CEREMONIAL VESTMENTS
The prescribed colors for the ceremonial vestments of Minh Ly disciples — whether lay practitioners living at home or ordained clergy residing at the temple — are white for everyday dress and black for ceremonial robes, following the verse given by the Highest Master during the Lower Era at Minh Chon Ly: “Red, yellow, blue — the treasures of the Taiji Diagram; black, white, purple — the realm of the Formless.” The three colors red, yellow, and blue belong to Cao Dai, while black, white, and purple belong to Minh Ly.
Men: a long black robe over white trousers. The collar is 4 cm high with square corners; underneath, a white shirt and white trousers, with a black turban.
Women: a long black robe with a 3 cm collar with rounded corners; underneath, a white shirt and black trousers when officiating at ceremonies in the sanctuary, or a white “ba ba” set when in meditation retreat.
The long robe comes in two styles (for both men and women):
- A wide-sleeved robe worn when making offerings to Heaven, Buddha, and the Immortals in the sanctuary of the Temple and at the Bao An Shrine.
- A narrow-sleeved robe, worn when receiving guests, honoring ancestors in the rear hall, at home, or when visiting other Minh Ly temples, meditation halls, or the Sacred Council.
Ranked disciples still practicing at home: a long robe fastened with cloth buttons —
- Disciples: the robe clears the ground by 30 cm; sleeve opening 25 cm wide.
- Ranked clergy: the robe clears the ground by 25 cm; sleeve opening 30 cm wide.
Ranked disciples who have entered the temple: a square-shouldered full robe, clearing the ground by 20 cm, with a 35 cm sleeve opening; both men and women wear a white inner robe, and women additionally wear a headscarf.
When officiating in the sanctuary, all disciples must wear a pair of ankle ties, 3.3 cm wide and 66 cm long, made of black cloth, pointed at one end and flat at the other.
How to wind the ankle ties (the same for men and women):
Pull the trouser legs taut with both hands toward the back, and wrap them around the ankle. Hold the trouser hem with one hand, and with the other place the pointed end of the tie on the hem about 1 cm from the trouser opening, holding it in place. Use the left thumb and finger to hold the pointed end and wind the tie around the ankle from the inside outward, layering it over the pointed end. Continue winding until finished, then tuck the flat end under the wound layers. Do not wind too tightly, or the foot will go numb; do not wind too loosely, or the tie will easily slip off. When winding, judge the length so that by the final wrap the end passes just beyond the inner anklebone, and tuck it in deep, firm, seamless, and neat. Do not tie a knot.
Ranked clergy holding the ranks of Minh, Khai, Tuong, Dai, Dieu Chon, Huyen Nhu, and Dai Co must additionally wear a pair of “Nhu Y” shoes and “Giai Thoat” shoes, in a blue-tinged red resembling purple, along with white socks, for use during major and grand ceremonies.