Lê Van Trung
Encyclopedia
Lê Văn Trung was the first acting Giáo Tông of Cao Đài
.
The term Giáo Tông means “leader or head of a religious group”. Translators noticed similarities between the structural hierarchy of Caodaiism and the Roman Catholic Church, and, for lack of better words or whatever reasons, borrowed terminologies such as pope
, cardinal, bishop, priest, etc. In practice, Caodaiism has many more ranks and titles of which there are no official English translation as of yet. Also, the actual Vietnamese term for “pope”, as in “The Catholic Pope”, is Giáo Hoàng.
In 1926, Lê Văn Trung believed a great Chinese poet had contacted him during a séance
to give him a religious mission in life. This led to his signing the “Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Đài Religion” on October 7, 1926. This formally announced the founding of the religion to the world. The declaration he signed affirmed principles that combined Buddhism
, Taoism
, Confucianism
, Christianity
, spiritism
and others.
Before this, Ngô Văn Chiêu
had declined his appointment as Pope and withdrew to represent a more esoteric form of the faith. Lê Văn Trung took the more exoteric
approach, becoming their leader and acting Pope. After his disincarnation in 1934, Venerable Phạm Công Tắc, who was also the Maintainer of the Laws/Dharma
, assumed the role.
Cao Dai
Cao Đài is a syncretistic, monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tay Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. Đạo Cao Đài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ...
.
The term Giáo Tông means “leader or head of a religious group”. Translators noticed similarities between the structural hierarchy of Caodaiism and the Roman Catholic Church, and, for lack of better words or whatever reasons, borrowed terminologies such as pope
Pope (disambiguation)
Pope is a religious title traditionally accorded to the Bishop of Alexandria and the Bishop of Rome, as well as several other religious figures. The title Papa was first used by Pope Heraclas of Alexandria who was the thirteenth Bishop of Alexandria, from 232 to 249...
, cardinal, bishop, priest, etc. In practice, Caodaiism has many more ranks and titles of which there are no official English translation as of yet. Also, the actual Vietnamese term for “pope”, as in “The Catholic Pope”, is Giáo Hoàng.
In 1926, Lê Văn Trung believed a great Chinese poet had contacted him during a séance
Séance
A séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...
to give him a religious mission in life. This led to his signing the “Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Đài Religion” on October 7, 1926. This formally announced the founding of the religion to the world. The declaration he signed affirmed principles that combined Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, spiritism
Spiritism
Spiritism is a loose corpus of religious faiths having in common the general belief in the survival of a spirit after death. In a stricter sense, it is the religion, beliefs and practices of the people affiliated to the International Spiritist Union, based on the works of Allan Kardec and others...
and others.
Before this, Ngô Văn Chiêu
Ngô Van Chiêu
Ngô Văn Chiêu was the first disciple of Đức Cao Đài. His religious name is Ngô Minh Chiêu. He was born in 1878 and raised by his aunt. He developed an interest in Chinese folk religion during this period. Later he served in the colonial bureaucracy and developed a fascination with spiritism...
had declined his appointment as Pope and withdrew to represent a more esoteric form of the faith. Lê Văn Trung took the more exoteric
Exoteric
Exoteric refers to knowledge that is outside of and independent from anyone's experience and can be ascertained by anyone. Compare Common sense. It is distinguished from internal esoteric knowledge. Exoteric relates to "external reality" as opposed to one's own thoughts or feelings. It is knowledge...
approach, becoming their leader and acting Pope. After his disincarnation in 1934, Venerable Phạm Công Tắc, who was also the Maintainer of the Laws/Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, assumed the role.