Caodaism, whose full name is “The Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty” (Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho do), was founded and developed in 1926 in Tay Ninh province. In Da Nang, Caodaism has two Cao Dai organizations: the Cao Dai Church of Tay Ninh and the Cao Dai Missionary Church.
Cao Dai Missionary Church:
Since 1934, Caodaism has spread throughout the Central provinces of Vietnam, led by the group of “Tu linh Dong tu” (Four Divine Mediums: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Tortoise, and Phoenix), led by Tran Cong Ban. By 1956, the Holy Temple of Trung Hung Buu Toa established the Sacerdotal Council of Cao Dai Missionary Church, headquartered at 63 Hai Phong Street, Da Nang City. The Cao Dai Missionary Church has an architecture similar to the Tay Ninh Holy See but smaller. This Church has three gates, with the dignitaries entering through the central gate, while two smaller gates on the sides are for the college of men and women separately. Inside the Holy House, there is the model of 3 Palaces: “Bát Quái Đài” – the Eight Trigrams Palace, “Cửu Trùng Đài” – the Nine Level, and “Hiệp Thiên Đài” – the Palace of Communion between God and Mankind (Temple of the Divine Alliance). On the altar are paintings of Lao-Tse, the Great Buddha, Jesus Christ, and Prophet Muhammad meeting in the universal world.
The Cao Dai Missionary Church in Da Nang has 14 religious facilities, 67 dignitaries, and about 12,000 followers. Adhering to the motto “Nước vinh, đạo sáng” or “Prosperous country, Effulgent Religion,” the church follows the teachings of the faith and upholds pure moral principles. The church operates within the framework of law and doctrine.
The Cao Dai Church of Tay Ninh:
The Cao Dai Church arrived in Da Nang around 1956 and was led by Pho te Nguyen Dang Thong. In 1957, the Hoa Phong Holy See was constructed in Hoa Phong commune, Hoa Vang district. 1998, the Tay Ninh Holy House appointed a Permanent Committee of 3 members. Student priest Ngoc Toan Thanh-Nguyen Toan leads the management board of Tay Ninh Cao Dai Church’s Parish in Hoa Phong Commune. There is one student priest, 27 sub-dignitaries, and about 2,000 followers of Cao Dai Church of Tay Ninh in Da Nang.
In recent years, Dignitaries, Sub-dignitaries, and followers of the Cao Dai Church of Tay Ninh in the Hoa Phong Parish have made specific contributions to the patriotic movement, development of production, poverty reduction, and building a new rural life in residential areas and communes of Hoa Vang district of Da Nang.
DANANG CENTER FOR TOURISM PROMOTION