Looking into Peace & Enlightenment!(Cao Daism)

is a religion unique to Southern Vietnam, established inthe early 1920's, & officially codified in1926. The functioning center of Cao Daism is located in the Tay Ninh province, border to Cambordia.

Cao Dai is an attempt to create a perfect synthesis of world religions, a combination of Christianity, Buddhism , Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Geniism, and Taoism. Cao Dai literally means high tower or palace, a metaphor for the spender of spiritual growth.

These faiths are represented in Cao Dai theology through such concepts as reincarnation, vegetarianism and yin and yang and also on the Cao Dai banner - a tri-colour with one colour for each religion.

Services at the temple, held daily at noon, 6 pm, midnight and 6 am, offer another glimpse of this East-meets-West eclecticism. An orchestra of 10 musicians and a choir of20 youths lead the congregation in prayer. The hymns aremuch closer to Christian spirituals than traditional Buddhist or Taoist chanting, but the music is unmistakablyVietnamese. The mix, neither wholly Vietnamese nor wholly Western, is both very exotic and incredibly spiritual. During the forty-minute prayer session, a CaoDai follower explains, the presence of God comes into thechapel and gazes out at the congregation through the Divine Eye.

Worshippers are separated by gender - men on the right and women on the left. In contrast to the vivid colours ofthe temple, lay followers and women wear pure white.

Men with the rank of priest and higher are robed in solidcolours depending on their spiritual allegiance within Caodaism: yellow (symbolizing Buddhism and virtue), blue (Taoism and pacifism) or red (Confucianism and authority). Bishops and cardinals also have an eye emblazoned on their headpieces.

In this picture, I place emphasis on the 2 pillars framing the followers (which I apply a slight Gaussian blur) to show them in their prayers for peace & enlightenment.http://c14.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=1811498&java=0&security=817ed18c&invisible=1

Cai Daism is a unique religion in South Vietnam that combines

Christianity, Buddhism , Islam, Confucianism, Hinduism, Geniism. A

somewhat strange but interesting religion. Thanks for viewing &

feedback.

Very nice composition, colors and usage of DOF. Congrats !

Cherlyn, it is super interesting information , go's very well with the image, it is the first time I hear about that religion. thanks for both the information and rich details in the image. Pnina

Gran colorido, excelente luz, y gran calidad de encuadre, perfectos tonos y una buena profundidad, saludos cordiales Cherlyn.

Beautiful colors & composition. Best regards.

Unique interiors shot with nice effect of bird's eye view & great focus on foreground, vibrant colors, good balance on exposure, very interesting & impressive capture, Cherlyn!!! Best regards.

Very well composed Cherlyn - very ...

 

Thanks for the write up too - interesting.

Very nice and original shot, well done.

excellent composition and color. i really liked the natural frame of the pillars.i think it adds a lot to the composition.congrats my dear friend.also excellent choice of aperture my friend.

Interesting composition, framed nicely on the sides and I like the colors as well.

This is a very interesting religion as well and I like the idea of combining the teachings of all these religions together as not all good things are written in ONE book.

Cheers.

Hi Cherlyn I saw the thumbnail, and I thought what is this!!!! seeing it larger, I am surprised and thrilled about the focus on the pilars, a different presenatation on a beautifull telling picture, thanks for sharing this picture with the story

 

Els

Excellent photography!Very well done,Cherlyn!

Greetings,Jim

Interesting informations and a plenty of colours in a very well ballance shot,best to you,Radu.

Very good exposure,composition and colors,Cherlyn.Thanks for educating us about Cao Daism.

Beautiful colors,composition and exposure, seems like gnostisism, the religion I mean.

 

Nice information.

The best is yet to be huh?

Great idea to frame your photo with the pillars. I also like the way you use DOP. :) Use this for Travel Comp.

Cherlyn, what a capture and enlightenment!!!

 

Keep up the great work! May God be with you!

Great learning experience viewing this lovely piece. The framing with the pillars is beautiful..so crisp it looks superimposed (I know it isn't:) Very enlighting moment captured. Thank you for sharing....

Thanks everyone for your appreciation & feedback on this image & thanks Ben, I'll take your advise. I load this image to share the info of this unique religion, not available anywhere else & not heard much of. I only know of it when I am in Ho CHih Minh. Only their noon time prayers are open to tourist & visitors & it was a eye-opening experience for me.

Hi Cherlyn, very glad you went to this site. I have seen another Caodai site in Danang, central Vietnam but much smaller compared to this. I am sure this prime site is a sight to behold. Will look it up when I am in HCMC agauin. Did you go up the 2nd floor?

Excellent photo!!! Wonderful colors and DOF. I always wanted to visit that place... Who knows... maybe soon or later... Are you going to post other shots taken there?

Excellent and interesting shot! Nice use of the DOF

Wonderful view on the inside of this beautiful Temple dear Cherlyn :) great perspective and thank you so much for sharing the beauty of Viet Nam :)

 

Biliana