Within the Vietnamese Buddhist landscape, Thiền is traditionally traced back to the Indian monk Vinītaruci (Vietnamese: Tì-ni-đa-lưu-chi). He arrived in Vietnam and is regarded as the one who established the first distinct Thiền lineage there, thus becoming the foundational figure for what later generations would recognize as Vietnamese Thiền. This attribution reflects not only a historical memory but also a spiritual genealogy, in which the authenticity of practice is linked to a recognized patriarchal source.

Vinītaruci is described as a disciple of the Third Chinese Zen Patriarch, Sengcan, and through this connection the Vietnamese tradition situates itself within the broader Chan/Zen transmission. By rooting its origins in this figure, Vietnamese Thiền presents itself as both continuous with the wider Mahāyāna meditative heritage and at the same time uniquely localized. The emphasis on a founding master underscores the importance of lineage as a vessel for both doctrinal integrity and lived experience of awakening.

Over time, this initial stream of Thiền was complemented and reinforced by other significant patriarchs, most notably Vô Ngôn Thông and Thảo Đường. Each of these masters is associated with a major Thiền lineage, and together they are regarded as the founding patriarchs of three original Vietnamese Thiền schools. This triad of lineages suggests a tradition that does not rest on a single thread, but rather on several interwoven currents of meditative insight and teaching style.

Seen in this light, the figure of Vinītaruci stands at the head of a living river of practice, while Vô Ngôn Thông and Thảo Đường represent later confluences that deepen and widen that river. The story of Thiền’s founding is therefore not merely a matter of historical record, but also a way of expressing how realization is transmitted from heart to heart, teacher to disciple. Through these patriarchs, Vietnamese Thiền articulates its identity as a contemplative path grounded in lineage, yet continually renewed in each generation of practitioners.