Early Royal Patronage of Buddhism in Vietnam: Transmission, Localization, and the Moral Foundations of Political Legitimacy

Abstract

This article examines the early formation of royal patronage of Buddhism in Vietnam from the first centuries CE through the emergence of indigenous political authority. It argues that Buddhism entered Vietnam through both maritime and overland networks, resulting in a hybrid and highly adaptable religious tradition. Rather than challenging existing power structures, early Vietnamese Buddhism integrated pragmatically with indigenous beliefs and political needs. Through gradual royal acceptance—manifested in ritual sponsorship, ethical legitimation, and institutional support—Buddhism became a key moral resource for kingship. The article demonstrates that early Vietnamese royal patronage was characterized by pragmatism, pluralism, and negotiated autonomy, producing a distinctive model of Buddhist political legitimacy that differed fundamentally from Indian and Chinese precedents. This early consolidation laid the foundations for the enduring role of Buddhism in Vietnamese political imagination and institutional life.