Caodaism and its global networks: An Ethnological Analysis of a Vietnamese Religious Movement in Vietnam and abroad

• Main Author: Jérémy Jammes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université de Provence 2009-12-01
• Series: Moussons
• Subjects: Caodaism; Vietnam; Cambodia; overseas communities; spirit-mediumship; Holy See of Tây Ninh
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/moussons/1100

Born in the 1920’s in Cochinchina, Caodaism is a religious movement that has had important political repercussions in southern Vietnam, and suffered suspicion and censure from different governments throughout the 20th century. Today, overseas Caodai communities present a space for ideological projections and for political action. Between two and four million Caodaists worship today in Vietnam, compared to 13,000-15,000 overseas. Contrary to expectation, the international framework of these overseas Caodaist networks has still not been studied. Such an “absence” contrasts with the numerous case studies carried out in countries who have welcomed exiled Southeast Asian populations. Spreading its influence to Western countries, the association Cao Dai Overseas Missionary federates the most important number of overseas followers. It has developed an original strategy for negotiating its place in contemporary society, in particular in evolving relationship between the Vietnamese government, the sacred center or “Holy See” of Caodaism (in Tây Ninh province) and its different establishments overseas. My anthropological approach describes how this missionary organization has developed a dynamic position both in Vietnam and overseas by choosing a consensual approach with the local authorities.