Acculturation in the Ancestor-Worship Practices of the Kinh in Hanoi: Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist Influences

Abstract

Drawing on document analysis, participant observation and in-depth interviews, this article examines the ways in which Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have influenced ancestor-worship practices among members of the Kinh ethnic group in Hanoi. It also offers an assessment of current trends in the transformation of these practices. The findings indicate that the influence of these three religious and philosophical traditions is evident in conceptions, rituals and forms of practice. They also reveal how ancestor worship is adapting to transformations in contemporary society. The study provides further empirical evidence concerning the acculturation of traditional belief practices in Hanoi under the influence of religious traditions.