Nguyễn Lords’s Policies on Buddhism in Cochinchina during the Period from 1558 to 1777

Abstract

Since the beginning of Cochinchina kingdom construction, the Nguyễn lords had a policy to prioritize the development of Buddhism. Based on a large number of historical documents, the article shed a light on behavior of the Nguyễn government towards Buddhism in this period. It also assesses the role of Buddhism in consolidating social solidarity, solving the issue of ethnicity and religion, contributing to the consolidation of the State power in Cochinchina during the period from 1558 to 1777.