Precursors Zen Master
Hiện Quang of the
Vô Ngôn Thông sect established a center at
Yên Tử Mountain. His successor
Đạo Viên was granted the title
Trúc Lâm Quốc Sư by the young prince Trần Nhân Tông. King
Trần Thái Tông himself was deeply influenced by Zen and authored
Khóa Hư Lục and
Thiền Tông Chỉ Nam. Đạo Viên's student, National Master
Đại Đăng, combined Vietnamese Zen thought with
Lâm Tế teachings brought by the Chinese master
Thiền Phong. From Đại Đăng came
Tiêu Dao, teacher of the lay Zen master
Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ, a major influence on Trần Nhân Tông.
Founding by Trần Nhân Tông After abdicating the throne in 1293, Trần Nhân Tông became a monk and founded the Trúc Lâm sect at Yên Tử Mountain in 1299 under the name
Hương Vân Đại Đầu Đà. He unified various Buddhist sects in Đại Việt and emphasized ethical practice, temple reform, and Zen training. His students included
Pháp Loa and
Huyền Quang.
Pháp Loa Pháp Loa joined the Sangha at age 21 and later attained enlightenment after intense personal practice. He became the second patriarch, edited Trần Nhân Tông’s teachings into
Thạch Thất Mĩ Ngữ, and helped engrave the
Tripiṭaka. He ordained over 1,000 monks and trained prominent disciples like Huyền Quang.
Huyền Quang Originally a high-ranking scholar, Huyền 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. ==Decline==