With about 5 million Vietnamese followers, Caodaism is a religion that is clearly rooted in Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian models. It was created in 1919 by a Vietnamese official, Ngô Van Chiêu. During a session of spiritism, he came into contact with the spirit of a new God, Cao Dai, and was ordered to create a new religion. It was recognized as one and became official in 1926. Unusual religion, Caodaism honors Buddha but venerates Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare as spiritual guides. The Tay Ninh Temple in southern Vietnam, a brightly colored cathedral of architectural mix of Asian and European styles, is its symbolic center.