Official Declaration

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OFFICIAL DECLARATION
ADDRESSED BY THE FOUNDERS OF CAODAISM
TO MR. LE FOL, THE GOVERNOR OF COCHINCHINA IN SAIGON

Saigon, 7 October 1926

To The Governor of Cochinchina.
SAIGON.

The Governor,

We, the undersigned, have the honor to respectfully inform you of the followings:
There have been in Indochina three Religions (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism).
Our ancestors practiced religiously those three doctrines and lived happily by strictly
following the beautiful precepts laid down by the founders of those religions.

During that ancient time, people were so carefree that they could sleep without having to
close their doors. People disdained even picking up unclaimed objects on the street. Such
proverb was recorded in our annals as followed: "Gia vô bế hộ, lộ bất thập di".

Alas! That beautiful time no longer exists for the following reasons:

1. The practitioners of those religions have sought to be divided from one another,
even though the aim of all those three religions is the same: to practice good and
avoid evil, and to piously worship the Creator.

2. They have completely distorted the significance of the saintly and precious
doctrines.

3. The path leading to comfort, honor, and human ambitions is also the major cause
for the divergence of actual opinions. The Annamites (Vietnamese) nowadays
have completely abandoned the good morals and traditions of former times.

Disheartened by this state of affairs, a group of Annamites, fervent traditionalists and
religious people, have studied how to reorganise all these religions to form a single and
unique religion called Caodaism or the Đại-Đạo (Great Way).

Fortunately for humanity, the Supreme Being has come under the name of NGỌC-
HOÀNG THƯỢNG-ĐẾ called Cao-Đài or "The Very High / The Almighty God".

The name "ĐẠI-ĐẠO TAM KỲ PHỔ-ĐỘ", which means the Third Universal Amnesty,
has been given by the Supreme Being who has come to help us found this new religion.

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Through the intermediary of medium-scribes, Ngọc-Hoàng Thượng-Đế conveyed to us
the divine teachings, which sought to reconcile and to teach the beautiful precepts of the
three former religions.

Caodaism will teach people:

1. The high morality of Confucius.
2. The virtues prescribed in the Buddhism and Taoism teachings. These virtues

consist of practicing good and avoiding evil, loving humanity, practicing harmony,
and totally avoiding dissension and war.

We have the honor to send the following for your considerations:

1. Some extracts from the book of "Holy Scriptures" of Ngọc-Hoàng Thượng-Đế, the
teachings are considered more precious than any existing ones.

2. The translation of some passages from the "Book of Prayers" that Ngọc-Hoàng
Thượng-Đế taught us.

Our pursued aim is to lead humanity back to the peace and harmony of the former times.
Humanity will thus be led towards a new era so happy that no words can describe it.

On behalf of a large number of Annamites, who have completely accepted these studies,
we, the undersigned, have the honor to respectfully declare to you that: from today, we
propagate this Holy Doctrine to all humanity.

Persuaded in advance that this New Religion will bring to us all Peace and Harmony, the
undersigned request you to receive officially their declaration.

We solicit you, the Governor, to accept the assurance of our respectful and devoted
sentiments.

Signed:

1. Mme Lâm Ngọc Thanh Proprietor in Vũng-Liêm, Vĩnh-Long Province.

2. Mr. Lê văn Trung Former Member of the Government Council.

3. Mr. Lê văn Lịch Buddhist Monk, Long-An village, Chợ-Lớn.

4. Mr. Trần Đạo Quang Buddhist Monk, Hạnh-Thông-Tây village, Gia-Định.

5. Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Tương Administrative Delegate, Phủ rank, Chief of Cần-Giuộc

District.

6. Mr. Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ Propriétor, Saigon.

7. Mr. Lê Bá Trang Administrative Delegate, Đốc-Phủ-Sứ rank, Chợ-Lớn.

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8. Mr. Vương Quan Kỳ Administrative Delegate, Phủ rank, Taxation Office,

9. Mr. Nguyễn văn Kinh Saigon.
10. Mr. Ngô Tường Vân Religious dignitary at Bình-Lý Thôn, Gia-Định.
11. Mr. Nguyễn văn Đạt
12. Mr. Ngô văn Kim Secretary in the Public Works Bureau, Saigon.

13. Mr. Đoàn văn Bản Propriétor, Saigon.
14. Mr. Lê văn Giảng Land owner, Đại Hương-Cả (Chief of Village
15. Mr. Huỳnh văn Giỏi Administrative) Cần-Giuộc, Long-An Province.
16. Mr. Nguyễn văn Tường Principal of Cầu-Kho Primary School, Saigon.

17. Mr. Cao Quỳnh Cư Accountant at Ippolito, Saigon.
18. Mr. Phạm Công Tắc
Secretary at the Immigration Bureau, Saigon.
19. Mr. Cao Hoài Sang
Interpreter at Police Commissariat in 2nd District,
20. Mr. Nguyễn Trung Hậu
21. Mr. Trương Hữu Đức Saigon.
22. Mr. Huỳnh Trung Tuất
23. Mr. Nguyễn văn Chức Secretary at the Railway Office, Saigon.
24. Mr. Lại văn Hành
25. Mr. Nguyễn văn Trò Secretary at the Customs and Monopolies Bureau,
26. Mr. Nguyễn văn Hương
27. Mr. Võ văn Kính Saigon.
28. Mr. Phạm văn Tý
Secretary at the Customs and Monopolies Bureau,

Saigon.
Principal of a Private School in Đa-kao, Saigon.

Secretary at the Railway Office, Saigon.
Propriétor in Chợ-Đủi, Saigon.
Chief of Canton (Cai-Tổng), Chợ-Lớn.
Hương-Cả (Chief of Village Administrative), Chợ-Lớn.

Teacher, Saigon.
Teacher in Đa-kao, Saigon.
Teacher in Cần-Giuộc, Chợ-Lớn.
Teacher in Cần-Giuộc, Chợ-Lớn.

_____________________

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DÉCLARATION OFFICIELLE
ADRESSÉE PAR LES FONDATEURS DU CAODAISME

À M. LE FOL, GOUVERNEUR DE LA COHINCHINE

Saigon, le 7 Octobre 1926.

Monsieur le Gouverneur,

Les soussignés, ont l'honneur de venir respectueu-sement vous faire connaïtre ce qui suit:

Il existait en Indochine Trois Religions (Bouddhisme, Taoisme, Confucianisme). Nos
ancêtres pratiquaient religieusement ces trois doctrines et vivaient heureux en suivant
strictement les beaux préceptes dictés par les Créateurs de ces religions.

On était, pendant cet ancien temps, tellement insoucieux qu'on pouvait dormir sans
fermer les portes et qu'on dédaignait même de ramasser les objets tombés dans la rue (Gia
vô bế hộ, lộ bất thập di), tel est l'adage inscrit dans nos annales.

Hélas! Ce beau temps n'existe plus pour les raisons suivantes:

1. Les pratiquants de ces religions ont cherché à se diviser, tandis que le but de toutes les
religions est le même: Faire le bien et éviter le mal, adorer pieusement le Créateur.

2. Ils ont dénaturé complètement la signification de ces saintes et précieuses doctrines.

3. La course au confort, à l'honneur, l'ambition des gens, sont aussi des causes principales
des divergences d'opinions actuelles. Les Annamites de nos jours ont complètement
abandonné les bonnes moeurs et traditions de l'ancien temps.

Ecoeurés de cet état de choses, un groupe d'Annamites, fervents traditionalistes et
religieux, ont étudié la refonte de toutes ces religions, pour n'en former qu'une seule et
unique appelée CAODAISME ou ĐẠI ĐẠO.

Le nom "ĐẠI ĐẠO TAM KỲ PHỔ ĐỘ", qui signifie la Troisième Amnistie Générale,
est donné par l'Esprit Suprême qui est venu aider les soussignés à fonder cette Nouvelle
Religion.

L'Esprit Suprême est venu sous le nom de NGỌC HOÀNG THƯỢNG ĐẾ dit CAO ĐÀI
ou "LE TRÈS HAUT, DIEU TOUT PUISSANT ".

Par l'intermédiaire de médiums écrivants, Ngọc Hoàng Thượng Đế transmet au
soussignés des enseignements divins ayant pour but de concentrer et d'enseigner les
beaux préceptes de ces Trois Anciennes Religions.

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La Nouvelle Doctrine enseignera aux peuples:
1. La haute morale de Confucius.
2. Les vertus dictées dans les religions bouddhique et taoique.
Ces vertus consistant à faire le bien et éviter le mal, aimer l'humanité, pratiquer la
concorde, éviter totalement la dissention et la guerre.
Les soussignés ont l'honneur de vous soumettre:
1. Quelques extraits du recueil des "Saintes Paroles" de Ngọc Hoàng Thượng Đế, paroles
estimées plus précieuses que tout ce qui existe ici-bas.
2. La traduction de quelques passages du livre de prières que Ngọc Hoàng Thượng Đế
nous a enseignées.
Le but poursuivi par les soussignés est de ramener les peuples à l'ancien temps de paix et
de concorde. On sera ainsi dirigé vers une époque nouvelle tellement heureuse qu'il est
difficile de la décrire.
Au nom de très nombreux Annamites qui ont entière- ment approuvé ces études et dont la
liste est ci-jointe, les soussignés ont l'honneur de venir respectueusement vous déclarer
qu'ils vont propager à l'humanité entière cette Sainte Doctrine.
Persuadés d'avance de cette Nouvelle Religion apportera à nous tous la paix et la
concorde, les soussignés vous prient de recevoir officiellement leur déclaration.
Les soussignés vous prient d'agréer, Monsieur le Gouverneur, l'assurance de leurs
sentiments respectueux et dévoués.
Ont signé:
Mme LÂM NGỌC THANH,
M. LÊ VĂN TRUNG,
…

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