Cao Dai is an attempt to create a perfect synthesis of world religions. It is a combination of Christianity, Buddhism , Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Geniism, and Taoism.

Established in the Southern regions of Vietnam in the early 1920's by Ngo Van Chieu, the religion was officially codified in 1926. The functioning center of Cao Daism is located in the Tay Ninh province. Cao Dai literally means high tower or palace.
The central philosophy of Cao Daism pertains to the duty that the faithful perform for themselves, their family, society and the world at large.

This religion was playing a big role in military and politics. With its organization and strict discipline, they created a private army during the second world war to help Japanese. After, they helped the French army against the Vietminh and were on the side of the south Vietnam army and Americans during Vietnam war. After Saigon fell down in 1975 and the communists took the government, the Cao Dai religion lost about 400 temples and the heads of clergy were killed.

The main symbol is represented on the windows of the temple with 'divine eye' (in a cosmic field) and on the hats of the clergy members.
The painting at the entry depicting the 'Third Alliance Between God and Man' with Sun Yat-sen to the left, Victor Hugo and the Vietnamese poet Nguyen Binh Khiem. Respected saints of the Cao Dai include: Joan of Arc, Rene Descartes, William Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, Louis Pasteur, and Lenin.
Inside the temple, there is a big blue sphere with the divine eye and the representation of eight persons above the copula: Buddha, Confucius, Lao-Tseu, Jesus-Christ, Ly Thai Bach, Khuong Tu Nha, the Goddess Quan Am and the genius Quan Cong.

The clergy is made up of men and women. The entrances of the temple are divided by gender, men on the right, women on the left. The priests practice spiritual purification including meditation, prayer and vegetarianism. During the ceremony there is a group of men playing music and nuns are singing.


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