In Cao Dai cosmology, Sun Yat-sen, the Chinese revolutionary leader and founding father of the Republic of China, is venerated as one of three spirits, alongside Victor Hugo and Nguyen Binh Khiem, who signed the Third Alliance Between God and Man, a covenant depicted in the well known mural at the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh. The mural shows the three writing on a tablet, in French and Chinese, the words God and Humanity and Love and Justice, and the trio is understood within Cao Dai teaching to represent Western, Chinese and Vietnamese civilization jointly recognizing the new revelation, with Sun Yat-sen standing for Chinese civilization. His inclusion reflects the broad, deliberately syncretic reach of Cao Dai cosmology, which venerates historical, religious and political figures across traditions as revealed spirits.
Facts
Attestation
Veneration TodayActively venerated in a living tradition 1 Historicity DetailSun Yat-sen (1866 to 1925) is a documented historical figure of modern Chinese history. His role as a Cao Dai spirit is the tradition's own religious claim about a figure who died the year before Cao Dai was founded. 1 Belief
TheologyCaodaism is a monotheistic religion whose one Supreme Being is served by a hierarchy of venerated spirits rather than co-equal gods; Sun Yat-sen is one such spirit, matching the reading already carried by Nguyen Binh Khiem and Victor Hugo. Attributions
Mythic AssociationRepresents Chinese civilization within the Third Alliance Between God and Man, alongside Victor Hugo and Nguyen Binh Khiem. 1 Cult
Attributes and IconographyDepicted in the Third Alliance mural at the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh, writing on a tablet reading, in French and Chinese, God and Humanity and Love and Justice, alongside Victor Hugo and Nguyen Binh Khiem. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.