Professor Cao Huy Thuan (1937-2024)

The memorial ceremony was organized by the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province and the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue in a solemn atmosphere according to traditional rituals. Afterwards, everyone offered incense at the altar of Professor Cao Huy Thuan, which was set up in front of the main hall of Tu Dam Pagoda.

At the memorial service, Venerable Thich Hai An - President of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue reviewed the biography of Professor Cao Huy Thuan amid the condolences of everyone attending.

Professor Cao Huy Thuan took refuge in the Three Jewels and was given the Dharma name Tam Bo (meaning Bodhi-firm) by the late Venerable Elder Luong Bat. He was born in 1937 in Quang Ngai , originally from The Chi Dong village, Phong Dien district, Thua Thien province.

In 1955, he studied at Saigon Law University (1955-1960 school year), then taught at Hue University (from 1962 to 1964). During this time, he and other intellectuals participated in the struggle movement during the 1963 Buddhist persecution that broke out in Hue.

In early 1964, a group of Hue University teachers including Cao Huy Thuan, Ton That Hanh, Le Van Tuyen... met and the result was Lap Truong newspaper, of which he was the Editor-in-Chief. At the end of this year, he studied in France and in 1969 received a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Paris with a thesis: "Missionary priests and French colonial policy in Vietnam, 1857-1914", which was translated and published in Vietnam. He was a professor at the University of Picardie, then Director of the Center for Studies on the European Community at the University of Picardie until his retirement.

Many monks, intellectuals and relatives of Professor Cao Huy Thuan attended the memorial service for Professor Cao Huy Thuan.

Professor Cao Huy Thuan breathed his last breath peacefully amidst the chanting of Buddha's name by monks and relatives at 11:26 p.m. on July 7, 2024 (June 2, Giap Thin) Paris local time.

Professor Cao Huy Thuan is the author of many works in French on political science and international relations. To Vietnamese readers, he is also one of the beloved authors with many books, articles, and presentations that have meaningful ideas, culture, and elegant literature that touch people's hearts.

In 2017, he was awarded the Phan Chau Trinh Cultural Prize by the Phan Chau Trinh Foundation, in the category of the Prize for the Cause of Culture and Education, "for his great and profound contributions to the cause of Vietnamese culture and education".

N.M