Top 10 Deities Revered in Cao Dai

At the pinnacle of the spiritual hierarchy in Cao Dai is depicted an eye, symbolizing the supreme entity of Cao Dai, known as Celestial Eye - the eye of heaven. This eye, appearing amidst the clouds, emits rays of divine light. Only one eye is depicted instead of a pair because the supreme deity is singular, with a single polarity. Qi Void gave birth to a Master, and the abode of the Master is Thai Cuc, drawing the eye on the left side, as the left side corresponds to the Yang element, and the Lord Chí Tôn is the master of Yang Light, hence the left eye symbolizes Lord Chí Tôn. The depiction of the eye is always wide open, signifying that Lord Chí Tôn can see everything clearly, knows everything, and nothing can be hidden from the heavens. Below the Celestial Eye is a big star, which is the Big Dipper. On either side of the Big Dipper are depictions of the moon and the sun.

Worshipping the Celestial Eye holds a profound significance. Any nation can draw an eye to worship, so the depiction of the eye is not ethnically biased, making it universal and inclusive. Furthermore, Lord Chí Tôn is the Great Parent of all sentient beings, not exclusive to any race. When worshiping the eye as Lord Chí Tôn, one hopes for humanity to transcend national and ethnic differences, seeing each other as siblings, the children of Lord Chí Tôn and the Divine Mother.

Revered Laozi, also known as Laozi, Lao Gong, Laozi, Daoist Master, appeared in China around the 6th century BC, meaning it's been over 2500 years. Daoism has influenced every aspect of Chinese life such as medicine, biology, politics, martial arts, music, philosophy, etc. He sits to the right of Lord Buddha Thich Ca, wearing a green robe, holding a master's whisk, with white beard, and head uncovered. He is the Master of the First Religion.

Laozi is a great philosopher and thinker, having a profound influence and importance for Eastern philosophy and later humanity. It can be said that he can be compared to some thinkers like Confucius in the history of ancient Chinese philosophy. Therefore, his teachings and thoughts have an important position and significant influence on later generations.

Lord Buddha Thich Ca Mau Ni (Sanskrit for Shakyamuni meaning Thich Ca Mau Ni), also known as Lord Buddha (Buddha - meaning the enlightened one), sits in the center, adorned in golden robes, seated cross-legged on a lotus throne. He is a great philosopher, moralist, enlightened being, the Master of Buddhism, and a symbol of peace in a world fraught with turmoil due to human conflicts. Over thousands of years, His teachings have guided billions of Buddhists worldwide to live by the ethical principles of Buddhism. Today, not only in the East but also in the West, more and more people seek enlightenment, following the Noble Eightfold Path in His scriptures.

Although some may argue that the world is becoming more civilized and that religion, in general, and Buddhism, in particular, will eventually cease to influence the spirit of the world, the gods are gradually forgotten. But it turns out not to be so. Humans may have more machines, move faster, work more efficiently, understand their bodies better, and excel in politics, but the human mind remains unresolved. People still ponder philosophical questions: “Where do I come from? What should I do? And where will I go when I die?”

The World Buddhist Conference chooses the full moon day of April each year to commemorate the birth of Lord Buddha for easy remembrance; however, in Caodaism, the tradition remains on the 8th of April.

Lord Ly Thai Bach, seated in the middle, right below Lord Buddha Thich Ca, with long and black beard, wearing a square hat. He is a Great Senior Immortal (Buddha's rank), appointed by the Divine Eye as the First Supervisor of the Dreadful Law during the Period of Universal Salvation, holding the authority of the Immortal religion, during the Period of Universal Salvation, concurrently serving as the Pope of the Great Way of Universal Salvation, that is, the Pope of Caodaism.

Lord Ly Thai Bach was born in 701 during the reign of Emperor Wudi (Empress Dowager of Emperor Caozong), in Xương Minh district, West Thục land. His mother dreamt of the White Star (also known as Canh Truong or Kim Tinh) falling into her womb and giving birth to Ly, so she named him Ly Thai Bach, also known as Ly Bach.

Ly Bach was born with a beautiful appearance and a noble character. At the age of 10, he could read the Hundred Family Surnames, and many praised him as a genius. At the age of 15, while learning swordsmanship, he also practiced literature, composing poems that were considered divine by everyone, known as Ly Trich Tien.

Lord Confucius (September 28, 551 BCE – April 11, 479 BCE) was a Chinese philosopher and politician, living in the Spring and Autumn period. He was the most exemplary moral philosopher in China. His teachings and principles formed the foundation of East Asian culture. Lord Confucius sits to the left of Lord Thich Ca, wearing a pink robe, with white beard and a hat. He is the Supreme Master of Confucianism.

Thanks to Confucius, Confucianism could develop vigorously and become a systematic and perfect philosophy, focusing on humanism. No doctrine can teach humanity as perfectly as Confucianism.

Therefore, using the essence of this philosophy, the supreme lord has brought humanity into a new social order and established an era of righteousness. This is the path of Confucianism that the Caodaist sect has chosen, the direction of an era that humanity is facing amidst disasters: war, natural disasters, declining society and morals, and an unstable world.

Based on cultivation, Caodaist believers must first complete the entirety of Humanism before stepping into Divine Dao, Celestial Dao, then Buddhist Dao... This was affirmed by the Supreme Being in the Teachings:

'Let go of the incomplete Humanism,

What hope is there in reaching the Divine Dao?'

Thus, in this row is the image of the Three Supreme Masters of the Triple Religion during the Second Universal Salvation Era.

Lord Saint Emperor Quan, originally a Dragon God from ancient times. To save sentient beings from suffering and endless wars, he reincarnated as a military general during the Three Kingdoms period in China, about 2200 years ago. He sits to the left of Lord Lý Thái Bạch, wearing a green robe, with long black beard, flipping through the Spring and Autumn Annals. He is the Grand General Oai Nghiêm, representing Lord Confucius, overseeing Confucianism during the Third Universal Salvation Era.

His skin is flushed, wearing a dark green military uniform with thin armor, no metal crown on his head, but a cloth scarf. Due to his origin as a dragon deity, upon reincarnation, there is a large cartilage lump on his forehead, which is the mark of a dragon horn.

His virtue encompasses both literary and martial arts, loyalty and integrity, and specializes in eradicating evil. He bases his philosophy of life on the Spring and Autumn Annals. People believe that as long as they worship his image, they will not have to worry about being harassed by evil spirits. Seeing his image, family members will remember his virtues, leading a righteous and accomplished life.

The Three Lords: Lý Thái Bạch, Quan Âm Bồ Tát, Saint Emperor Quan, are the Grand Generals Oai Nghiêm of Caodaism, overseeing the Triple Religion during the Third Universal Salvation Era.

Lord Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, also known as Quan Yin Bodhisattva, is a female Buddha, but bearing the title of Bodhisattva, hearing the cries of sentient beings in the mortal realm to manifest and offer assistance. She sits to the right of Lord Lý Thái Bạch, the Buddha seated on a lotus throne, draped in yellow robes, wearing a crown, holding a pure vase with willow branches, and a seal in her left hand. She holds the position of Second Grand General Oai Nghiêm, representing Lord Buddha Shakyamuni in overseeing Buddhism during the Third Universal Salvation Era.

Quan Yin Bodhisattva is the Bodhisattva who hears the voices of all beings in the world, immediately manifesting and aiding all beings in escaping suffering. Any individual in the world facing life-threatening dangers such as fire, drowning, theft, injury, torture, wrongful imprisonment, etc., if sincerely reciting her name for help, she will promptly appear to save and rescue.

Lord High Residence Dental sits in the middle, right below Lord Jesus, without wearing a robe, with white beard, wearing a yellow robe, holding the Divine Whip in his right hand, and the Compassionate Stick in his left hand. He holds the Tablet of Divine Appointment, leading the Celestial Hierarchy.

He is the divine founder of the Western Chu dynasty, establishing the culture of Tề, as well as being a military strategist, philosopher, and statesman. Confucianists, Taoists, Buddhists, and soldiers all consider him to share the same ideology, with ancient reverence as the 'Master of a Hundred Families.'

Historical records indicate that Lord Khương Thượng Tử Nha lived to be 139 years old. According to many interpretations, after reaching a certain stage of cultivation, one can expand wisdom and extend lifespan. He practiced asceticism for 40 years, not only prolonging his life but also realizing many truths that ordinary people cannot comprehend. After another 10 years of rigorous practice, he finally achieved enlightenment and a long-lasting great career.

Because Lord Khương Thượng Tử Nha has carried an honorable and just mission since the time of the Celestial Hierarchy, today in the Third Epoch of Universal Deliverance, he is entrusted with responsibilities by the Supreme Being. After transparent review, the Cao Đài religion venerates Lord Khương Thượng Tử Nha as a Divine Being.