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{{Short description|
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
[[File:Caodaism Left Eye.png|thumb|221x221px|Cao Đài's left eye, similar to the [[Eye of Providence]].]]
[[File:Temple Cao Dai.jpg|thumb|[[Great Divine Temple|Caodaism Holy See]] in [[Tây Ninh]] is the main religious building in Caodaism's Holy Land, outside of which buildings with the same functions are called Caodaist temples.]]
'''Caodaism''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|aʊ|ˈ|d|aɪ|z|m|}}, {{lang-vi|Đạo Cao Đài}}, [[Chữ Hán]]: {{lang|vi|道高臺}}, {{IPA
The full name of the religion is '''{{lang|vi|Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ}}''' ('''The Great Faith [for the] Third Universal Redemption, [[Chữ Hán]]: 大道三期普度''').{{sfn|Hoskins
Adherents engage in practices such as [[prayer]], [[veneration of ancestors]], [[nonviolence]], and [[vegetarianism]] with the goal of union with God and freedom from [[saṃsāra]].{{sfn|Hoskins|2015|pp=1–28}} Estimates of the number of Caodaists in Vietnam vary; government figures estimate 4.4 million Caodaists affiliated to the [[Cao Đài]] [[Tây Ninh Holy See]], with numbers rising up to 6 million if other branches are added.{{sfn|UNHCHR|2014}}{{sfn|Hoskins|2015|p=4; 239}}{{sfn|Eller|2014|pp=184–186; 188}}{{sfn|Hoskins
The United Nations found about 2.5 million Cao Dai followers in [[Vietnam]] as of January 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session28/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session28/Documents/A_HRC_28_66_Add.2_E.doc&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1 |title=A_HRC_28_66_Add.2_E.doc |date=30 January 2015 |website=ohchr.org |access-date=2020-03-17 |archive-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802025642/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session28/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session28/Documents/A_HRC_28_66_Add.2_E.doc&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cao-Dai |title=Cao Dai (Vietnamese religion) |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2020-03-17 |quote=[B]y the early 1990s, Cao Dai was reported to have some two million adherents in Vietnam, Cambodia, France, and the United States. |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107010729/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cao-Dai |url-status=live }}</ref> An additional number of adherents in the tens of thousands, primarily ethnic Vietnamese, live in North America, Cambodia, Europe and Australia as part of the [[Cao Dai diaspora]]. [[File:Cao Đài temple in Dallas, Texas.jpg|right|thumb|Caodaist temple in Dallas, Texas, serving a large local Vietnamese community.]]
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On 7 October 1926, [[Lê Văn Trung]] (a former elected official of the Colonial Council of [[French Cochinchina|Cochinchina]] and a member of the {{lang|fr|Conseil de Gouvernement de l'Indochine}}), and a leading group of 27 Caodaists, the first disciples of Cao Đài, signed the "Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Đài Religion" and presented it to the French Governor of Cochinchina. The Cao Đài faith brought together a number of once underground [[sect]]s into a new [[National church|national religion]].
Officially called the "Great Way of the Third Time of Redemption" ({{lang|vi|Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ}}), it became popular in its first few decades, gathering over a million members and converting a fifth to a fourth of the population of Cochinchina by 1940.{{sfn|Hoskins
Ngô Văn Chiêu, who had never intended Cao Đài to become a mass organization, left the movement and eventually established in 1932 an independent, esoteric branch known as Chiếu Minh, headquartered in [[Vĩnh Long]], which still exists and only admits a limited number of committed adepts.{{sfn|Jammes|2014|p=182}}
In the 1930s, the leader criticized the French colonial regime, though he also emphasized dialogue with the French. This stance was controversial, and contrasted with the liturgy of dozens of "dissident" branches of Caodaism that followed a more [[Taoist]] model.{{sfn|Hoskins
During the [[First Indochina War|First]] and [[Vietnam War|Second Indochina Wars]], members of Cao Đài (along with several other Vietnamese sects, such as [[Hòa Hảo]]) were active in political and military struggles against both French colonial forces and South Vietnamese Prime Minister [[Ngô Đình Diệm]], who later became
Their criticism of the [[communist]] forces until 1975 was a factor in their repression after the [[fall of Saigon]] in 1975, when the incoming [[Communism in Vietnam|communist government]] banned the practice of Caodaism.{{sfn|Cao Dai Overseas Missionary|2008}} In 1997, Caodaism was granted legal recognition and unrestricted practice once again.{{sfn|Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor|2014-07-31}}
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The official name of the Cao Đài religion (or Caodaism) is {{lang|vi|Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ}}. Translated directly it means "The Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty" ({{lang|vi|Đại Đạo}} – "Great Faith", {{lang|vi|Tam Kỳ}} – "Third Period", {{lang|vi|Phổ}} – "to announce" and {{lang|vi|Độ}} – "to save").
According to Cao Đài's [[dogma]], this Third Period will be of intense religious activity which will unite God and humanity in ways not yet imagined. Cao Đài also states that the Third Amnesty will establish a new great faith for the salvation of living beings before the universal destruction. The primary objective of the Third Amnesty is the unity of all religions, which will bring mankind together in a universal family for universal peace.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (a)}}
Caodaism teaches that, throughout human history, God the Father has revealed his truth many times through the mouths of many prophets, but these messages were always either ignored or forgotten due to humanity's susceptibility to secular desires. Adherents believe that the age has now come when God speaks to humanity directly.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}
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In the nineteenth century, [[Kardecist spiritism|Spiritism]] became established in [[Europe]]. The likes of [[Madam Blavatsky]], [[Allan Kardec]] and [[Victor Hugo]] championed new religious possibilities. In [[Vietnam]], the age-old traditions of Asian [[divination]] and [[mediumship]] began to mix with the new traditions of European Spiritism.
To highlight this objective of unity, there is a representation of the Divine Covenant of The Third Amnesty (The Third Alliance) inside every Cao Đài Temple. This Covenant between Heaven and Earth is written and presented to humanity by the Venerable Saints [[Victor Hugo]], [[Sun Yat Sen]], and Trạng Trình [[Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm]]. Their mission is said to guide humanity into the way of the Third Amnesty. The Covenant is written in French: {{lang|fr|"Dieu et Humanité Amour et Justice"}}; and in Chinese: {{lang|zh|天上天下 博愛公平}}. This translates into English as: "God and Humanity [for] Love and Justice."{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (a)}}
==Theology and theosophy==
===[[God]]===
[[File:Eight Trigrams.jpg|thumb|right|The Eight Trigrams ({{lang|vi|Bagua}}, {{lang|vi|八卦}}) in Caodaism, borrowed from [[Taoism]]]]
"Cao Đài" refers to God the Father (also known as the Supreme Being, Creator, and "Ultimate Reality of the Universe," as well as the [[Ngọc Hoàng]]). {{lang|vi|Cao Đài Tiên Ông Đại Bồ Tát Ma Ha Tát}}, as God's full title, indicates a combination of three religions—namely, [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]], and [[Mahayana Buddhism]]—that significantly influenced Caodaist theology.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=R. B. |date=1970 |title=An Introduction to Caodaism II. Beliefs and Organization
:; {{lang|vi|Cao Đài}}: [[File:Cao Dai audio.ogg|thumb|right|Pronunciation of "Cao Đài" in Vietnamese]] literally means "High Tower/Palace" (that is, the place where God reigns over the universe) represents Confucianism.
[[File:Tien Ong.ogg|thumb|right|Pronunciation of "Tiên Ông" in Vietnamese]]
:; {{lang|vi|Tiên Ông}}: is the largest rank in Taoism.
[[File:Dai Bo Tat Ma Ha Tat.ogg|thumb|right|Pronunciation of
:; {{lang|vi|Đại Bồ Tát Ma Ha Tát}}: literally means Great Bodhisattva the Great Being ([[Mahāsattva|Mahasattva]]) in Buddhism.
Together, they represent not only the unification of the three main religions but also the humility of God who presents himself as the lowest rank of Divinity.{{sfn|Tam|2000}}{{Request quotation|date=March 2016}}
According to Caodaism, God permeates all things in the Universe, both living and inanimate, reminiscent of [[Panentheism]]. It is believed that part of God's spirit is within all people and creatures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caodai.org - CAODAI, ITS CONCEPTS |url=https://www.caodai.org/p127/caodai-concepts}}</ref>
God has many different names depending on each person's [[worldview]].
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Believers worship God the Father, Holy Mother, and the Divine Beings with all their heart. They also venerate the Great Religious Prophets of history and honour the ancestors.
There are four daily ceremonies, that is, at 06:00, Midday, 18:00, and midnight, either at the temple or in front of the home altar. Monthly rituals take place at midnight on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month. There is also a special anniversary ceremony once a year for God the Father, the Holy Mother, the five founders of the world's major religions, and the founders of the Cao Dai religion.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (a)}}
The rituals differ between places, depending on who they pray to.
; At the Holy See: Prayers include incense offering, ceremony opening, prayer to the [[Ngọc Hoàng]] (God the Father), prayer to [[Dipankara|Dipankara Buddha]] (Buddhism), prayer to Thái Thượng Lão Quân or [[Taishang Laojun]] (Taoism), prayer to Confucius (Confucianism), one of the three jewel offering prayers (flower, wine, and tea), and the five pledges.
; At the Holy Mother temple: Prayers include incense offering, ceremony opening, prayer describing the role of the Holy Mother, prayer to express gratitude to the Holy Mother, one of the three jewel offering prayers (flower, wine, and tea), and the five pledges.
There are also differences between monthly rituals, and anniversary ones.
Ceremonial prescriptions such as actions, dress and music were organized in detail by God the Father. These include ceremonies for initiations, marriages and funerals. Particular attention is paid to death, and it has been revealed to the religion how the soul journeys towards heaven and how, on earth, co-religionists can pray for souls to help them on their way.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (a)}}
==Symbols==
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[[File:Caodaismlogo.jpg | thumb | 220x124px | right | alt= A stylized triangle with an oval with a circle inside. The caption 'CAODAISM / Religion' is below.|
Caodaism symbol]]
In spirit and in pictorial representation, the Eye serves to remind Cao Đài believers that the [[God]] witnesses everything, everywhere, constantly. At the Holy See, there are in total 50 Divine Eyes of five different shapes; each carrying a different meaning related to various spiritual aspects. The One on the globe shows the Supreme Being above the [[North Star]] in the [[Ursa Minor]] constellation. The One on the façade of the Holy See has 35 rays of light which represent the three major religions and five main religious doctrines of the world. At the local Cao Đài Temples, the Divine Eye has 16 rays of light emanating from it. Nine radiate upward representing the nine levels of heaven, and seven radiating downward representing the seven emotions, which believers must control.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (c)}}
===The religious banner and emblem===
In accordance with the religious mission, the three colors of Cao Đài banner represent the three main non-Hinduistic Asian religions of the world; yellow stands for [[Buddhism]], blue for [[Taoism]], and red for [[Confucianism]]. Under the Divine Eye is the religious emblem which also represents the essence of the three religions; the bowl of charity for Buddhist compassion and asceticism, the feather duster for Taoist purification; the [[Spring and Autumn Annals]] for Confucianist virtue and love.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (a)}}
==Holy scriptures==
There are various Caodaist scriptures. Some of those belonging to the Holy See of Tây Ninh are: ''Kinh Thiên Đạo Và Thế Đạo'' ("Prayers of the Heavenly and the Earthly Way"),{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (d)}}{{Request quotation|date=July 2015}} ''Pháp Chánh Truyền'' ("the Religious Constitution of Cao Đài Religion"),{{sfn|Tâm|1996}} ''Tân Luật'' ("The Canonical Codes"), {{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (e)}} and ''Con Đường Thiêng Liêng Hằng Sống'' ("Divine Path to Eternal Life").{{sfn|Hộ-Pháp Phạm Công Tắc}} Other sects have additional scriptures.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}
===The Canonical Codes===
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[[File:Cao Dai temple (Vietnam).jpg|thumb|Inner hall the Caodaism Holy See, Tây Ninh Province.]]
[[File:Cao Dai monks.jpg|thumb|Caodaists worshipping in a temple. Priests are dressed in red, blue and yellow, followers in white.]]
[[File:Cao Dai Temple Vietnam(2).jpg|thumb|On top is [[Buddha]], on his right [[Lao Tzu]], on his left [[Confucius]]. Under Buddha is [[Li Bai]]. On Li Bai's right is the female [[Boddhisattva]] [[Guanyin]], on his left is the red-faced warrior [[Guan Yu|Guan Gong]]. Below Li Bai is [[Jesus]], and below Jesus is [[Jiang Ziya]].]]
The organisational structure of the Caodaist church has similarities with that of a state. There are similarities between the hierarchy of the Caodaist clergy and that of the [[Catholic Church]]. Besides the [[Pope#In new religious movements|Pope]], the Caodaist hierarchy has Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and further ranks.
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Parishes can be established only with the permission and authority of the Giao-Tong/Pope.
Twice a month, the first and the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, the believers must meet at the Thánh-Thất of the local area to attend the ceremony and listen to the teachings. Exception can be made for those with reasonable excuses.{{sfn|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (e)}}
==The Holy See==
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==Branches==
These sects generally divide along geographic lines. The largest is based in Tây Ninh Province, where the religion was founded in 1926 and where the seat of the Caodaist authority is located.
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* [[Ama-gi]]
* [[Hòa Hảo]]
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[Ngọc Hoàng]]
* [[Nguyễn Thành Phương]]
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==Sources==
{{refbegin|25em|small=y}}
* {{cite news |last=Biederman |first=Patricia Ward |date=2006-01-07 |title=Cao Dai fuses great faiths of the world |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |url=
* {{cite book |last1=Carrasco |first1=David |title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions |last2=Warmind |first2=Morten |last3=Hawley |first3=John Stratton |last4=Reynolds |first4=Frank |last5=Giarardot |first5=Norman |last6=Neusner |first6=Jacob |last7=Pelikan |first7=Jaroslav |last8=Campo |first8=Juan |last9=Penner |first9=Hans
* {{cite book |last=Eller|first=Jack David|title=Introducing Anthropology of Religion: Culture to the Ultimate|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=
* {{cite report |last=Hoskins
* {{cite report|last=Hoskins
* {{cite book |last=Hoskins |first=Janet Alison |title=The Divine Eye and the Diaspora: Vietnamese syncretism becomes transpacific Caodaism |year=2015 |publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]] |location=Honolulu |isbn=978-0-824-85140-8}}
* {{cite report|author=Hộ-Pháp Phạm Công Tắc|title=Divine Path to Eternal Life|url=http://www.daotam.info/booksv/dptel/dptel.htm|website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism|access-date=18 July 2015|archive-date=12 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812165146/http://daotam.info/booksv/dptel/dptel.htm|url-status=live}}
* {{cite press release |title=Press Statement on the visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief |url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14914&LangID=E |website=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |access-date=17 July 2015 |location=Hanoi, Viet Nam |date=2014-07-31 |ref={{sfnref|UNHCHR|2014}} |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010192220/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14914&LangID=E |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book|last=Oliver|first=Victor L.|title=Caodai Spiritism: A Study of Religion in Vietnamese Society|year=1976|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AC02pmaBAdYC&q=Caodai%20Spiritism%3A%20A%20Study%20of%20Religion%20in%20Vietnamese%20Society&pg=PP1|publisher=BRILL|isbn=
* {{cite report|title=Cao Dai Rituals|url=http://www.daotam.info/caodai.htm|website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism
* {{citation|title=Caodaism in a nutshell|url=http://www.daotam.info/cdinans.htm|website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism
* {{cite report |title=KINH THIÊN-ĐẠO & THẾ-ĐẠO |url=http://www.daotam.info/booksv/ktdvtd.htm |website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism
* {{cite report |title=Structure of CaoDai Religion |url=http://www.daotam.info/struc.htm |website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism |access-date=18 July 2015 |ref={{harvid|''Sydney Centre of Studies in Caodaism'' (f)}} |archive-date=21 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721131136/http://www.daotam.info/struc.htm |url-status=live }}
* {{cite report |title=The New Canonical Codes |url=http://www.daotam.info/tanluat.htm |website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism |access-date=17 July 2015 |ref={{harvid|''Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism'' (e)}} |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923212707/http://www.daotam.info/tanluat.htm |url-status=live }}
*{{cite report |title=The outline of Caodaism |url=http://www.daotam.info/cdinans.htm |website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism
* {{cite report |last=Tâm |first=Đào Công |title=The Religious Constitution of Cao Đài Religion |url=http://www.daotam.info/booksv/PhapChanhTruyen/PhapChanhTruyen.htm |website=Sydney Centre for Studies in Caodaism |access-date=18 July 2015 |location=University of Sydney |date=1996-11-08 |archive-date=12 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812211020/http://daotam.info/booksv/PhapChanhTruyen/PhapChanhTruyen.htm |url-status=live }}
* {{cite report |last1=Tam |first1=Dao |title=Understanding Caodaism in 10 minutes |year=2000 |publisher=University of Sydney |url=http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/_cdao/media/10phutTHDCDenglish/Doctrine3/index.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090921031100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/10190/20090921-1311/www-personal.usyd.edu.au/_cdao/media/10phutTHDCDenglish/Doctrine3/index.html
* {{cite web |url=http://www.vietnamgear.com/Indochina1955.aspx |title=Vietnam Timeline 1955 |website=VietnamGear.com |access-date=18 July 2015 |ref=CITEREFVietnam Timeline 1955 |archive-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703174612/http://www.vietnamgear.com/Indochina1955.aspx |url-status=live }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |title=Caodaism |first=Janet Alison |last=Hoskins |encyclopedia=World Religion and Spirituality |via=wrldrels.org |url=https://wrldrels.org/2017/08/10/caodaism/ |access-date=10 August 2017 |id=0037768610375520 |archive-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429155901/https://wrldrels.org/2017/08/10/caodaism/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last=Jammes |first=Jeremy |year=2014 |title=Les Oracles du Cao Dai: Étude d'un mouvement religieux vietnamien et de ses réseaux |location=Paris |publisher=Les Indes Savantes |isbn=978-2-84654-351-4}}
* {{cite report |section=Vietnam |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2005 |publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]] |department=[[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] |date=30 June 2005 |url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51535.htm |access-date=19 May 2010 |ref=CITEREFBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2014-07-31 |archive-date=13 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113041016/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51535.htm |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |author=Cao Dai Overseas Missionary |title=Cao Dai FAQ |date=7 January 2008 |url=http://english.caodai.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=41
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
*Blagov, Sergei (2012). ''Caodaism: Vietnamese Traditionalism and Its Leap Into Modernity''. Nova Science Publishers. {{ISBN|
*Goossaert, Vincent; Palmer, David A. (2011). ''The Religious Question in Modern China''. [[University of Chicago Press]]. {{ISBN|
*Jammes, Jeremy (2010). ''[http://www.viet-studies.info/CaoDai_Sep2010.pdf Divination and Politics in Southern Vietnam: Roots of Caodaism]''. Social Compass 57(3), 357–371. DOI: 10.1177/
*Werner, Jayne (1981). Peasant Politics and Religious Sectarianism: Peasant and Priest in the Cao Dai in Vietnam. New Haven: Yale University Southeast Asian Studies. {{ISBN|978-0-938692-07-2}}
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*[http://caodai.com.vn/en Official website of the Tay Ninh Holy See]
*[https://www.caodai.org/ CAODAI]
*[https://www.caodai-europe.info Caodai de
*[http://caodaitv.free.fr Caodaist French Resources]
{{Commons category|Cao Dai}}
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