Konfuzianismus und Kommunismus in Vietnam

Abstract

Confucianism -was introduced to Vietnam by the Chinese occupants in the first millennium A.D. Its importance for the political administration increased steadily and reached its climax in the 15^ century. From then on Confucianism stagnated and lost its integrity until finally the Confucian elite collaborated with the French occupants. In 1930 the communist party of Indochina was founded. Communist ideas offered an ideological alternative in the fight for national independence. But the Vietnamese communism could not totally replace Confucianism. Although there are important differences between the two ideologies, they have some common aspects. Men like HoChiMinhfound way to interpret Confucianism in communist way and to incorporate fundamental Confucian virtues into his communist concept. After Ho Chi Minhs death (1969) communism became more and more totalitarian. Institutions that were orientated towards Confucianism, as there are especially to mention the family and the village regained importance for they presented a way to resist state ideology. Today Confucian spirit is omnipresent in Vietnam and there is no reason to assume that it might lose its importance in the 21st century.