Formation And Development of Daesoon-Thought

대순사상(大巡思想)의 성립과 전개

Daesoon-thought is considered as the one that offers the new interpretation of the people who live in the modern society and advocates the new worldview based on the history of Korean thought. Basically, Dong-Hak, which was a root of Korean religions, was strongly against formalistic Confucianism that governed the whole society of Chosun dynasty, and showed its characteristics towards anti-neo confucianism. However, the people, who severely suffered from the gap between the ideal and real world with deploring their languishment, longed for the emergence of a new leader, since the sprit of Dong-Hak, which was pervaded up to Gab-o-keong-zang, was collapsed before the sword of Japanese forces. Jeungsan was well aware of people's thoughts, and provided with them hopes of life in a very active manner. So, his thought showed plebeianism and democratic nature in a certain sense with racialism that tried to recover the collapsed pride of Chosun. Particularly, Cheon-ji-gong-sa, one of his religious thoughts, is clearly distinguished from those advocated by other religious thinkers, and shows the positive will that overcomes the difficulties of the world in the religious way. This paper aims at shedding the light on how Daesoon-thought appeared with the background of late Chosun. For this, the trend appearing in religions and thoughts at the time of late Chosun when Daesoon-thought started, will be examined carefully. Also, based on such a background it will be further investigated how Daesoon-thought has been developed and systemized.