History of establishment

History of the Formation of Minh Lý Đạo

Minh Lý Đạo was founded in the year Giáp Tý (1924). Until now, it has existed for 102 years, with many generations of disciples continuing the mission of building Minh Lý Đạo, improving its organization, studying, cultivating morality, and practicing self-cultivation. Minh Lý Đạo has gone through the following stages:

1. The First Period (1924–1964): Establishment of Doctrine and Visible Organization

1.1 The First 16 Years (1924–1940): Spiritual Communication

Since the late 18th century, many spirit-invoking séances had taken place in Vietnam, yet people’s faith remained vague. Most participants came to request healing or ask about fame and fortune, while few cared about moral teachings.

During this time, the Immortals and Deities first used mystical revelations to sow seeds of belief, and later employed divine mechanisms to establish the visible structure of a religion—thus forming Minh Lý Đạo.

In the early 1920s, a group of seven officials and clerks gathered monthly, each contributing either three or five đồng, to fund the printing of popular scriptures for free distribution. At first, this was only for merit-making. Gradually, they developed an interest in studying the scriptures of the Three Teachings (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism).

Later, following a contemporary trend, one member trained as a spiritual medium to invite teachings from the Buddhas and Immortals. When mystical messages began to appear, the group became convinced of the reality of the spiritual realm—of Heaven, Buddhas, Immortals, and Saints. That medium was Mr. Âu Kiệt Lâm, whose sacred name was Minh Chánh. When the Tam Tông Temple was built, he became its first Abbot.

One night, a devotee from another séance received a command from Above, informing them: “The appointed time has come—you must establish a séance so that the Higher Beings may descend and teach the Way.” At that time, it was common for the Higher Beings to descend in one place but give instructions concerning another, requiring messages to be brought to the designated address, thereby strengthening faith.

The date of the first séance was set on the 26th day of the 11th lunar month, Year Giáp Tý (1924), at 10 p.m. However, the official opening was delayed until 11 p.m. (the hour of Mậu Tý), which already fell into the 27th day, Bính Tý month, Year Giáp Tý. On that night, the Supreme Patriarch, Thái Thượng Lão Quân (The Grand Pure One), descended and bestowed the name of the religion: Minh Lý (“Illuminated Principle”), along with the scripture Tặng Ngọc Đế. He instructed: “You recite scriptures without understanding their meanings; therefore, I bestow upon you verses in Nôm for your use…” This day was thereafter chosen as the official Commemoration Day of Minh Lý Đạo’s foundation. The seven pioneers mentioned earlier became the founding elders of the Faith.

From that time on, Divine Beings frequently bestowed scriptures, teachings on organization, religious practice, and even guidance for the architectural design of Tam Tông Temple.

In the early years, without a temple, the pioneers rotated worship services at their own homes. Later, they borrowed Linh Sơn Temple for offerings to Heaven and the Buddhas, but had to perform rituals late at night on the 14th and 30th lunar days, since Linh Sơn Temple conducted its own ceremonies on the 1st and 15th. Minh Lý Đạo continues this practice of night prayers to this day.

In 1925, the Supreme Patriarch instructed the construction of a temple. Minh Lý Đạo built Tam Tông Temple, moving there in 1927. After two major renovations in 1941 and 1957, the temple attained its current form.

In 1926, the Divine Mother Diêu Trì Kim Mẫu Vô Cực Thiên Tôn granted the temple its sacred title Tam Tông Miếu, meaning:

Tam Tông refers to the Three Great Teachings of East Asia: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.
Miếu means “temple” or “sanctuary,” the dwelling place of the Supreme God. In Chinese, Tông Miếu refers to ancestral temples of past emperors, distinct from the smaller miễu in Vietnamese.

Thus, Tam Tông Miếu means “the Temple of the Three Teachings,” worshipping Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism together, with the ultimate aim of returning to the One Source—the Supreme God.

Further Developments (1926–1940):

1926: Registered with local authorities as the “Self-Cultivation Mutual Aid Association of Tam Tông Temple,” approved in 1927.
1926: Established Tam Tông Cemetery (now Báo Ân Temple, 445/20 Lạc Long Quân Street), donated by philanthropist Madam Diệu Trí Huỳnh Thị Ngôn.
1926: Opened a vegetarian goods store “Hiệp Ích.”
1927: Established Tặng Dược thất (Medicine Hall) to distribute remedies, later expanded in 1928 to Thất Trị Bệnh (Healing Hall) for free treatment.
1927: Founded a Scripture Distribution Office, lending books for study.
1927: Printed lunisolar calendars with added holy days—precursor to the later Minh Lý calendar.
1930: Established Tam Tông Printing House, Đức Môn Publishing Society; built rental houses; opened a free school for poor children.

1.2 The Next 24 Years (1941–1965): Self-Study – Research on the Scriptures of the Three Teachings

In 1941, medium Minh Chánh passed away, severing the line of communication with the spiritual world. The disciples had to rely on self-study. With the temple’s finances exhausted, some followers returned home, others lost faith, and the religion faced hardships. Yet, a devoted few remained, following the Immortals’ methods—reducing séances and rituals, restoring the temple, translating scriptures for study, and improving the Tam Tông calendar, which became an important financial support for practitioners.

During this period, Master Định Pháp Nguyễn Minh Thiện (1897–1972) dedicated his life entirely to guiding the Faith. He compiled sacred teachings, authored books, translated scriptures, renovated the Temple, and directed disciples along the true path of Minh Lý, as instructed by the Higher Beings.

“Heaven supports those with virtuous intentions; thus, every endeavor succeeds as willed. Truly: ‘When man has good aspirations, Heaven surely follows.’”

This period became known as the era of studying the scriptures of the Three Teachings.

At this time, Master Minh Thiện composed the doctrinal foundation of Minh Lý Đạo, titled The Doctrine of Minh Lý, as a guide for disciples.

1952: Re-established the Women’s Division.
1957–1961: Rebuilt Tam Tông Temple.
1961: Founded Xuân Phong Primary School with affordable tuition for poor children.

Master Minh Thiện also reformed the Tam Tông Calendar, which became famous across Southern Vietnam for its accurate agricultural forecasts and daily moral maxims promoting virtuous living without superstition.