In the early 20th century, Vietnam was under French colonial rule. Traditional Confucian values were declining. Buddhism and folk beliefs were heavily impacted. The people, especially in the South, lived in poverty, uncertainty, and longed for something new – a new faith, a new purpose, a release from the deadlock of the present.

This was fertile ground for new religious and spiritual movements. The practice of spirit-writing (cau co) – communicating with the spiritual realm through a planchette – flourished in Saigon, Cho Lon, and surrounding provinces. Many people turned to spirit-writing to find answers to their questions, seek comfort, and connect with an invisible world they believed to be real. Caodaism was born in this social context as an answer to the great question of the era: how to heal the shattered faith, how to create a religion grand and inclusive enough to contain all the spiritual aspirations of the Southern people.

Three Religions Share One Source, Five Branches Return to Unity – Unprecedented Inclusiveness

Instead of declaring itself the only true religion, Caodaism declared that all the world’s major religions share a single source (God) and that all the founders (Buddha, Jesus, Confucius, Laozi, Moses, and others) were emissaries of the Supreme Being in different eras. This delivered a radically new and appealing message: harmony, not conflict. The synthesis of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and others created a banquet of ideas from which every social stratum could find something suited to them.

The Third Era of Universal Salvation – The Urgency of Redemption

Caodaism divides the history of God’s salvation into three great periods (Tam Ky Pho Do). The Third Era – the present era – is the final era before the end of the world and its recreation. And this time, the Jade Emperor Himself has come to found the religion to save humanity. This message created a sense of urgency: if you do not follow Caodaism in this era, you will miss the final chance for salvation. This powerfully drove conversion and missionary work.

The Divine Eye – A Symbol of Justice and Awakening

Instead of worshipping statues, Caodaism reveres a single symbol: the Divine Eye (Thien Nhan). The Divine Eye is at once simple and sacred, transcending all distinctions of ethnicity, culture, and religion. It reminds followers of God’s constant presence and the necessity of living righteously. From an artistic and philosophical perspective, the Divine Eye is an extraordinarily successful symbol – easy to recognize and easy to impress upon the heart.

Spirit-Writing – Direct Revelation from God

What made Caodaism most different was its use of spirit-writing (co but). Followers believe that God Himself directly communicates through seances, teaching doctrine, issuing holy messages, and guiding the church’s organization. In the early period, spirit-writing created a direct channel of communication between humanity and the divine, satisfying intense spiritual needs while also resolving disagreements and charting the new religion’s development.

For a religion to survive and develop sustainably, it needs a strong organization. Caodaism built an extremely rigorous and forward-looking structure.

The Model of the Three Powers of Government

This model not only ensures the smooth functioning of the church apparatus but also creates a mechanism of checks and balances, preventing any individual or group from abusing power.

The Role of the Tay Ninh Holy See

The Tay Ninh Holy See, built between 1931 and 1955, is the administrative and spiritual center of Caodaism. Its gigantic, unique architecture, incorporating symbols from many religions, became an emblem of authority and unity for the entire religion. The presence of such a center of power helped to strengthen lay believers’ faith and assert the religion’s status in relation to the government and other religions.

Ngo Van Chieu – The Pathfinder

An upright, contemplative civil servant, Ngo Van Chieu was the first person accepted as a disciple by the Supreme Being through spirit-writing (1921). He played the role of a pioneer, laying the spiritual foundation for the religion.

Le Van Trung – The Organizer and Leader

One of the most important figures, Le Van Trung was a member of the Colonial Council of Cochinchina, a distinguished intellectual of great prestige and organizational experience. He submitted the Declaration of Founding to the French authorities in 1926, organized the inaugural ceremony, and acted as the on-earth Pope during the tumultuous early years. He offers a powerful example of personal transformation: from a depressed opium smoker into a clear-headed, upright religious leader.

Pham Cong Tac – The Talented Protector of the Law

The youngest among the founding group, Pham Cong Tac later became the Protector of the Law (Ho phap). He was an outstanding writer, a brilliant organizer, and one of the main mediums for the most important spirit-writing seances. His works and messages had a profound influence on Caodaist theology and thought.

• Meeting spiritual needs during chaos: In a dislocated society, Caodaism arrived as a spiritual life raft – a message of a Supreme Being who would save humanity, of the soul’s immortality, of a more just world.
• Syncretism and accessibility: By synthesizing Confucianism’s morals, Buddhism’s vegetarianism, Taoism’s breathing practices, and Catholicism’s liturgy, Caodaism allowed new converts to approach it easily without learning a completely foreign doctrine.
• Building strong communities: Holy temples became cultural centers where believers could meet and share. The Caodaist community became a kind of extended family, strengthening loyalty and commitment.
• Addressing practical needs: Stories of spirit-writing that healed disease and miracles spread widely, enhancing the religion’s sacredness and popular appeal.

After 1975, Caodaism faced severe difficulties in Vietnam. Yet the religion spread across the world with the Vietnamese diaspora. Today, the overseas Caodaist community thrives, with hundreds of holy temples in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. The spirit of inclusiveness, the unified theology, and the adaptable Divine Eye symbol make it easily embraced by different cultures. Caodaism has truly become a global religion, fulfilling its mission of “Universal Salvation in the Third Era” – saving sentient beings across all borders.

• Internal Divisions: Caodaism has many branches (phai). Occasionally there is competition and disagreement. However, all branches worship the same God and share the same Divine Eye symbol.
• Orthodoxy and Controversy Over Spirit-writing: Not everyone believes in the divine origin of the seances. Some argue that the holy messages were influenced by human intervention.
• Relations with Secular Authorities: The relationship between the Caodaist church and successive Vietnamese governments has had many complex phases, not always smooth.