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Tay Ninh

Pictures by QT Luong

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Tay Ninh is the holy site of Caodaism, probably Vietnam's most curious indigenous religion. Caodaism, founded in 1926 by Ngo Minh Chieu, is an attempt at an ideal religion, using religious and philosophical traditions from the West and the East, including Buddhism, Confusianism, Taoism, Hinduism, native Vietnamese spiritism, Christianity and Islam. The eclectism of the religion is reflected in the Great Temple in Tay Ninh. Built between 1933 and 1955, it combines architectural elements of a church, a pagoda in an extravagant rocco style. The ceremony at the Great Cao Dai temple has a visually beautiful ritual, with the ordinary clergy in white robes and only the high priests wearing color. Traditional music is sung and played as well. The ceremony takes place four times a day, noon beeing the most convenient for visitors, who are admitted on upstairs balconies.

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The great Cao Dai temple, with oriental and occidental features. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Facade of the Great Caodai Temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Great Temple of Cao Dai facade. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai Holy See facade. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Sideways view of Great Temple of Cao Dai. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai follower and temple detail. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) The Cao Dai religion most noteworthy symbol is the all seeing  eye. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai eye, detail of the great temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Globe with Cao Dai eye inside the great temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai saints: Chinese revolutionary leader Sen, French poet Hugo, and vietnamese poet Nguyen Binh Khiem. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Rows of worshippers in Great Temple of Cao Dai. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Rows of worshippers in Cao Dai Holy See. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Dignitaries (in colored robes) and other followers praying at the Main hall, Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Interior of the Great Caodai Temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) The noon ceremony, attended by priests inside the great Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai followers during a service inside Holy See. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) The noon ceremony, attended by priests inside the great Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Ceremony inside Great Temple of Cao Dai. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Priests and ornate columns inside the Great Caodai Temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Column and worshippers, Cao Dai Holy See temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) The noon ceremony, attended by priests inside the great Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Noon ceremony inside Cao Dai Holy See temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Cao Dai dignitaries wearing red (Confucian), blue (Taois) and yellow (Buddhist). Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Worshippers dressed in white stand in rows in Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Men and women dressed in white stand in opposing rows in Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Worshippers dressed in white pray in neat rows in Cao Dai temple. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Traditional musicians during the noon ceremony. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color) Musicians on mezzanine, Great Temple of Cao Dai. Tay Ninh, Vietnam ( color)
There are 28 color pictures of Tay Ninh on this page