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Cao Dai ceremony


Cao Dai ceremony
Photo Information
Copyright: Hans Spruijt (GreenBaron) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3077 W: 778 N: 9414] (37645)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-09
Camera: Nikon D70s, Sigma 18-50 3.5-5.6 DC, Hitachi4GBMicrodrive, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/3.3, 1/45 seconds
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: My Trip Through south east Asia
Theme(s): Religious houses in the world, Round trip through Indochina, Green Baron's most recent pictures on TL [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-24 3:27
Viewed: 725
Points: 76
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cao Dai

Took this shot in Tay Minh, Vietnam in the temple of the Cao Dai. Before I went to Vietnam I had never heard of this religion, until I read my National Geographic guide to Vietnam. During my visit the four(!) daily ceremony was being served. Boy what a show. We have Sinterklaas het in the Netherlands the rest of the world Santa Claus and the Cao Dai have their Disney Priest. That how I think about it. Religion is not really my cup of tea, but if the show is good I like to make pictures.

During the 40 minutes the ceremony was ongoing a choir of six young girls who were “singing” a chorus, without any break, amazing. Anyway below you can read what this Cao Dai religion is, copied from the Wikipedia.

In the WS you find a picture of the temple of the Cao Dai in Tay Minh.

PP-work:
Slight crop, adjusting curves and levels. Resized and sharpen. Add frame and text.

Camera settings:
ISO:400ASA
Shutter speed: 1/45
Aperture: f/3.3
Compensation: 0
Focal length 28mm

Cao Dai

Caodaism (Vietnamese: Cao Đài) is a relatively new, syncretist, monotheistic religion, officially established in Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. Đạo Cao Đài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ (Great Religion of The Third Period of Revelation and Salvation). The term Cao Đài literally means "high place." Figuratively, it means that highest place where God reigns. It is also the abbreviated name for God, the creator of the universe, whose full title is Cao Đài Tiên Ông Đại Bồ Tát Ma-ha-tát (Chữ Nôm: translation: High Place Great Heavenly Emperor Bodhisattva Mahasattva).

Caodaiists credit God as the religion's founder. They believe the teachings, symbolism and organization were communicated directly from God. Even the construction of the Tây Ninh Holy See is claimed to have had divine guidance. Cao Đài's first disciples Ngô Văn Chiêu, Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc, and Cao Hoài Sang claimed to have received direct communications from God, who gave them explicit instructions for establishing a new religion that would commence the Third Era of Religious Amnesty.

Adherents engage in ethical practices such as prayer, veneration of ancestors, nonviolence, and vegetarianism with the minimum goal of rejoining God the Father in Heaven and the ultimate goal of freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Estimates of the number of Cao Đài adherents in Vietnam vary, but most sources give two to three million. Some estimates are as high as eight million adherents in Vietnam. An additional 30,000 (primarily ethnic Vietnamese) live in the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Origin of God and the universe

A pantheon of venerated entities: the Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Lao Zi, Guan Yin and Guan Yu.
According to Cao Dai, before God existed, there was the Tao, that nameless, formless, unchanging, eternal source referenced in the Tao Te Ching. Then, a Big Bang occurred, out of which God was born (emanationism ). The universe could not yet be formed and to do so, God created yin and yang. He took control of yang and shed a part of himself, creating the Goddess to preside over yin. In the presence of yin and yang, the universe was materialized. The Goddess is, literally, the mother of the myriad of things in the Universe. Thus, Caodaiists worship not only God, the father, but also the Goddess, literally refer to as the Mother Buddha. Note that God's importance and role is higher than that of the Mother Buddha. Also, the Mother Buddha is male, as are all buddhas. The Mother Buddha only oversees yin and is not a part of yin, which is female.
There are 36 levels of heaven and 72 planets harboring intelligent life, with number one being the closest to heaven and 72 nearest to Hell. Earth is number 68. It is said that even the lowest citizen on planet 67 would not trade place with a king on 68 and so forth. (Reference: Wikipedia.com)
Kilted-Arab, Liberty, dareco, Janone, kokos101, Maite, zomik, norenastramus, espanek, Silke, nova, shelbeesmom, mvdisco, limba3, Ejtaan, Tomek, tjutjut, coed1992, Dpbours, puffy, deains, Marylou, janneman has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ruudblok: BekendGreenBaron 1 11-25 09:52
To Claudine: AnsGreenBaron 3 11-24 14:17
To Helkoryo: BlushGreenBaron 2 11-24 07:43
To limba3: GalleryGreenBaron 1 11-24 07:29
To norenastramus: Dutch!GreenBaron 1 11-24 04:33
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Critiques [Translate]

That's pretty damned weird - we are right next to each other today! Creepy!!

This is a really interesting view - nice repetitions, patterns, colours and a great note to put the whole scene in context. This genuinely is a very interesting posting, Big Fella - excellent stuff. Really looking forward to your daily contributions to the site, very envious of the trip you did!

Wow ! Good POV. Fulls of colors and details. Well seen Hans.
TFS.

Josée

This is such an interesting picture to look at. LOTS to see! :) This temple is very very beautiful. Thanks for giving us a peek into this place and this view of daily life.

  •      
  • Janone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3295 W: 84 N: 2609] (17493)
  • [2007-11-24 3:45]

Let the 'show'go on.!
Very interesting picture, Hans. It sounds wonderful.
You sure had a great view over it. Well done.
Groetjes, Jan

Kijk Hans
deze vind ik nu weer echt mooi
super goede kleuren en goed van scherpte

hello hans!
wonderful photo with so beauty colors and great sharpness.
wonderful interior shot.
tfs
zoran

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 237 W: 3 N: 200] (1295)
  • [2007-11-24 4:14]

What a curious place and curious people, Vietnam!!
Magnificent picture, Hans! Excellent sharpness, POV, DOF, colors and composition. And very interesting note too.
My compliments and best regards
Maite

Hallo Hans. Uitstekende samenstelling en kleuren. Grote scherpte, POV, DOF en mooi kader. Goed-gedaan mijn vriend.
Groeten.
H.Ayhan

  • Great 
  • jawa Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1658 W: 0 N: 1] (10667)
  • [2007-11-24 4:48]

Hallo Hans
Zeer mooi geregistreerd.Mooie belichting.
Gr Jos

Hello Hans.
Fantastic colorful shot. Well composed with great feeling of depth. So much to look at.
TFS
Wojciech

Great POV, loads of details and great colours - a superb capture of a slice of daily life.
Thanks for sharing
Mark

  • Great 
  • Ruut Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 278 W: 8 N: 33] (1261)
  • [2007-11-24 5:09]

Hallo Hans,
Mooie foto door het overzicht wat je uitbeeldt.
De pilaren in perspectief, de mensen in 'blokken'
De kleuren voegen hier nog een extra accent aan toe.
Wees er trots op.
Groet,
Ruut

  • Great 
  • Loon Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 120 W: 11 N: 91] (1159)
  • [2007-11-24 5:47]

Hey Hans,
You know what baffles me most?
The relative large DOF you got with only F3.3
From this really noisy and colorful scene you created a relative balanced picture with this pov.
Very well done my friend, I'm impressed
TFS
Loon

  • Great 
  • nova Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2936 W: 264 N: 831] (8089)
  • [2007-11-24 5:49]

Very interesting documentary and jounalistic picture,we do not often see that kind od image.The POV is superb and the colors awesome.Great moment captured here.Nice notes.TFS
Michel

Very shot shot here Hans! Great details, a nice indoor shot without a flash! 36 more levels to heaven??? Oh gawd, I'll never make it! I think when we all get to heaven, we will say, "What was all that down there? What were we thinking? It was SO simple!...one God, one universe, one planet. Why did we fight about it?"
Great shot Hans!
Linda
B-)

  • Great 
  • ttreen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1567 W: 118 N: 3550] (14211)
  • [2007-11-24 6:35]

Hello Hans,
I like the way you have captured 2 separate worlds here..
Lots of colors to look at.. those pillars are amazing.. nice details..

Tricia

  • Great 
  • zomik Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 196 W: 56 N: 143] (2181)
  • [2007-11-24 6:40]

Hello Hans,
Thanks, you are showing us such places.:) Wonderful POV, beautiful colours and the sharpness.
TFS
Greetings
Zosia

Hi Hans,
What a beautiful colours place !! WoW! Great shot and Point of view to see, very sharp and light picture and details, very very well done.Have a nice day..:)
Michel

Hi Hans
Super. Nice you showed it us. Beautiful colours and the POV. Whether there at the top it is gallery for touring?
You had the wonderful travel.
Anna

  • Great 
  • linus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1404 W: 12 N: 663] (9211)
  • [2007-11-24 7:31]

Hi Hans,
Very interesting photo, well composed and with such vibrant colours.
Sunil

Hey there Hansie

I see you two are side by side today lol.

Fantastic capture here, what am amazing building, love the way you have used the support on the right as a natural style frame, wonderful angle for the shot giving an excellentPOV.Nice and sharp with good colour. 10/10 here I think.Love it :-)

TFS regards Smurfie

Hi Hans,
good to have you back and nice to see all your wonderful shots. This place is wonderful and I hope to see it sometime with my own eyes.
Must be an impressive ceremony.
I planned to go to Vietnam in December, but no free places left for us, I wonder, this country must be very popular in these days.
Now we are going to Egypt at the 4th of December. Thanks for your shots, bye and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Geweldige kleurensensatie en wat een tegelwerk hier!
Tja frame en letters zijn natuurlijk keigoed gekozen zoals vaak bij jou!
jan

  • Great 
  • cinca Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 298 W: 0 N: 57] (2726)
  • [2007-11-24 10:22]

hi Hans, great dof and sharpness in your image. Fine perspective create by columns and amazing colours too.
Best regards, ciao, Cinzia

Deze is echt mooi Hans. Wat een kleuren en typische afbeeldingen. Lekker veel diepte en scherpte in deze foto.
groeten,
Joop!

Hello Hans,
What an exuberant picture with exuberant POV :)! This is so beautiful! This exposure you chose is very stunning as DOF is so precise even at F 3.3??? We can clearly see great details and what to say about those colors and patterns. This is well realized and seen. I'll be back to read your notes carefully. Thanks!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • Ejtaan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 120 N: 1843] (9192)
  • [2007-11-24 14:21]

Wonderful, colorful image Hans. There is sooo much to see!
So many details and so mucht light! absolutely great!!
Also love the image of the outside of this building that you show in your workshop. It must have been a magical place....

Cheers,
Anneke

  • Great 
  • Tomek Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1185 W: 35 N: 1970] (11236)
  • [2007-11-24 15:12]

Hi Hans:)
Great capture!!!!!! so interesting how different world is out there:)
Tom:)

  • Great 
  • k-2 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 620 W: 6 N: 417] (2655)
  • [2007-11-24 18:32]

Thanks for sharing the colourful culture. Karin

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3300 W: 267 N: 6202] (23100)
  • [2007-11-25 1:16]

Superb PoV, composition, colours and details. I really appreciate the detailed notes too
And how very odd to find you and Richard side by side in the gallery as you had been in real life not so long ago.
TFS
silke
:D

Hi Hans,

What a lovely picture! . . I like the perspective of capturing this image . .
Fine detail of the sculpture . .
Colorful and sharp image . .
Well composed

Tfs,
Tjutjut

a very interesting picture you got Hans, a petterned one with different colors and perspective.TFS

Hi Hans,

68 hmmmm... Not really my favourite number, but that it would be that bad... I'm from the South of the Netherland and as such I do like carnival. And looking at your explanation and photograph, I surely see some clear links :-) Nice photograph!

Greetings,
Dennis

Hi Hans een mooi en bekend plaatje voormij
Ik ben daar verledenjaar geweest
Ruud

  • Great 
  • pozaru Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3301 W: 663 N: 1895] (15853)
  • [2007-11-25 22:41]

What an interesting and beautiful photo !


thanks,
v

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2046 W: 135 N: 3062] (16547)
  • [2007-11-27 23:54]

Nice work here Hans, great pov, even with that many tourists that appear in the temple, look like all these young people are so into what they are doing, great stuff, great photo and note...:D

Sweety

Hans

This is a fine photo, sharp and colourfull.


John
*pl

  • Great 
  • deains Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 205 W: 33 N: 1113] (4559)
  • [2007-11-28 11:29]

Beautiful photo! Great color show & great POV. Must have been awesome in person! Notes explain our world chaos, we're pretty close to Hell! :} Don

Hi Hansie,

Very interesting note, thanks ! The shot is lovely, full of vivid colours. Great choice for the POV ... excellent perspective and great details, bravo !
Ciao
Marylou

Prachtig van compositie én kleuren !
Zeer goeie keuze om dit niet in B/W te zetten ... LOL
( niet op letten, de drang om onnozel te doen
komt gewoon opzetten )
Fijn perspectief.
Interessante nota ook, bedankt Hans.

Groetjes
Jan

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