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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

What is Cao Dai

About this recording

Creator
Kristin Post
Date created
February 2, 2001
Duration
5:36
Location
DaNang, Vietnam
File
MP3
License
This recording copyright ©2001. Terms of use

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Cao Dai is a relatively new religion in Vietnam, created in 1926. The temples and religion are full of important visual imagery.

Here a young Vietnamese girl from DaNang explains in English some of the visual symbols and important traditions of her religion.

From my journal:

“Went to Cao Dai temple- where I stumbled on a very important occasion- I think something like Christmas for Christians. I was assisted by two very sweet girls who explained a bit about the religion.” (I have never figured out if this was an important occasion or not, but I witnessed a religious service that occurs four times daily.)

Transcript

Girl
Say you, tell you something I know. And, um, I speak English not well, so I afraid.
Kristin
No, it’s very good, your English is very good. So, all religions have the same reasons…
Girl
Yes.
Kristin
So, you have one God or many gods? When you pray?
Girl
Yes, our religion. Our religion have the same reason to appear. This way or that way is not important.
Kristin
And then, what is this here?
Girl
This is the altar of the Lord God. I can tell you something about (?) altar. The Lord God, he teach us that his holi..his holiness never need anything for himselves. The altar is a place to remind people about…to remind people about existence of the holy word. Yes.
Kristin
mm hmm.
Girl
The oil lamp. The oil lamp, do you see?
Kristin
mm hmm.
Girl
Vietnamese…in Vietnamese call…Vietnamese call..[says in Vietnamese].
Kristin
[Repeat Vietnamese.]
Girl
Yes. The oil lamp symbolize um. Symbolize the origin..origin of the universe. This oil lamp produce two lights. Left light and right light. These two lights are two movies, two movies driving power like yin and yang. Anode and cathode in your battery. Which integrate..integrate into each other to produce all living things. Yes. The worshipping are wine, tea and flowers of five colors. But um. Not enough five colors. Yes. (laughs) You see? Five colors. Wine symbolize…symbolize…
Kristin
Peace? (laughs)
Girl
Vitality. Yes. Tea signifies spirits. And flowers incense. Incense, vitality spirit are three basic components forming all living beings.
Kristin
mm hmm.
Girl
Yes, in short, in short the decoration on the Cao Dai temple…mm..is um…to remind people about the…remind people of the great, great universe, the humanity and the power of the Lord God. Yes.
Kristin
Is something special going on today here? Today many people are dressed in white.
Girl
Yes. This is the day of the Lord God. [she speaks to her friend in broken English and Vietnamese. She is searching for a word- “omelet” and “Canada” and “lunar” stand out, though it’s clear she’s not wanting to say “omelet.”] In eight..every year…eight…eight…of January…this is the day of the Lord God. But um…not…[speaks in English/Vietnamese, laughs.]
Kristin
Yes?
Girl
They…I forgot say that word. (laughs)
Kristin
Amulet? Amlet? Amulet? Is this the word you’re? Is it pray? or birthday? or about what you do here for this day…this word you forgot…yes?
Girl
Yes, I forgot. Cal…in calendar…the big number and the small number (laughs) we uh…eight…January, small number…the day of the Lord God.
Kristin
Every month.
Girl
No, no no. Every year.

*I am not sure about the word she was looking for. However, the special day may have been the Festival for the commemoration of God the Father. This important festival is celebrated on the 9th day of the first lunar month.