Caodaism facts for kids

The Divine Eye, a main symbol in Caodaism.

The Great Divine Temple in Tây Ninh, Vietnam, is the main building for Caodaism.

Caodaism is a special religion from Vietnam. It believes in one God, but it also mixes ideas from many other religions. These include old Vietnamese beliefs like honoring ancestors, and important lessons from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. It also has a structure similar to the Catholic Church. Caodaism officially started in 1926 in Tây Ninh, a city in southern Vietnam.

The full name of the religion is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ, which means "The Great Faith for the Third Universal Redemption."

People who follow Caodaism often pray, honor their ancestors, believe in being peaceful, and eat only vegetarian food. Their main goal is to connect with God and become free from the cycle of rebirth. Millions of people in Vietnam follow Caodaism, and there are also followers in other countries like North America, Cambodia, Europe, and Australia.

History of Caodaism

Caodaist temple in Dallas, Texas, serving a large local Vietnamese community.

Followers of Caodaism believe that the first person to receive messages from Cao Đài (God) was a man named Ngô Văn Chiêu in 1921. He saw a vision of the Divine Eye, which is now a very important symbol for the religion. You can see this eye on all Cao Đài altars.

On Christmas Eve in 1925, God is said to have spoken to the first group of people who could communicate with spirits. These included Phạm Công Tắc, Cao Quỳnh Cư, and Cao Hoài Sang. These three people became very important leaders in the new religion.

In October 1926, a group of 27 Caodaists, led by Lê Văn Trung, officially announced the start of the Cao Đài Religion. They gave their declaration to the French Governor of Cochinchina (which was part of Vietnam at the time). This new faith brought together many smaller, secret groups into one big national religion.

In its early years, Caodaism became very popular. By 1940, it had over a million members. Ngô Văn Chiêu, who didn't want Caodaism to become such a large organization, left the main group. He started a smaller, more private branch called Chiếu Minh in 1932.

During the 1930s, the religion's leader spoke out against the French rulers, but also tried to have talks with them. This was a tricky situation, and some other Caodaist groups disagreed, preferring a more traditional approach.

Later, during the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War, Caodaists were involved in fighting against both the French and the South Vietnamese government. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the new communist government banned Caodaism. However, in 1997, Caodaism was allowed to be practiced freely again.

What Caodaism Believes In

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are One, a painting showing three men laughing by a river.

The Three Saints and the Divine Covenant.

The full name of Caodaism, Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ, means "The Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty." This name tells us a lot about the religion's main goal.

Caodaism teaches that this "Third Period" is a time when God and humans will connect in new ways. It believes that a new great faith will bring all religions together to save people before a big universal change. The main goal is to unite all religions, bringing everyone together like one big family for world peace.

Caodaism teaches that God has shared his truth many times throughout history through different prophets. But these messages were often forgotten or changed by people. Caodaists believe that now is the time when God is speaking directly to humanity.

In the 1800s, a new idea called Spiritism became popular in Europe. People like Madam Blavatsky and Victor Hugo explored new religious ideas. In Vietnam, old traditions of talking to spirits started to mix with these new European ideas.

To show this goal of unity, every Cao Đài Temple has a picture of the Divine Covenant of The Third Amnesty. This is like a special agreement between Heaven and Earth. It was written and given to humanity by three respected saints: Victor Hugo, Sun Yat Sen, and Trạng Trình Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm. Their job is to guide people towards this Third Amnesty. The agreement is written in French and Chinese, and it means: "God and Humanity [for] Love and Justice."

God and the Universe

The Eight Trigrams in Caodaism, from Taoism.

"Cao Đài" is the name for God the Father. He is also called the Supreme Being, the Creator, and the "Ultimate Reality of the Universe." God's full title in Caodaism shows a mix of three important religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Mahayana Buddhism.

• Cao Đài: This means "High Tower" or "High Palace," which is where God rules the universe. This part represents Confucianism.
• Tiên Ông: This is the highest rank in Taoism.
• Đại Bồ Tát Ma Ha Tát: This means "Great Bodhisattva the Great Being" in Buddhism.

Together, these names show how Caodaism unites these three main religions. They also show God's humility, as he presents himself in a way that includes all levels of divinity.

Caodaism believes that all religions come from the same source. God has many names in different religions, like Allah, Brahma, or Yahweh, but Caodaism believes they all refer to the same one God.

How the Universe Began

A sphere inside the Tây Ninh Holy See, showing the Left Eye of God.

Caodaists believe in the traditional Chinese idea of yin and yang. These two forces create a perfect balance in the universe. Before the universe was created, there was the "dao," which was endless and had no form. The yin and yang are parts of this eternal nature.

There are two main Gods: the Cao Đài ("Highest Lord") and the Diêu Trì Kim Mẫu or Đức Phật Mẫu ("Holy Buddha Mother"). Cao Đài represents the yang (male) force, and the Holy Mother represents the yin (female) force. Cao Đài is seen as the heart of the universe and the Father of all living things. He puts a part of himself, like consciousness, into every living thing, even rocks. The Holy Mother is the Mother of the universe. She gives all life its visible forms, consciousness, and feelings. She follows the orders of Cao Đài, who is the highest being in both Heaven and Earth.

All other divine beings follow the orders of these two Creators as the universe grows and changes. Any being who goes against them is seen as a devil. The most powerful devil is named Kim Quang Sứ (Satan).

Caodaists believe in heaven and hell, where souls go after death. Heaven has many levels and realms, like the Realm of Saints or the Paradise of Extreme Joy. Hell has ten main realms for punishing souls based on their sins.

To go to heaven, souls must be good and help others. If they don't, they stay in the cycle of birth and death. But they can slowly become better and reach higher places in the universe, like different planets or heavenly levels. True freedom comes when souls finally return to God the Father in Heaven.

Three Times of Revelation

Caodaists believe that God the Father has communicated with humans since the beginning of time, showing his will. According to Caodaism, history is divided into three periods of revelation. In the first two periods, teachings came from figures like Gautama Buddha, Laozi, Confucius, and Jesus. They received God's will and started their religions to help and teach humanity. However, because humans are not perfect, God's will sometimes got misunderstood or changed. Caodaists also believe that earlier messages were meant for specific cultures and times. The third and final message is now being revealed through the Cao Đài faith.

Twelve Ranks of Spirits

Caodaists believe there are different levels of divine spirits: Thần (Holy Spirits), Thánh (saints), Tiên (Immortals), and Phật (Buddhas). Each of these can be divided into three types: Heavenly, Human, and Earthly. This creates a twelve-level system that matches the twelve-level system of the Caodaist church on Earth. Below these are the spirits of things like plants, animals, and humans. All spirits can grow and reach higher ranks based on their actions. Spirits who have passed on can help people, deliver messages, and teach truths. Guanyin is seen as a perfect example of a Buddha, Li Bai of the Immortals, and Guan Yu of the Saints.

The Caodaist religion honors three main prophets, whose pictures are often seen at the entrance of the Tay Ninh Temple: Victor Hugo (to connect with Europeans), Sun Yat-sen (for the Chinese), and Trạng Trình Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm (for the Vietnamese). Victor Hugo himself practiced communicating with spirits and believed he would become a prophet for a new religion that would combine European and Asian spiritual ideas.

Main Rules and Values

Caodaism tries to bring together all religious ideas and adapt to everyone's spiritual journey. A basic rule of Caodaism is "All Religions are One." Caodaism can be understood in five ways:

• Morals: Caodaism reminds people of their duties to themselves, their family, their community, and all of humanity.
• Philosophy: It teaches people to let go of wanting fame, money, and fancy things. This helps them find inner peace and freedom from wanting too much.
• Worship: Caodaism teaches people to worship God, honor divine beings, and respect their ancestors.
• Spirituality: It confirms that spirits and souls exist, that they live on after the body dies, and that they grow through many rebirths, based on their actions (karma).
• For advanced followers: Caodaism shares special teachings that help dedicated followers reach deep happiness through spiritual growth.

Worship and Rituals

Followers worship God the Father, the Holy Mother, and other Divine Beings with all their heart. They also honor the great religious prophets from history and their ancestors.

There are four daily ceremonies: at 6:00 AM, noon, 6:00 PM, and midnight. These can be done at a temple or at a home altar. Special rituals happen at midnight on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month. There are also yearly ceremonies to honor God the Father, the Holy Mother, the founders of the world's major religions, and the founders of Caodaism.

The rituals can be a bit different depending on where they are done and who they are praying to. For example, at the main Holy See, prayers include offering incense and prayers to God the Father, Buddha, Laozi, and Confucius. At the Holy Mother temple, prayers focus on the Holy Mother.

God the Father gave detailed instructions for ceremonies, including actions, clothing, and music. These include ceremonies for joining the religion, marriages, and funerals. Death is very important, and the religion teaches how the soul travels to heaven and how people on Earth can pray to help souls on their journey.

Symbols of Caodaism

The Caodaism Holy See, temples, and other religious buildings are full of symbols. All these symbols were instructed by God the Father or other Divine Beings. Every symbol has a meaning and tells a story about the religion's beliefs, secrets of the universe, and prophecies. Together, they show the path of the Tao (the way of the universe) through history and into the future.

The Divine Eye

Caodaism symbol.

The Divine Eye is a powerful symbol. It reminds Caodaist followers that God sees everything, everywhere, all the time. At the Holy See, there are 50 different Divine Eyes, each with a special meaning. The one on the main building has 35 rays of light, representing the three major religions and five main religious teachings of the world. At local Cao Đài Temples, the Divine Eye has 16 rays of light. Nine rays go upwards, showing the nine levels of heaven, and seven rays go downwards, showing the seven emotions that followers must control.

The Religious Banner and Emblem

The Caodaism banner has three colors that represent the three main Asian religions (not including Hinduism): yellow for Buddhism, blue for Taoism, and red for Confucianism. Below the Divine Eye is the religious emblem, which also shows the ideas of these three religions:

• A bowl for Buddhist kindness and simple living.
• A feather duster for Taoist cleansing.
• The Spring and Autumn Annals (an ancient book) for Confucian virtue and love.

Holy Scriptures

Caodaism has several holy books. Some of the most important ones from the Holy See of Tây Ninh are: Kinh Thiên Đạo Và Thế Đạo ("Prayers of the Heavenly and the Earthly Way"), Pháp Chánh Truyền ("The Religious Constitution of Cao Đài Religion"), Tân Luật ("The Canonical Codes"), and Con Đường Thiêng Liêng Hằng Sống ("Divine Path to Eternal Life"). Other Caodaist groups might have additional scriptures.

The Canonical Codes

This holy book sets out the rules for different parts of the religion, from everyday followers to the Pope. It covers everything from education to marriage. It has ten sections:

• Hierarchy of religious leaders
• How people join and their ranks
• How a local church is set up
• The five forbidden actions
• The four main rules
• Education
• Punishments for breaking rules
• How laws and rules are made
• Everyday rules
• The house of meditation

The Religious Constitution

The Phap-Chanh-Truyen (The Religious Constitution of Caodaism) was given to the religion through divine messages. These texts guide how the religion is organized. They explain the power, duties, and limits of each rank in the religion, as well as what religious clothing they should wear.

How Caodaism is Organized

Inside the Caodaism Holy See, Tây Ninh Province.

Caodaists worshipping in a temple. Priests wear red, blue, and yellow; followers wear white.

On top is Buddha, with Lao Tzu on his right and Confucius on his left. Below Buddha is Li Bai. On Li Bai's right is Guanyin, and on his left is Guan Yu. Below Li Bai is Jesus, and below Jesus is Jiang Ziya.

The way the Caodaist church is set up is similar to how a country is organized. It also has some similarities to the Catholic Church. Besides the Pope, Caodaism has Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and other ranks.

Caodaism believes that men and women are equal in society. However, in spiritual leadership, women cannot reach the two highest positions: Legislative Cardinal and Pope. The church says this rule comes from God, who declared that because Dương (Yang) represents male and Âm (Yin) represents female, the Yin (female) cannot lead the Yang (male) spiritually, or it would cause disorder.

The religion is led by two main powers: a spiritual one and an earthly one.

The spiritual power (Bát Quái Đài) is like a heavenly council. It guides all activities in the universe. This invisible council is made up of Divine Beings and is led by Duc Cao Dai (God the Father). These Divine Beings represent different religions of the world, including:

• Founders of five religions:
  • The Buddha (Buddhism)
  • Lao Tze (Taoism)
  • Confucius (Confucianism)
  • Jesus Christ (Christianity)
  • Jiang Ziya (Geniism)
• Founders and teachers of Caodaism: who represent the ideas of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism:
  • Guanyin (Buddhism)
  • Li Bai (Taoism)
  • Guan Yu (Confucianism)

The earthly power is divided into two parts to prevent one person from having too much control. There is an Executive Body (Cửu Trùng Đài) led by the Pope, and a Legislative Body (Hiệp Thiên Đài) led by the Hộ Pháp (Protector of Laws and Justice). The Executive Body manages the religion and its missionary work. The Legislative Body makes laws, handles justice, and communicates with God or Divine Beings. There is also a Charitable Body and a Lay Committee of experts who are followers.

The Executive Body (Cửu Trùng Đài)

The Cửu Trùng Ðài is the Executive Body of Caodaism. It manages the religion and its activities. The head of the Cửu Trùng Ðài is the Giáo-Tông (Pope). The Pope represents God on Earth and makes sure the religion is kept safe. No matter his age, he is seen as the eldest brother and guide for all of God's children. The Pope has the same powers as God to teach good values to all followers. He cares for each one, guides them, and makes sure they follow the Divine Laws. He makes sure all followers strictly follow the rules in the New Codes. The Pope's important job is to help people live happy lives instead of suffering.

There are nine ranks in this part of the church:

For male leaders in the Executive Body, from Censor Cardinal to Student Priest, each level is split into three groups based on the three main religions:

• Buddhist Branch: These leaders wear yellow.
• Taoist Branch: These leaders wear blue.
• Confucianist Branch: These leaders wear red.

Leaders at the same level, whether Buddhist, Taoist, or Confucianist, have the same duties.

At the Holy See, there are three main councils:

• The Popular Council: Made up of Student Priests, Sub-dignitaries, and representatives (one for every 500 members). This council makes plans for the future.
• The Sacerdotal Council: Made up of Priests, Bishops, Archbishops, and Principal Archbishops. This council reviews the plans made by the Popular Council.
• The High Council: Made up of Cardinals, Legislative Body Cardinals, and the Pope. All plans approved by the Popular and Sacerdotal Councils go to the High Council for final approval.

There is also a Central Administration led by three Cardinals. Each Cardinal has three Principal Archbishops helping them to oversee three religious departments:

• Buddhist branch Archbishops: Handle money, supplies, and public works.
• Taoist branch Archbishops: Handle education, health, and farming.
• Confucianist branch Archbishops: Handle internal affairs, rituals, and justice.

The religion's network across Vietnam includes:

• The Religious Region (Trấn Đạo): Several provinces, led by a Bishop.
• The Religious Province (Châu Đạo): Several districts, led by a Priest.
• The Religious District (Họ Đạo): Several villages, led by a Student Priest.
• The Religious Village (Hương Đạo): Led by a Sub-dignitary, who is helped by a Deputy Chief and a Communicator. A Religious Village is made up of Religious Hamlets.

Palace Uniting Heaven and Earth (Hiệp Thiên Đài)

This part of the church communicates with Divine Beings. It also protects religious laws and listens to people's complaints. It is led by the Hộ Pháp (Defender of the Dharma, who protects laws and justice). He is helped by the Thượng Phẩm (Director of religious affairs) and Thượng Sanh (Director of everyday affairs).

• Hộ-Pháp (護法) (Head of Legislative Body Affairs): He reveals the secrets of the invisible world and makes sure the rules and laws of the new religion are followed. He judges leaders and followers, promotes those who are good, and punishes those who make mistakes. The Defender of the Dharma controls the Legislative Body. He helps followers grow spiritually and guides good souls to unite with Angels, Saints, Immortals, and Buddhas.
• Thượng-Phẩm (上品) (Head of Religious Affairs): He helps the Hộ-Pháp in training good souls in the Sacerdotal Council. He helps create a happy atmosphere in the Executive Body. He shares heavenly messages with good souls and guides them to higher spiritual levels. He also protects leaders and followers and makes sure divine rules are not broken. He is the "Leader of the Spiritual Power."
• Thượng–Sanh (上生) (Head of Secular Affairs): He controls all the laws and rules for the everyday lives of followers, helping them find peace. He can complain to the religious court if anyone stops followers from following God's path. He is the President of the Hall of Accusation.

Four "zodiacal dignitaries" under each of these leaders have four key jobs: keeping things the same, making new things, improving things, and making laws. They are also helped by twelve technical experts in areas like health, education, and economics.

Community Structure

Any local area with more than 500 followers can set up a Parish (Họ Đạo/Tộc Đạo) with a Thánh-Thất (Temple or Holy House). This is led by a religious leader. Parishes can only be set up with permission from the Pope.

Twice a month, on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar calendar, followers must meet at their local temple for a ceremony and to listen to teachings. People can be excused if they have a good reason.

The Holy See

About 90 kilometers (56 miles) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Tây-Ninh Province is the Caodaist Holy See. In the center of this area stands the Great Divine Temple. This Holy See, like the religion itself, combines influences from around the world. It is a major place for religious trips and also a popular tourist spot in Vietnam.

Different Branches

Between 1934 and 1975, Caodaism grew a lot, but it also split into many different groups, sometimes as many as 30. As of 2014, the government has officially recognized 11 Cao Dai groups.

These groups are usually divided by where they are located. The largest group is based in Tây Ninh Province, where the religion started in 1926 and where the main Caodaist authority is located.

The Caodaist Executive Council of Tây Ninh Province was officially recognized by the government in 1997. Some independent Caodaist groups say that government involvement has made the Tây Ninh group less independent, and that it no longer truly follows Cao Đài's original ideas. Religious training happens at individual temples, not at central schools. Some Caodaist groups that separated from the Tây Ninh Holy See include Cầu Kho, Bến Tre, Minh Chơn Lý, Minh Chơn Đạo, Tiên Thiên, and Hội Thánh Truyền Giáo Trung Việt. Ngô Văn Chiêu started Chiếu Minh when he left the original church structure, refusing to be Caodaism's first pope.