Buddhism has undergone vicissitudes since it was introduced to Vietnam and has been continuously Vietnameseized to fit into the Vietnamese social setting. It has become one of the most successfully localized religions among foreign religions introduced into Vietnam. The merging of Dao Mau (the Mother Goddess worship) with Buddhist temples in North Vietnam is the clearest example of this localization. However, this synthesis of Buddhism and Dao Mau is quite complex and needs to be investigated from multiple perspectives. Prior research has primarily relied on document analysis without actual field investigation. Therefore, this thesis focuses on the integration of Buddhism in North Vietnam and Dao Mau, clarifying the localization characteristics of Buddhist temples in North Vietnam today. Additionally, from analyzing the “Khoa cúng hội đồng Thánh Mẫu” and observing Dao Mau’s trance ritual, to explore the close relationship between the Buddhist temples in the North of Vietnam and Dao Mau. This study applies textual analysis and field survey methods. Firstly, analyzing the Buddhist phenomena mentioned in the content of the Khoa cúng Thánh Mẫu part of the “Khoa cúng hội đồng Thánh Mẫu,” and through digital fieldwork of the trance ritual to discuss the synthesis of Northern Vietnam Buddhist temples and Dao Mau in rituals, as well as the role of Buddhism in Dao Mau rituals. Following that, in the study’s chapter on the typical Buddhist temples in the North of Vietnam, two temples—one with less Dao Mau influence and the other with significant Dao Mau influence—were surveyed in order to investigate the degree of integration and development of Dao Mau, which currently coexists in Buddhist temples in the Northern Vietnam. In addition, it highlights the importance and significance of the synthesis of Buddhism and Dao Mau, as well as the adaptability and diversity of Buddhist temple localization in the North of Vietnam. Hopefully, this study will reflect the current development trend of temples in the North of Vietnam while also demonstrating the special relationship between the temples in the Northern Vietnam and Dao Mau, allowing academia to see this form of religious expression from a more objective perspective.
