Question 75: How is worship conducted at the Bát Quái Đài of the Tây Ninh Holy See?  

The Bát Quái Đài at the Tây Ninh Holy See is shaped in the form of a Bagua. It rises twelve steps in height, and at the highest step are inlaid the eight Bagua trigrams.

At the center of these eight trigrams stands a pillar, upon which rests the Cosmic Sphere (Quả Càn Khôn).

The Cosmic Sphere has a diameter of 3 thước 3 tấc (~1.3 meters), painted sky blue, and adorned with 3,072 stars representing the visible universe, including the Three Thousand Worlds and the Seventy-Two Earthly Realms.

At the front of the Cosmic Sphere is painted the Heavenly Eye atop the North Star of the Big Dipper.

Beneath the Cosmic Sphere is the altar, upon which are placed the Thrones (Long Vị) of the Three Supreme Teachers of the Three Teachings:

• Đức Phật Thích Ca
• Đức Thái Thượng Đạo Tổ
• Đức Khổng Tử

Below these three Thrones are the Thrones of the Three Dignitaries of Authority and Discipline (Tam Trấn Oai Nghiêm):

• Đức Quan Âm Bồ Tát
• Đức Lý Đại Tiên Trưởng Lý Thái Bạch
• Quan Thánh Đế Quân

Continuing downward along the vertical line:

• At the center is the Throne of Đức Chúa Jésus, the Teacher of the Holy Faith.
• Beneath that is the Throne of Khương Thượng Tử Nha, who presides over the Divine Way (Thần Đạo).

If one counts the central vertical line from top to bottom, it includes:

• Đức Phật Thích Ca
• Lý Đại Tiên Trưởng
• Đức Chúa Jésus
• Khương Thượng Tử Nha
• Together with the seven Thrones on the nine levels of the Cửu Trùng Đài, representing the Human Way (Nhơn Đạo),

The central line embodies the Five Branches of the Great Way (Ngũ Chi Đại Đạo):

• The Way of the Buddha (Phật Đạo)
• The Way of the Immortal (Tiên Đạo)
• The Way of the Sage (Thánh Đạo)
• The Way of the Spirit (Thần Đạo)
• The Way of Humanity (Nhơn Đạo)

The arrangement of worship at the Bát Quái Đài is designed to reflect the Cao Đài principle: “The Three Teachings return to the source, and the Five Branches are unified.”

The Bát Quái Đài at Tây Ninh Holy See also houses Thrones for the Martyr Saints and for male and female dignitaries who have completed their spiritual ordination, fulfilling the rite completely — uniting Heaven and Humanity.

Above the Bát Quái Đài is a three-tiered, octagonal structure, attached to the Cửu Trùng Đài:

• The lower tier rises approximately 9 meters
• The middle tier rises approximately 4 meters
• The uppermost tier rises approximately 5 meters

The structure is capped with an octagonal roof, atop which rests a large lotus throne. On the lotus are statues of the Three Ancient Buddhas (Tam Thế Phật):

•  BRAHMA BUDDHA: Standing on the back of a Celestial Swan, facing west; right hand in mudra, left hand holding a precious gem.

•  SHIVA BUDDHA: Standing on the back of a Celestial Dragon, facing south; right hand holding a downward-pointing sword, left hand on the hip.

•  CHRISTNA BUDDHA: Standing upon the Seven-Headed Serpent, facing north; holding a flute to play.