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VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES

NGUYEN THI THANH HOA

CHANGES IN RELIGIOUS LIFE, BELIEFS IN THIS
PERIOD IN DONG ANH DISTRICT

Major: Vietnamese Studies
Code: 60.31.60 SUMMARY MASTER THESIS
HA NOI - 2012

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INDEX

INTRODUCTION PART Error! Bookmark not defined.
1. Imperative of the dissertation topic Error! Bookmark not defined.
2. The context of research topics Error! Bookmark not defined.
3. The aim of the thesis research Error! Bookmark not defined.
4. Objects and scope of the thesis research Error! Bookmark not defined.
5. The methodology of the thesis Error! Bookmark not defined.

religion and state management of religion in the
district of Dong Anh in the coming years. Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.2. A number solution to promote the positive
elements of religious life and belief for the
development of social life in Dong Anh districtError! Bookmark not defined. 4
CONCLUSION Error! Bookmark not defined.

of the Dong Anh district will take steps to implement the policy on
religion, belief in an effective and consistent way with the aspiration
of people in the district. For these reasons we have chosen the topic
"Changes in religious life and beliefs in the current period" as the
direction of this research thesis.
2. The situation of research topics
The book does not mention much about Dong Anh may be
mentioned in the works of "Dong Anh with thousand years of Thang
Long - Hanoi" by Bui Xuan Dinh, issued by Ha Noi Publishing House in
2010. This book talks about natural and social conditions, festivals,
folklore, particularly emphasizing academic tradition of Dong Anh
district which does not cover many aspects of religious beliefs. The

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work "Address of Co Loa" by the authors of the Institute of Vietnamese
studies and scientific development studied in depth in many social
aspects of Co Loa as natural, social, historical and cultural conditions.,
in which part of the book is also intended to learn about religion and
beliefs of the Co Loa area - a commune of Dong Anh district.
So far no any works has ever delves into the change of
religious life, beliefs in Dong Anh in the reform process., especially,
exploited this aspect by analyzing two-way interaction between
social life in the process of reform to the cultural life of the spiritual
current period. It can be confirmed that the dissertation topic is the
first study refering to the change in religious life and belief in Dong
Anh district in the process of urbanization.
3. The aim of the thesis research
Implementating the project "Change in religious life, beliefs in
Dong Anh district during the current period" , first of all we want to
sketch the picture of the activities of religious life and beliefs of Dong

forward some forecasts of trends in religious life, beliefs and
propose some solutions to promote the positive elements in the
religious life and beliefs to develop the economy in Dong Anh
district as well as the society of present and future.
7. Layout thesis
Thesis is organized into three chapters:
- Chapter 1: The context of religious life, beliefs, Dong Anh district.
- Chapter 2: Variation of religious life, religion and its
relationship to social life in Dong Anh district the current period.
- Chapter 3: Trends of changes in religious life and beliefs in
Dong Anh district and the issues raised.
Chapter 1:
CONTEXT OF RELIGIOUS AND BELIEFS LIFE IN DONG ANH
1.1. Introduction of Dong Anh district
1.1.1. The natural conditions
Overall, high terrain Dong Anh from north to and from the West to
creates two types of terrain. To the west and north is the high
ground, mixed with hill ranges. To the south and southeast are low-

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lying lands. On difficult terrain for cultivation, construction of
irrigation works, water regulation.
1.1.2. Economic conditions
Dong Anh, which is loacated in the middle of the Red River
Delta, has the potential to agricultural development. Both lowland
and upland areas are more favorable conditions for agricultural
development in the direction of intensive rice cultivation, planting
flowers and vegetables. The village of Dong Anh district also has many
traditional crafts such as weaving in Thuy Loi (Thuy Lam commune),
woodwork in the village Thiet Ung (Van Ha Commune), paintwork in

stock companies, 115 private enterprises, 30 state enterprises, 11 one
member limited liable state-owned companies ; over 13,000 individual
business households, 77 businesses in concentrated industrial zones. By
rearranging production innovation of management mechanism and
highlighting the role of autonomy of enterprises, as well the investment
in technology innovation, equipment, goods, and increase in productivity
and product quality, industry in Dong Anh is getting better.
1.2.1.2. Restoring the trade villages and the forming the
industrial clusters of craft villages.
Handicraft industry, craft villages and districts are interested
in the construction of infrastructure: road systems, electricity grids,
village planning, environmental remediation. Entering the market
mechanism, the handicraft industry tradition has begun to be
restored and developed its position confirmed.
1.2.1.2. Development of agricultural goods
Currently the district is to accelerate the application of
technical advances, the cultivation of rice, color of specialties, fresh
vegetable and fruit growing, breeding and development of decorative
plants with economic value (this area produces crops of high economic
value in 2000 accounted for 20% of the total area planted annually), as
well effectively exploits land potential, economic potential in four
specific areas: banks, the riverside land, depression and high lands.
1.2.2. Changes in society
1.2.2.1. The programs to create jobs, reduce poverty

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The settlement of jobs for local people has helped people's
lives less difficult. This is the motivation for economic income of
families to increase significantly compared to the previous year.
1.2.2.2.Solution to the social policies

confident in policies and laws of the State to actively participate in
the patriotic emulation movement and well build good religious life.
1.4. The implementation of the Party resolution on
religious activities and beliefs by the Party Committee and
administration in Dong Anh district nowadays
1.4.1. Catholicism
Dong Anh district has 219 households with 888 inhabitants
concentrating mainly in two parishes (Dai Bang and Mai Chau). In
addition, about 151 parishioners in the town of Dong Anh and Yen
Ha, Hai Boi village. But parishioners today are living in two rural
churches in hamlet Mai Chau, Dai Mach village and Dai Bang hamlet,
Nguyen Khe village.
1.4.2. Buddhism
Currently there are 122 pagodas across the district (in which
69 pagodas have high-ranking bonzes) with 89 monks and nuns. In
2009, the District People’s Committee (DPC) wrote receipt and
appointed five Abbots for 5 pagodas, constructed and invested in
procurement of equipment for the representative boards of
Buddhism in the amount of 295 million VND.
1.4.3. The cult of King An Duong Vuong (at Co Loa Festival)
In three days of Tet and the 5th-6th of January, the festival
days of 8 communes in Loa Thanh, the communes are organized
fun, healthy and happily according to the contents of the CPC ‘s
program and festival organizers. Cultural and sports activities such
as Volleyball, Wrestling, Water puppetry, Quan ho singing, classical
drama, traditional crossbow have had many innovations,
improving the quality of sporting activities.
1.4.4. Ancestor worship
The importance of ancestor worship besides expression
through ancestor worship space in the family was shown through

RELATIONSHIP TO Socio- eCONOMIC LIFE in CURRENT
Dong Anh District
1.1. A number of concepts
1.1.1. Religious life and beliefs

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According to the sociologist of religion, the study "religious life"
we need to consider the major aspects: First, regardless of religious
communities (religiosity, religiosote), those of the religion was, C.Glock
proposed five basic dimensions of religiosity are "ideological dimension,
rituals, social influence, experience and knowledge."
2.1.2.Life of religion
"Living life, including the middle entrusted with duties and
obligations of citizens, not always smoothly, but as an association
can not deny, can not leave. The Catholics have a duty to contribute
to the creation of God on a more extensive the practical life is to
live with, live for others. The final judgment is not about me but
about others "[17, p.280].
1.1.2. Secular life (or society).
As a citizen, not only Catholic relations in the Catholic
community but also to exercise their rights and obligations of a
citizen, there are other relations with societies (withthose with no
religion or other religions). It is through social relationships, the
active life, from community activities, economic activity, cultural,
educational, humanitarian, charity
1.2. Rationale
2.2.1. In terms of subjectives
First: The religious world today tends to enter the world and
modernization. These two trends are closely linked, as a condition
for the type of religious belief and survival of the Vietnamese

before (work shall call it in honor absolute) but this did not weigh
this issue, just as long as they were taking part in a comfortable
way most comfortable, most convenient. Receive the Eucharist in
the ritual, the ceremonial mentioned previously silent Minh City bar
placed on the laity oral exam today the ceremonial or the official
ban on hand to give Minh Thanh laity spread just asking. This applies
to the teachings of God in the ritual consecration.
2.3.1.4. Change in perception of Catholics
A significant change is the personnel director to work in
them. If as before, but people in Mai Chau village promulgate
allocation are the older people, often the first election in a

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"hereditary" this competition who are responsible for their joint
work largely reversed are young. Promulgate special team assigned
the current term, was the youngest (aged tycoon only 33).
1.3.1.4. Causes of changes in the religious life of Catholics
- Economic life can change: Formerly, economic resource
allocation based on the agricultural population, from 2000, when
plants, factories, industrial parks established in the commune, in
addition to doing agriculture, the main source of income in their
families as director of labor. Currently both catholicity co workers
make more than 200 people (almost one third of export).
- Relations with pagan marriage: another cause also affects
change in the religious activities of religious people in Dong Anh
district was viewed as a marriage with someone else. Therefore the
relationship between religious and pagan does not just stop at the
neighborhood relations but its relationship connexion. This behavior
is especially becoming more popular in recent years.
2.3.2. Changes in the religious life of Buddhists in

temple whenever in a big family.
1.4. Changes in belief Dong Anh district
1.4.1. The cult of King An Duong Vuong
1.4.1.1 Change in time organization
But in 1940 - 1945, Loa festival took place in 14 days from
the 4th to the 18th Chinese New Year in January. Currently only
festival takes place in 3 days from 4th to 6th Tet Tet. The main cause
of this change by relic Loa is in the process of planning, not the full
reconstruction of the festival rituals in traditional Loa.
1.4.1.2 Change in crystal physics offerings
Previously, the selection but worshiping in the festival are
followed closely. People will have speakers and some surrounding villages
do not burn incense in the nail moon station, abstain from killing moon
station, but did not even raise the white animals such as thousands of
white, white buffalo range in their minds, ga moon is close Statistics do two
things to build transparency bar of An Duong Vuong. Now, the rule was
extended to more people in the village still raising moon station, but just to
eat or sell, not used in sacrifice. Sacrifice on the cross provides mainly gas
and away to burn incense in it.

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2.4.1.3. Component changes the organization
Before the August Revolution, asked government officials in
Co Loa were assigned to be in charge: from sacrifice, to train to the
establishment of the committee, formed as the major social
occasion. From 1995 to present, component, multi-organizational
changes were made, local authorities, the management of
monuments and promoted in collaboration with local people to
organize festivities to Co Loa.
1.4.1.4. Modified components of the ceremony

their ancestors in the afternoon. Because their opinion, 11 is now
the patrol, then 12 hours notice is the adoration of heaven with
heavenly work. Thus, ancestor worship conducted in the period
from 11 to 12 are at the office can hear the ceremony and vows
statements of the owner. It has 40% of the population ancestral to
at any time have fun sad to report to their ancestors professed.
• Shorten the time
Particularly Tet Ha Nguyen, although 90% of people
answered that, out of habit, whether or not the family farm is still
worship their ancestors but also 10% of interviewees said that for
now sale of land, not agriculture should not worship on this day, the
new rice ceremony.
• Increased time
In the life cycle rituals, most people La Vong Commune
ancestor worship on the occasion of the birth there (80%), full-year
celebration for children (70%), holiday lane miles (95%), food
festival questions and married (100%). Initiations for children going
to school no one in the commune ancestor worship.
2.4.2.2. Change the worship space
100% of the interviewed families have ancestral
altar. Besides the ancestral altar, with 16% of the families she has
her altar, Mr. Meng; 16% of the family altar also has the mental and
15% of the family altar of the soil there. Although there are many
family altars, but 100% of family respondents agreed that the altar is
the most important ancestor. This number is sufficient to say that,
for La Vong commune cult of ancestors is extremely deep.
2.4.2.3. Changes in offerings offerings

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• The trend to diversify offerings offerings.


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2.4.3.3. Characteristics of the space "supernature"
• Natural Ecology
- Diversity of flora or trees
- The remote wasteland or far from the residence
- Where adjoining areas, neighbors in the village, the village
with the same origin or the boundary between the parishes.
- Where strange trees and strange objects
• Human Ecology
- The group of colored space history and religious
communities, religious including the temple, a prostitute (Temple
beings, neighbors Temple, whore Roof First, Upper Temple Gate,
Temple Dinh Trung, optimistic outlook).
- Group of related spatial boundaries, geographical area of
residence: Lake, village entrance (The garden, sloping Dinh Trung,
gate wells, strikes north, the Almost, mounds West Temple).
- The group of space-related production space: the same
requirements (ao Church, for Sen).
2.4.3.4. The supernatural space of the ecology, behavior
shows that between man and nature.
In fact, most desolate place, many wild plants are often home
to many species of insects, animals that are most harmful animals. The
sacred space of the people that helped to create invisible line but
sustainable and limit the intervention of the villagers as well as to the
possible risks for the population living in villages.
2.4.3.5. The natural sacred flower, showing how humans
behave among humans
The sacred space of the group related to the historical
tradition is an expression of the beauty of the Vietnamese culture,

and ornamental plants. It is also a protective measure, but the
allocation to segments of population to arable use also has the
downside of it. The digging, leveling would be washed into the fast
and the occupied land held strong personal purposes.
1.5.2. Industrial lifestyle habits that affect the religious
activities and beliefs of people in Dong Anh today.

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Vietnamese Catholics with multiple different forms is affected
by beliefs of traditional ancestor worship. This is in mourning rites with
dead 3 days, 100 days, pears same profile, same college, sable, shall be
held mourning period, a number of factors the traditional supply.
1.5.3. The economic changes in families affect religious
activities and beliefs of people in Dong Anh.
If before, we still see poor families do not have the ancestral
home, the family has their own today despite economic
difficulties. Along with economic development, the small church page
or put incense on top of cabinets temporary subsidy period was
gradually replaced by a fixed altar styles with more solemn and
beautiful. Placement is also the ancestral focus. Today, to put an altar, it
is no longer any arbitrary place as before but also need to look towards
the altar, the altar to see the size in height, length, width. On the altar
or loading place incense is also an important family event. The family
conditions, it is common for a private room, on the top floor, or clean
the area and most formal room in the house to worship.
2.6. The impact of religious life and beliefs to political,
economic, social Dong Anh district
2.6.1. Affect political life
On the positive side: religious life, religion in general and the
spiritual life of people in Dong Anh district in particular (especially

improved rural Catholics eagles, they just perhaps the first hour,
but nor money to burn incense which only children on to offer a new
dining. Specifically, net of civilization in a Catholic funeral is in how they
make "deeply bury" it will lower blood after using cement to build graves
definitely, absolutely no evidence as perhaps the outsider leadership.
Small conclusion
The changes in religious life and beliefs of people in Dong
Anh is a concrete manifestation of life "director" and "secular". Life
can be expressed by the religious ceremonies in the worship space,
through teaching, canon law, but joined the Christians must
follow. However, religion is really ingrained in the minds of people

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through each generation, the religious Dong Anh is now looking for
trends with the secularization of religious worship is somewhat
simpler to accordance with the psychology of people, in accordance
with modern life. The emergence of dense industrial zones,
factories, Ltd. has made people's lives in Dong Anh is "change meat" each
day. When economic life richer people, the religious space: churches,
temples are remodeling, new construction.
The changes in economic life has a direct effect to the
changes of religious life, beliefs, Dong Anh district. According
proccess, the change in the spiritual life has repercussions on the
political, economic, cultural, social and education. When oriented
properly, religious activities and beliefs will have a positive effect: to
help promote economic development in the area, making life more
abundant cultural, social activities effective contrast when
suppressed, it would prohibit disorderly social security, as the basis
for the rampant evils, more dangerous, it becomes a vulnerability to
enemy attack on the political system.

despite secularization trying to adapt to the times can not be
satisfied with new problems arise.
Fourth: The situation in the country and world with the
complicated challenges of globalization will continue to increase.
1.2. A number of measures to promote the positive
elements of religious life, beliefs associated with the development
of social life in Dong Anh district.
1.3.1. Solutions related to promotion of cultural and
historic value of religious beliefs.
The places of worship of religious prayer, faith has a place in the
cultural life of the people, just as buildings of the era to the tourists to
visit, sightseeing and prayer, the sectors function together with the
Department of sports and cultural tourism unified classification of
religious monuments and cultural places of worship in the ranked
national monuments in the district in accordance with law and legal.
1.3.2. Solutions related to the nature of the religious political