Front, a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women’s Union, Vice Chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh city Liaison Committee of Patriotic Buddhists, a member of the Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and a deputy to the 6^th National Assembly (1976-1981),... Venerable Nun Huynh Lien participated in numerous social activities and attended many forums dedicated to peace. Upon the establishment of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in 1981, she served as a member of the Central Supervisory Committee and as Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Committee for the Defense of World Peace until her passing on April 16^th, 1987. Venerable Nun Huynh Lien stands as an indomitable example and the embodiment of the harmony between the Dharma and the nation.

4. Conclusion

Thus, Buddhism in Southern Vietnam actively participated in the August Revolution (1945) and the struggle against aggression by French colonialists and US imperialists (1945-1975). The Buddhist struggle movement in Southern Vietnam against French colonialism and US imperialism was vigorous, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of monks, nuns and lay Buddhists alongside the people of the South and the entire nation in their quest to secure the country’s independence and freedom.

References

1. This article is the result of the institutional-level scientific research project titled “The Contribution of Religions to the Vietnamese National Liberation Movement (1945-1975)” (Project Code: HVDT/2025.01).

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