In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 11 October 1926
- Died
- 22 January 2022
- Birthplace
- Huế, Vietnam
- Country
- Vietnam
- Nationality
- Vietnamese
- Known for
- Engaged Buddhism, mindfulness teaching and Plum Village
- Ordained
- At Từ Hiếu Temple, 1942
- Movement
- Engaged Buddhism
- Community founded
- Plum Village, France
- Books
- More than 100 published works
Why this life matters
Thích Nhất Hạnh connected Buddhist practice with peace activism, community life and everyday ethics across languages and generations.
Timeline
Key moments
Born in Huế
Born Nguyễn Xuân Bảo on 11 October.
Entered monastic life
Began training at Từ Hiếu Temple.
Travelled for peace advocacy
Called for an end to the war and was unable to return for decades.
Established Plum Village
Created a monastic and lay community in southwest France.
Returned to Vietnam
Visited after nearly four decades of exile.
Died at Từ Hiếu
Died at his root temple in Huế.
Buddhism in a time of war
Born in Huế, Thích Nhất Hạnh entered Từ Hiếu Temple as a teenager. He combined traditional Zen training with writing, education and social service during years of colonialism and war.
He used the term “engaged Buddhism” for practice that responded directly to suffering through schools, relief work and nonviolent advocacy. International peace work in 1966 began a long exile from Vietnam.
A global practice community
In France, he and Sister Chân Không established Plum Village. Retreats, monastic communities and concise books translated breathing, walking and attention practices into forms accessible across religious boundaries.
He returned to Vietnam for visits in 2005 and lived at Từ Hiếu from 2018 until his death. His legacy spans spiritual practice and activism, but its most enduring institution may be the communities trained to continue the work collectively.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Thích Nhất Hạnh
- Who was Thích Nhất Hạnh?
- Thích Nhất Hạnh was a zen teacher, writer and peace activist. Thích Nhất Hạnh connected Buddhist practice with peace activism, community life and everyday ethics across languages and generations.
- What is Thích Nhất Hạnh best known for?
- Thích Nhất Hạnh is best known for engaged Buddhism, mindfulness teaching and Plum Village.
- When and where was Thích Nhất Hạnh born?
- Thích Nhất Hạnh was born on 11 October 1926 in Huế, Vietnam.
- When did Thích Nhất Hạnh die?
- Thích Nhất Hạnh died on 22 January 2022.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
