Description : The ceremonial dress of the Ho-Phap includes a full form and a simple form.

For the full dress form, the Ho-Phap dresses in a uniform like an old-style marshal. He wears a high gold headdress (Kim-Khoi), the top of which ends in the shape of “Tam-Son” (three Mountains) and looks like a trident, as a symbol of his power of command over the Three Heavens of the West of the Nirvana (Tay-Phuong-Cuc-Lac).

On his feet he wears old-style boots which have the character “Phap” (Esoterism) on the toes.

Over his clothing he wears another vestment which allows the left side of his clothing to be seen. On the spiritual side of Thuong-Pham, his right hand holds the staff “Giang-Ma-Xu” (Rule over Evil) which symbolises the Temporal assisting the Spiritual, while on the temporal side of Thuong-Sanh, his left hand holds the string of beads called “Tu-Bi” (Mercy) which symbolises the Spiritual guiding the Temporal. Around his waist is the three-coloured commander's scarf (yellow, sky blue and red) which symbolises his great power over the union of the three ancient doctrines. Its knot lies right over the belly.

The simple form of dress is made of yellow silk (the symbol of Buddhism). He wears a head-covering called “Hon-Nguon-Mao” (Cosmo-Genesis or World-Creation) which is 10 centimetres high. On the front of this headdress, the three signs of the three ancient doctrines are embroidered: the “Binh-Bat-Du” (Golden Bowl of Sakyamuni), the “Phat-Chu” (Feather Duster of Purification) and the Book “Xuan-Thu” (Spring and Autumn). Above these three signs is the character “Phap” (Esoterism).

On his feet are shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”. They are white and the character “Phap” is also on the toes. Around his waist is the three-coloured commander's scarf just like the one worn with the full dress form.

The Ho-Phap wears the simple form of dress when he presides over the religious Tribunal, while the full form of dress is kept for days of major ceremonial when he presides from his throne.

HIS HOLINESS HO-PHAP PHAM-CONG-TAC
Supreme Head of the Legislative Body Head of the two Powers of Caodaism since November 1934 from the date of the dissolution from the flesh of the Pope (interim) Thuong-Trung-Nhut in full ceremonial dress for major rituals ( disincarnated in 1959 )

HIS HOLINESS HO-PHAP PHAM-CONG-TAC
Supreme Head of the Legislative Body Head of the two Powers of Caodaism since November 1934 from the date of the dissolution from the flesh of the Pope (interim) Thuong-Trung-Nhut in simple ceremonial dress

CEREMONIAL DRESS OF THE THUONG-PHAM
( Leader of the Spiritual Realm )

Description : The Thuong-Pham also has a full form of dress and a simple form.

The full form is made of white silk, and over it is worn a sky-blue chasuble which has an edging of silver-white thread. On his feet are shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”. They are white and the character “Dao” (Spiritual) is also on the toes.

Around his waist is the commander's scarf, like the one worn by Ho-Phap, with the knot on the right side. His right hand holds the “Long-Tu-Phien” (Fan of Exteriorisation) made from thirty-six linked white swan/crane feathers. At the top of this fan is the “Phat-Chu” (the Feather-Duster of Sanctification).

When considered mystically the “Long-Tu-Phien” has the spiritual power to bring forth completely the souls of those who are released from the flesh, and to send them to the thirty-six heavens of Nirvana.

In his left hand he holds the string of beads called “Tu-Bi” which symbolises the presentation of virtuous souls to the Ho-Phap.

The simple form of dress is also made of white silk, with the commander's scarf as with the full form. The headdress is a “Hon-Nguon-Mao”: it is white, like the one worn by the Ho-Phap. On the front of the headdress is embroidered the Fan called “Long-Tu-Phien” with the character “Dao” (Spiritual) above it.

The Superior of the Spiritual Realm wears the simple form of dress when he goes before the religious Tribunal and only wears the full form when he is to sit on his throne.

CEREMONIAL DRESS OF THE THUONG-SANH
( Leader of the Temporal Realm )

Description : The Leader of the Temporal Realm also has a full form of dress and a simple form.

The full form looks like the form worn by the Head of the Spiritual Realm. On his head he wears a “Thanh-Can” (headdress made of sky blue silk which covers the head), and around his waist is a band of red silk called “Than-Thong” (Knowledge of Spirituality).

Like Ho-Phap and Thuong-Pham, he wears the commander's scarf around his waist, its knot on the left. The Sword “Thu-Hung-Kiem” (Sword of Elevation) is at his back, and it symbolises the way wisdom give Deliverance for the self. His right hand holds the “Phat-Chu” (Feather-Duster of Sanctification) which symbolises the presentation of the Temporal Realm to Ho-Phap, and his left hand holds the string of beads called “Tu-Bi” which symbolises the offering of the Holy Doctrine to humanity. He wears white shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu” with the character “The” (Temporal) on the toes.

The simple form of dress is like the form worn by the Leader of the Spiritual Realm, except that on the front of the headdress are embroidered the Sword “Thu-Hung-Kiem” and the “Phat-Chu” with the character “The”(Temporal) above them. Around his waist is the commander's scarf. The Leader of the Temporal Realm wears the simple form of dress when he goes before the religious Tribunal, and he is dressed in the full form when he sits on his throne.

CEREMONIAL DRESS OF THE “THAP-NHI-THOI-QUAN”
(The twelve Lords of the Zodiac)

The twelve Lords of the Zodiac of the Hiep-Thien-Dai also have a full form of dress and a simple form.

Descriptions : The full form of dress is made of white silk with a simple collar edged with silver-white thread. On their heads they wear the white silk Mitre of the Bonze Superiors. Around their waists they wear the commander's scarf, with its knot in the middle, on the right or on the left, depending on the functions of each one. They all wear white shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”.

The simple form of dress is likewise made of white silk. They all wear the commander's scarf. their headdresses are like the one worn by Ho-Phap, Thuong-Pham and Thuong-Sanh, embroidered with the characters “Phap”, “Dao”, or “The“, depending on their functions. They wear white shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”.

The twelve Lords of the Zodiac wear the simple form of dress when they carry out their functions, and the full form for the major ceremonies.

CEREMONIAL DRESS OF THE “ BAO-VAN-PHAP-QUAN ”

( Conservator of Arts and Literature )

Description : The full form of dress worn by “Bao-Van-Phap-Quan” is made of white silk. On his head he wears the “Nhut-Nguyet-Mao” (According to the divine directions received on March 13, 1931, the explanation for this headdress is as follows: The circle which rests on the head represents the Sun, while the shape of the Crescent symbolises the Moon. So this headdress is called Nhut-Nguyet-Mao [Nhut:Sun, Nguyet: Moon, Mao: Headdress]) which is like the one worn by the Lords of the Zodiac of the Hiep-Thien-Dai, and has a five-petalled lotus flower on each side. On each lotus flower the “Divine Eye” is embroidered. In front of the fold right in the centre, the headdress is decorated with another lotus flower, but this one is not embroidered. The headdress has three lotus flowers in all.

Around his waist he wears “Bach-Tuyet-Than-Quang” (Light of the snow pure spirit. Belt made of very fine gauze) which is 3.33 metres long and .333 metres wide. This belt is knotted at the front in the form of a five-petalled lotus. On his feet are white shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”, with a small lotus flower on the toes.

CEREMONIAL DRESS OF THE “BAO-SANH-QUAN”
( Protector of Public Relief )

Description : The full form of dress for the Bao-Sanh-Quan is made of white silk. On his head he wears the “Nhut-Nguyet-Mao” like the one worn by the Lords of the Zodiac. On the front of this headdress, 4 centimetres high at the point, is embroidered the “Divine Eye”. This is also embroidered on each side, so that there are three embroideries of the "Divine Eye” on this headdress.

A white silk scarf is knotted around this headdress. Two metres long and eight centimetres wide, it is called “Tien-Thang” (Cordon of the Saints), and the two ends fall over the shoulders and allow the “Divine Eye” to be seen in between.

Around the waist is worn a “Song-Quang-Than-Thong” (Double luminous ray of the Perispirit and the soul) that is, a white silk scarf which forms two mystical Circles on the thighs.

On his feet he wears white shoes of the type called “Vo-Uu”.