Trúc Lâm Zen sect (), also known as Trúc Lâm Yên Tá» (, "Bamboo Grove of Yên Tá»Â"), is a uniquely Vietnamese Thiá»Ân (Zen) Buddhist school founded in 1299 during the Trần dynasty by Emperor Trần Nhân Tông (1258âÂÂ1308). It marked a synthesis of indigenous Vietnamese, Confucian, Taoist, and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.
Zen Master Hiá»Ân Quang of the Vô Ngôn Thông sect established a center at Yên Tá» Mountain. His successor ÃÂạo Viên was granted the title Trúc Lâm Quá»Âc Sð by the young prince Trần Nhân Tông. King Trần Thái Tông himself was deeply influenced by Zen and authored Khóa Hð Lục and Thiá»Ân Tông Chá» Nam.
ÃÂạo Viên's student, National Master ÃÂại ÃÂÃÂng, combined Vietnamese Zen thought with Lâm Tế teachings brought by the Chinese master Thiá»Ân Phong. From ÃÂại ÃÂÃÂng came Tiêu Dao, teacher of the lay Zen master Tuá» Trung Thðợng Sé, a major influence on Trần Nhân Tông.
After abdicating the throne in 1293, Trần Nhân Tông became a monk and founded the Trúc Lâm sect at Yên Tá» Mountain in 1299 under the name Hðáng Vân ÃÂại ÃÂầu ÃÂà.
He unified various Buddhist sects in ÃÂại Viá»Ât and emphasized ethical practice, temple reform, and Zen training. His students included Pháp Loa and Huyá»Ân Quang.
Pháp Loa joined the Sangha at age 21 and later attained enlightenment after intense personal practice. He became the second patriarch, edited Trần Nhân TôngâÂÂs teachings into Thạch Thất Mé Ngữ, and helped engrave the Tripiá¹Âaka. He ordained over 1,000 monks and trained prominent disciples like Huyá»Ân Quang.
Originally a high-ranking scholar, Huyá»Ân Quang renounced his post to become a monk. He succeeded Pháp Loa as the third patriarch, led Van Yên Temple, and oversaw the production and editing of Zen scriptures. Due to health, he passed the tradition to An Tâm.
After the Trần dynasty fell, the rise of Confucianism and the Ming invasion led to suppression of Buddhism and destruction of many Zen texts. The Trúc Lâm tradition retreated into seclusion in Yên Tá» and gradually declined. Only lineage records survive in the Thiá»Ân Uyá»Ân TáºÂp Anh.
During the Lê Trung Hðng period, Master Chân Nguyên Tuá» ÃÂÃÂng revived interest in Trúc Lâm texts. Under the Tây Sán dynasty, scholar Ngô Thì NháºÂm (1746âÂÂ1803) promoted Trúc Lâm as a unifying spiritual path, harmonizing the "Three teachings" of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
Zen Master ThÃÂch Thanh Từ is credited with the modern revival of Trúc Lâm. He established many monasteries in Vietnam and abroad, spreading a modern form of Vietnamese Zen based on Trần Nhân Tông, Pháp Loa, and Huyá»Ân QuangâÂÂs teachings. Though rooted in Trúc Lâm heritage, he also draws from other sources:
ThÃÂch Thanh TừâÂÂs influence made him the most prominent Vietnamese Zen master in recent times.
The following is the lineage of the Truc Lam Zen sect in Dai nam thien uyen truyen dang luc (zh. 大åÂÂ禪èÂÂå³çÂÂéÂÂ), edited by monk Phuc Dien (zh. ç¦Âç°):
In recent years, a new form of religious institution has emerged, associated with the Truc Lam Zen sect, which is the Truc Lam Zen Monasteries founded by the monk Thich Thanh Tu initiated. This is also a form of honoring and sublimating the Truc Lam Zen sect in modern social life.