Cao Dai

Cao Dai (also Caodaism or Caodaiism) is a new religious movement founded in Vietnam. It mixes ideas from other religions.

Cao Đài is a syncretic, monotheistic religion officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam in 1926. The religion combines Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism. The full name of the religion is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ (great religion of the third period of revelation and salvation).

Cao Dai uses ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism, theories of Karma and Rebirth from Buddhism, and a hierarchical organization (including a Pope) from Christianity. Caodaiists (believers of Cao Dai) believe that the first disciples of the religion, Ngô Văn Chiêu, Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc and Cao Hoài Sang spoke to God and God spoke to them. God told them to establish a new religion that would commence the third era of religious amnesty. Because of this, Caodaiist credit God for founding their religion. The ultimate goal of a Caodaist is to rejoin with God the Father in Heaven and to break away from the cycle of rebirth and death. Women can only wear white dresses as they have to be pure, whereas men can wear colored clothing once they reach higher levels in the religion.

 History 
Cao Dai was established in the Vietnamese city of Tây Ninh in 1926. Cao Dai was granted legal recognition in 1997. Cao Dai was found by Ngô Văn Chiêu, Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc, and Cao Hoài. Caodaist believe God spoke to these people to establish a new religion.  thumb | left | 200px | The Cao Dai Temple in Đà Lạt

 Teachings and beliefs 
 Name of God 
The name for God in Cao Dai is Cao Đài the Ancient Sage and Great Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Caodaiist believe God chose this title because it represents the Three Teachings: Saint, Sage, and Buddha.

 Creation beliefs 

 The three teachings 
 thumb | 200px | The Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh
The three teachings of Cao Dai are:

 Buddha
 Sage
 Saint
 Tomiwa

Note: The top is believed to be the hardest to achieve while the bottom is believed to be the easiest to achieve.

The three teachings represent levels of spiritual attainment. In Cao Dai's teaching being a Buddha is the hardest to achieve. Cao Dai teaches that humans can develop into other beings. Humans can develop into: Thần (angel), Thánh (saint), Tiên (sage), and Phật (buddha). According to Cao Dai, everyone can turn into one of these beings. Angels, Saints, and Sages have extremely long lives in the realms of Heavens, but Buddhas are the only ones free from the cycle of birth and death.

 The three periods of revelation and salvation
 First period 
The teachings of the Buddhas - Dīpankara Buddha
The teachings of sages
The teachings of saints - Phục Hy ( Fu Xi )

 Second period 
The teachings of the Buddhas - Shakyamuni Buddha (Gautama Buddha )
The teachings of sages - Laozi
The teachings of saints - Confucius and Jesus Christ.

 Third period 
According to Cao Dai teachings, God is at helm, he will not take human form as in the two past periods. Instead he sends his teachings through sacred seance ceremonies.

The three anchors (the three teachings) are:

The teachings of the Buddhas - Guan Yin
The teachings of sages - Lý Bạch
The teachings of saints - Guan Yu

 Holy people 

 Holy scriptures 
These are the main scriptures of Cao Dai.

 Kinh Thiên Đạo Và Thế Đạo (Prayers of the Heavenly and the Earthly Way) This is used for Daily life and Prayers for Worship.
 Pháp Chánh Truyền (The Religious Constitution of Caodaiism) This is used for information on the elections of officials, their powers, and ritual dress.
 Tân Luật (The New Canonical Codes) This is used for laws regulating religious, secular, monastic life.
 Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển (Compilation of Divine Messages)
 Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc The Sermons of His Holiness

Other branches of Cao Dai have additional scriptures.

 Organizational structure 
Cao Dai has an organizational structure similar to Catholicism. Cao Dai's hierarchy includes a Pope, cardinals, bishops, priest, etc. Cao Dai teaches equality between men and women, but women are not allowed to be Legislative Cardinal and Pope, the two highest positions in Cao Dai. The religion and church claims that God ordered this because Yang represents Male while Yin represents Female. Yin cannot dominate Yang or else Chaos will happen.

 Branches 

 Demographics 
Cao Dai is the third largest religion in Vietnam after Buddhism and Roman Catholicism. Estimates of followers in Vietnam is about 2-6 million, or around 2%. Estimates of followers in other countries is about 30,000.

References

Hoskins, Janet Alison. 2015. The Divine Eye and the Diaspora: Vietnamese Syncretism Becomes Transpacific Caodaism. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. .

Category:East Asian religions
Category:New religious movements
Category:Religion in Vietnam
Category:Organizations based in Vietnam