• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.31
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• pp.131-163
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• 2018

The concept of pilgrimage is a phenomenon that appears in almost every major religion. It is traditionally defined as religious travel to a sacred external place for spiritual purposes and introspection. However, there are many different relationships between pilgrimages and religious customs, including excursions through abstract dimensions and regular journeys such as annual holidays. Because modern pilgrimages are taken for a variety of reasons, they are not limited to faith-based historical locations. Thus, many scholars also perceive pilgrimages as an increasing part of the general industry of tourism. These journeys are now studied in a diverse range of fields (e.g., ethnography and tourism). In this way, pilgrimages have created a new market from an industrial perspective. This economic analysis has resulted in secular interest. Pilgrimages can now be taken by gil (walkways), which have gained tremendous popularity. Thus, religiosity and humanity as they are embraced through pilgrimages are now receiving outside influences. This study therefore is aimed at generating suggestions for developing the pilgrimage routes related to Kang Jeungsan (i.e., the Supreme God of Daesoon Jinrihoe). These proposed Jeungsan routes are not simply restricted to religious activities or nostalgia, nor are they exclusively concerned with encountering holiness. To realize this idea, it is necessary to reconsider the concept of a sacred space.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.24_2
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• pp.117-164
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• 2015

Religion is not fixed and permanent and is constantly transforming and changing phenomenon. But in some religions, religious culture happens that emphasize the original and authentic teaching of the founder and removes the other accumulations among the accumulated religious tradition. So some religious communities advocate the original teaching of the founder and insist that they are the orthodox and the others are heresy and make the theory of true transmission etc. Jongtonglon(宗統論) of Daesoonjinrihoe(大巡眞理會) looks similar to the theory of true transmission on the surface. The aim of this paper is the contribution to the understanding of Daesoon thought and the religious culture of Daesoonjinrihoe by studying the characteristics of Jongtonglon. I want to highlight on the characteristics of Jongtonglon by comparing it to Bubmaeklon(法脈論) of Korean Buddhism. Bubmaek(法脈) of Korean Buddhism is well showed in the constitution of Jogaejong(曺溪宗) that represents Korean Buddhism. The constitution says that Jogaejong considers SakyaMuni the main Buddha and Doyi (道義) the founder of Jogaejong and BojoJinul(普照知訥)·TaegoBou (太古普愚) the restorer of tradition and also says that Jogaejong succeedes Cheongheo(淸虛) and Buhyu(浮休). Between SakyaMuni and Doyi, there are several monks of Seocheon(西天)-28Choseol (祖說) and China-6Choseol(祖說). Jinul is highly praised for enhancing the atmosphere of performance of Jogaejong and Bou was regarded as the founder of Jogaejong since late Joseon dynasty. In modern times there were conflicts between Bojojongjoseol(普照宗祖說) and Taegojongjoseol(太古宗祖說), but today's Bubmaek(法脈) of Korean Buddhism was erected after the conflicts was controled. Jongtong of Daesoonjinrihoe was erected by Jo Jengsan(趙鼎山) Doju(道主) who was received Heaven's will through divine revelation. Dojeon(都典) succeeded Jongtong by Doju's will and he didn't say a word when he went to Heaven. So the succession of Jongtong is ended. The first characteristic of Jongtonglon of Daesoonjinrihoe is that the succession of Jongtong was decided by Heaven and has been expected from long ago. The second, Jongtonglon has the sacred characteristic which is not shown in Bubmaeklon. The third, the distinction between Yeonwun(淵源) and Yeonun(緣運) is not appeared in Bubmaeklon. The fourth, Jongtonglon has more anti-syncretic feature than Bubmaeklon. The fifth, Yeonun(緣運) and Bubmaeklon are different in that feature. As Jongtonglon occupies a prominent place in Daesoonjinrihoe, the understanding of it can contribute to grasp the doctrine and culture of Daesoonjinrihoe.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.32
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• pp.109-136
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to look at the concept of Gaebyeok as used by Kang Jeungsan (姜甑山) from a civilizational perspective. The combination of East Asian civilization during the period of Korea's port-opening and the subsequent inflow of Western powers with material civilization all at the forefront in the late Joseon Korea, served as the driving force for a new civilizational transition. Unlike the Chuk-sa Party and the Gae-hwa Party, modern Korean religions that emphasized Gaebyeok also responded to Western civilization and suggested a new view of civilization. Kang Jeung-san, resisting discrimination and oppression, presented a civilization built upon mutual beneficence while criticizing Western civilizations which centered on reason. Amid this process of the spread of modern Western civilization, Jeungsan declared the construction of a new civilization to the people who were negatively impacted by various social factions, such as class and gender discrimination, political corruption, exploitation via political corruption, and the inflow of Western powers. Jeungsanist Thought developed criticisms of materialism and human alienation, and this resulted in the claim of Gaebyeok. This was an expression of efforts to build a new civilization that aimed to harmonize, integrate, and thrive. The new civilization envisioned by Jeungsan was that of a society run according to mutual beneficence, and it can be summarized as a 'Civilization of Harmonious Union' that integrates philosophical thought and civilizational models of both East and West. This could also be referred to a 'Civilization of Public-commons and Harmony between Divine Beings and Human Beings (神人公共).' The life of Jeungsan was a life spent in the service of curing the world to save the lives of humanity. Since then, his 'movement of mutual beneficence' as observed in Mugeuk-do and Taegeuk-do were also efforts to build the new civilization envisioned by Jeungsan.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.30
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• pp.131-162
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• 2018

In this article, I studied how we can heal resentment (㝨) and regret (恨) in the present and future world that are deeply rooted in our society, and I sought out the theoretical and practical measures to realize peace and mental well-being of the Korean people. For this purpose, firstly, I reinterpreted the content of 'Hongik Ingan Humanitarianism (弘益人間)' as an idea and its practical methods into a critical perspective, and confirmed that it is the ideological and emotional root of the Korean people. And I looked at concrete action plans for the present and in the future. Next, I studied the contents of the 'Accompaniment Society (大同社會)' for studying abroad and how to realize its ideals. Through this process, it was confirmed that Accompaniment Society is also deeply rooted in the sentiments of the Korean people. I also found out that more active and practical theoretical methodological studies are necessary to heal the resentment and regret common in our society. Lastly, I studied the fundamental and essential meaning of 'The Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence (解冤相生),' the major, representative concept of 'The Truth of the Great Itineration (大巡眞理).' Through this process, I confirmed the possibility that the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence could be transformed into a universal value and could be sublimated to a practical norm in the future. In particular, I found that the logic of "the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence" is highly practical in resolving feelings of resentment in the Korean people. Through the above study, 'The Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence' of 'The Truth of the Great Itineration' can emerge as a 'win-win' system of ethics in the future through the synthetical comprehension of the ideals of 'Hongik Ingan Humanitarianism' and Accompaniment Society.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.31
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• pp.49-92
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• 2018

I have examined some beliefs in the Thunder God and their magico-ritual techniques in Korea from the perspective of Korean national religious history and have classified these types of beliefs. In several myths from ancient nations in Korea, the Thunder God was the Supreme being governing the Universe including the sky, earth, and water, and he justified political power transcendently. In the medieval period, the Thunder God who was called 'the Supreme God and Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin' was the object of Daoist ritual for rain. In the early Joseon period, people believed that the prehistoric stone tools known as thunder axes were the tools of the Thunder God, and thereby were imbued with medicinal power. In the late Joseon period, beliefs in the Thunder God developed in various ways such as the overcoming of wars and healing of diseases. Modern Korean national religions including Daesoon Jinrihoe reappropriated the Thunder God called 'the Supreme God and Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin' from the perspective of the Great Opening (Kaebyŏk) and the resolution of grievances (Haewon).

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.25_1
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• pp.25-85
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• 2015

In this study, source criticism (an establishment of authentic text) of the Hyun-Mu Sutra(玄武經) among different editions is studied and an attempt of a new interpretation appropriate to that is attempted. The Hyun-Mu Sutra, a scripture written in 1909, began to communicate with the world through the religions of Jeungsanism. In particular, it was remarkable that The Hyun-Mu Sutra was absorbed as canon textbooks Jeonkyung(典經), the Scriptures of Daesoonjinrihoe, The Fellowship of Daesoon Truth(大巡眞理) from a loner and secret pull-out of heritage traditions. However, this scripture though written in 1909 and more than 100 years has passed, remained in a state unestablished authentic text. The Hyun-Mu Sutra is the scripture consisted of 25 pages by the religions of Jeungsanism[Gang Il-sun 姜一淳(1871~1909)]. 33 page type of Hyun-Mu Sutra has been distributed in the world until now the authentic text of The Hyun-Mu Sutra. However, as a result of the examination, diagnostic scripture(病勢文) was found to have been added by descendants. After a review of authentic text of The Hyun-Mu Sutra, it concluded that there is no diagnostic scripture in primary The Hyun-Mu Sutra. Though The Hyun-Mu Sutra is a booklet of a small amount, the notation and expression is so unique, it has been in secrecy to read its contents. Interpretation way of The Hyun-Mu Sutra up to now can be summarized in two as follows. 1) approaches by I-ching 2) approaches by ten celestrial stemps and twelve earthly branches(10干12支). Approaches by I-ching among this sometimes was supplemented with Buddhist classification methods. Nevertheless, these studies can be evaluated limited because it fails to secure authentic text of The Hyun-Mu Sutra. In this study, the contents of The Hyun-Mu Sutra was examined itemized by focusing on the following four points. 1) The icon of The Hyun-Mu Sutra(玄武經符) is similar as normal talisman(符籍) but it has other features. 2) 'Reverse Fonts'(反書體)[the opposite view of the standard fonts(正書體), reflected in the mirror fonts] and size or location used in text is not in uniform. 3) letters in scripture were pointed and points were stamped in the left and upper and lower characters. 4) "Spiritual poem" (詠歌, the Korean traditional music with a view of elegance as an origin of eco), and the music with the Five-Sounds[宮Gung, 商Sang, 角Gak, 徵Chi, 羽Wu) were related. As a result, content analysis of The Hyun-Mu Sutra is carried out in the next four points. 1) The icon of The Hyun-Mu Sutra (玄武經符) has been primarily developed by Jeungsan. 2) 'Reverse Fonts'(反書體)[the opposite view of the standard fonts(正書體), reflected in the mirror fonts] and reverse location such as '宙宇' [the reverse of '宇宙'] represents based on a new world based on a forward and reverse I-ching(正易). 3) Dot and neighbor points is a symbolic map that guides the position of lateral new world(後天) and era(人尊) 4) Spiritual poem is the entrance to achieve the Realization of Do(道通). The above can be considered as the results of this study.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.25_2
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• pp.103-136
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• 2015

The theory of post-heaven provided Korea's many emerging national religions with spiritual ground. The I Ching originated in China emphasizes the principles of change or static aspects of world, while Right I Ching, which Il-Bu Kim suggested, underlines dynamic aspects of world. Il-Bu Kim is perceived to open a new stage in the history of philosophy of I Ching in this regard. His most remarkable contribution is the view of Great Opening Era of Post-Heaven, according to which the clock of cosmos shows the era of great change from Pre-Heaven to Post-Heaven and in the world of Post-Heaven everything will take its proper place. As to human society, Il-Bu Kim foresaw the change from disharmony to harmony, imbalance to balance and era of xiaoren to that of junzi. The advent of such a new world, however, asks human's moral revolution as a prerequisite. In the tradition of East Asian thought, human is the center of the Samjae, Heaven-Earth-Human and the only being which could participate in the growth of Heaven and Earth. Without the change of human mind, however, human can neither participate in the growth of Heaven and Earth nor expect the right change of Heaven and Earth. Even though the world of nature changes according to the principle of cosmic harmony, as the Right I Ching predicts, the real change of Heaven and Earth can be achieved only with moral change of human. The human in the Right I Ching is a free man who sticks to nothing and communicates with cosmos with empty mind. This is the very image of perfect man(至人). The perfect man in the Right I Ching is the main agent of everything, that's to say, the main agent of the great opening to Post-Heaven Era. This is the reason why most leaders of Koran emerging religions concentrate on the change of human. In this regard, Jeung-San Kang encouraged people to become the perfect man through the purification of mind and body and the great opening of inner man, depending on the metaphysical principle of the Right I Ching. Cheok and Resolution of grievances for the mutual beneficence of all life are what he suggested as a method of the great opening of inner man. Such a view is based on the thought that the accumulated sinful behaviors are obstacles to cosmic change and the time of mutual beneficience opens with the removal of the obstacles. If such religious practices are so effective, as Jeung-San Kang says, that future world could consist of perfect men who have achived the great opening of inner man, moral change, and change of consciousness, we could expect that the activities of xiaoren will be shrinked and junzi will be welcomed, as the Right I Ching predicts.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.24_2
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• pp.197-229
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to determine the property of Daesoon thought in theory of God. The difference with precedent research is that this study catch the point in which theism as theology conflicts ontology as philosophy. It is elusive without philosophical analysis to detect this point for reasons of religious expression on scriptures. To find this point is beginning of academic communication at religious position. So I tried to draw boundary between theology and philosophy in Daesoon thought so as to apprehend Daesoon thought treats the contradiction of that. The contradiction is found that hierarchy between Sangje and taegeuk reverses on Daesoon thought. Fundamentally two substance can't be arranged to ontology but only one can be. It seems that Daesoon thought has got antinomy. However superiority of Daesoon thought is appeared at this point. The antinomy is just the process to absolute truth of Tao. That is a progressive system of thought in both religious and philosophical aspect. Finally, the result of this study can be organized with five items. First is to get new direction to study of Daesoon thought to catch the clash between theology and ontology. Second is that Daesoon thought can communicate the mainstream philosophy like Hegel's while the argumentation makes progress with Hegel's thought. Third is that Daesoon thought has originality in ontology of tao, mugeuk, tageuk as compared with neo-Confucianism. Forth is that theology of Daesoon thought has the possibility to peace among religions. Fifth is that Daesoon thought transcends religion and philosophy to absolute truth. Particularly, the noteworthy item is about peace among religions as theme of religious practice as the needs of times. The conflict of religion is very serious impact to historic future. So Daesoon thought suggests that all the religions harmonize with each other in universality and respect each other in distinctiveness. It makes it possible to aims for world peace beyond theory to practical orientation on religious creed. In history of philosophy the dialetic of Hegel is the very adequate to explain that principle. Hegel argued that human mind can reach to the absolute knowledge at 『Phänomenologie des Geistes』. He elucidates the process that mind attain the absolute knowledge through movement of negation at 『Phänomenologie des Geistes』. The dialetics leads all the process of mind to finality of the absolute spirit.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.30
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• pp.201-234
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• 2018

'Woori Philosophy' is the modern philosophy of Korea. The purpose of this study is to make a hypothetical model of the methodologies used in Woori Philosophy, to analyze and classify this system of thought as it appears in the Jeon-gyeong (『典經』), to confirm the effectiveness of the model's application, and to present the model's methodological best practices. In this paper, I have made a standard for Woori Philosophy by combining existing studies. Thereby, although it is preliminary, I have presented the model as a way of achieving Woori philosophy by analysis and division of this thought in the Jeon-gyeong. As a result, the Jeongyeong's content is organized into an order in frequency which emerges as Model②, Model①, Essential Model, Model④, and Model③. These models can be evaluated to show that the Jeon-gyeong progressively inherited different schools of traditional Korean thought, while simultaneously characterizing them as Korean in many areas, never ignored the problems of the times or an awareness of the world, and furthermore, did not senselessly or blindly accept foreign objects spread into Korea from 1880~1890. Therefore, the Jeon-gyeong shows a comprehensive methodology for the implementation of Woori philosophy based on its own historical setting. It can be evaluated as the best practices which took many ideas and made those ideas its own. Through this, I was able to confirm its effectiveness as a methodology of Woori Philosophy and was able to extract its best practices. However, the ideas in the Jeon-gyeong did not directly become Woori Philosophy. To solve our problems in the 21st century, there is still an assignment to interpret these ideas through the application of this model. If the existing research on Daesoon Thought (大巡思想) is to become Woori Philosophy, then it should do so through the application of this model.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.25_2
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• pp.1-43
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• 2015

Daesoonjinrihoe perceives that human suffering is caused not only by mental factors but also by the cosmic principle of Mutual Overcoming more fundamentally. The relationship influenced among all things in the universe is Mutual Beneficence and Mutual Overcoming. If these relations are properly cooperated in harmony, all things will reveal their energetic existence in a balanced state, however, if one side, particularly, Mutual Overcoming becomes excessive, indeed, it will cause trouble. That is, the sentient beings that are inclined to excessive Mutual Overcoming rather than indispensable Mutual Overcoming make grievances among themselves and cumulate them. In the end, heaven and earth lose its constant Way[常道], leading the sentient beings to all kinds of agonies. However, it may be a problem if every agony is depicted with Mutual Overcoming, that is, one single fixed frame, because Mutual Overcoming has to be interpreted diversely according to the circumstances. Thus, it is not possible to explain precisely about the agony if not understanding its spectrum. This study analyzed the ways how Daesoonjinrihoe explains the aspects of reasons and solutions to a variety of agonies. In the Supreme Scripture of Daesoonjinrihoe, the reasons for agony vary: first, it is caused by Mutual Overcoming of the cosmos itself, which is irrelevant to human beings. Secondly, man can be victimized because of Mutual Overcoming caused by man. Thirdly, there is a case of a victim who is damaged due to Mutual Overcoming caused by the other. Fourthly, man can be victimized because of Mutual Overcoming caused by someone else's unintended deeds. Fifthly, there is a case of man having agony in return when he, as a perpetrator, hurt others or resolve his inappropriate desires. Sixthly, man's deed unintendedly became a sin and have agony in return. Seventhly, man can be a self-perpetrator, conceiving vain desire, obsession and grievance. Eightly, there is a case of man having agony during enforcement of the law or practice of justice. Ninthly, man needs to endure agony during self-cultivation, enacting Reordering of the Universe(天地公事), ritual practice, promotion of fortune, and test. However, it is important to make sure that the reason for agony can interact with not only one but also diverse models in real situation. These nine models are included in the category of Mutual Overcoming; but, these cannot be classified in a single term, Mutual Overcoming because much information will be hidden, only to make it difficult to explain about agony more precisely. There are some characteristic observed in the concept of agony in Daesoonjinrihoe as follows: first, reasons for agony are caused by Mutual Overcoming although Mutual Overcoming can be interpreted differently according to the circumstances. Secondly, Daesoonjinrihoe makes a positive valuation for some agony. Thirdly, the solution to overcome a agony is brought to a conclusion, that is cultivation practice of Daesoonjinrihoe. Fourthly, the experience of agony and solution in Daesoonjinrihoe sometimes lie in the unit of family beyond individual. Fifthly, in the painful situation resulted from vain desire and obsession, Daesoonjinrihoe suggests a solution called Mutual Beneficence. That is, it emphasizes not only self-control but also active practice of considering others.