Thích Quảng Đức

Definition

  1. Proper noun:

    • Thich Quang Duc: The religious name of a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk (born Lam Van Tuat, 1897 – 1963). He is a significant historical figure known for his act of self-immolation in Saigon on June 11, 1963, as a profound protest against the religious persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government.

  2. Proper noun (historical/cultural reference):

    • A symbol of protest and sacrifice: The name "Thich Quang Duc" evokes the specific historical event and has become an international symbol of non-violent resistance, spiritual conviction, and the extreme sacrifice for religious freedom and human rights.
Usage Examples
  • Proper noun:
    • Hình ảnh Thích Quảng Đức tự thiêu đã gây chấn động thế giới. (The image of Thich Quang Duc self-immolating shocked the world.)
    • Thích Quảng Đức là một vị cao tăng được kính trọng. (Thich Quang Duc was a revered monk.)
Advanced Usage
  • The name is often cited in discussions of political protest, photojournalism (the photograph by Malcolm Browne won a Pulitzer Prize), and the history of the Vietnam War.
    • Sự kiện Thích Quảng Đức là một bước ngoặt trong cuộc khủng hoảng Phật giáo. (The Thich Quang Duc incident was a turning point in the Buddhist crisis.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Bồ tát Thích Quảng Đức (n): Often referred to with the honorific "Bodhisattva," indicating his perceived spiritual sacrifice.
    • Nhiều Phật tử tôn vinh ngài như một vị Bồ tát. (Many Buddhists venerate him as a Bodhisattva.)
Synonyms
  • The burning monk: A common descriptive reference in English-language media and historical accounts.
Related Concepts
  • Self-immolation: The act of killing oneself by fire, often as a form of political or religious protest.
  • Buddhist Crisis (1963): The period of political and religious tension in South Vietnam during which his protest occurred.