There is a general agreement among most scholars of Vietnamese history that a study on Vietnamese religion history would not be complete without encompassing Vietnamese Buddhism. In the same vein, the development of Buddhism during the Chen Dynasty should be included in any probe into Vietnamese Buddhism. Chen Tai Zong (1230-1291), commonly named Chen Jiong, was the founder and the first emperor of the Chen Dynasty (1225-1400)。He was also and a noble of great learning and valor. In AC 1258, during the Yuan Dynasty in China, Chen led the Vietnamese Army defeating the Mongolian troops. Not only did he safeguard the independence of his kingdom, he also secured peace for his subjects. During his reign, Vietnam advanced prosperously in politics, culture, and religions, especially Buddhism and Zen philosophy. With his effort and advocacy, Zen thoughts gradually permeated through the communities and gained immense popularity among the people. Zen Buddhism has hence been flourishing, and many generations have been benefited from his hard work. As a result, the Chen Dynasty is considered the golden age in Vietnamese Buddhist history. As a rare leader of remarkable achievements in various domains, Chen Tai Zong played a significant role in the history of Vietnam and in the development of Zen Buddhism and literature. He was not only an advocate of Zen thoughts but also a pioneer proposing important theories which consolidated Zen practice and built a solid foundation for the mainstream of the Bamboo Grove Zen School (Zhu Lin Zen) founded by his grandchild Chen Ren Zong. Chen’s principal ideas such as "Buddhahood attained internally," "enlightenment of self," and "conforming to conventions" manifest the engaged spirit characteristic of the Vietnamese people. His Zen thoughts, emphasizing both theoretical investigation and earnest practice, helped create a unique style of Vietnamese Buddhism, which has exerted a far-reaching influence on the progress of later generations. This paper, based on my research of Chen Tai Zong's Zen thoughts, aims to demonstrate the origin of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism with the hope to inspire those who are interested in Vietnamese Buddhism, culture or history. The focuses of the present study are as follows: 1. Introduction and exploration of Chen Tai Zong's life and works 2. Analyzing and discussing the meaning of the Khoa Hu Luc’s title and the difference between its two editions. 3. Review of Chen Tai Zong’s Zen thoughts, featuring the engaged spirit of Buddhism, the philosophies of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, interpretations of the four-mountain verses, implications of Zen stories, and the application of Zen practice to daily life. 4. Indication that Vietnamese Buddhism, while absorbing the essence of Buddhist concepts from foreign countries, has developed its unique Zen practice.
