• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.31
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• pp.375-406
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• 2011

The paper investigates the ideal image and the ideological tendency of the traditional intellectuals in the East Asian Societies by analyzing the religious thoughts of Donghak, Tenrikyo and the Society of God Worshippers, which were the representative religious bodies in Korea, Japan and China. In particular, this paper focuses on the founders' thoughts of the religious organizations, such as Choi Jewoo(崔濟愚, 1824-1864) of Donghak, Nakayama Miki(中山みき, 1798-1887) of Tenrikyo and Hong xiuquan(洪秀全, 1814-1864) of the Society of God Worshippers. The results obtained from the study are as follows:Choi Jewoo's father was a teacher in a rural village, and so Choi Jewoo also wanted to be a teacher. Afterward when he had religious experiences, in the trance state, he became a teacher. Consequently, his religious thoughts were based on the ideal teacher's stance. Nakayama Miki respected her father, who was a low-ranking warrior or bushi(武士). And when she experienced strange experiences, she became a high-ranking warrior or shogun(將軍). On this account, many of her religious thoughts were based on the ideal bushi's position. Hong xiuquan's father was a low-ranking local official, therefore Hong xiuquan wanted to be a high-ranking official since childhood. Later, he took the civil service examinations only to failed. And so when he had religious experiences, he became an official appointed by God. And his religious thoughts, in many cases, depended on the ideal official's stance.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.42
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• pp.475-503
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• 2016

This paper explores the extent of the Christian influence of Liang Fa's Quanshiliangyan and Isaachar J. Roberts on Hong Xiuquan and the Taiping Movement. Hong's religious background was in Confucianism, but when he encountered Liang Fa's Quanshiliangyan, he identified with Christianity. Subsequently, he studied with Roberts for two or three months. The religious experiences of Hong served as motives for the establishment of the Society of God Worshippers and the Taiping Movement. Therefore, this paper develops Liang's key ideas and Roberts' main teachings, describes Hong's beliefs and the actual practices of the Taiping Movement, as found in official documents of the Taipings, and compares their similarities and differences. Hong and his leaders received the new ideas of Christianity at the expense of their traditional culture. Furthermore, they attempted to combine Chinese culture with Christianity, as well as believe in Christianity to the limits of their understanding. Finally, this study finds that even though the Quanshiliangyan and Isaachar J. Roberts may have given the Taiping Movement its religious form and driving force, the theological vision of both Liang and Hong that also emerged from their Chinese culture energized the Taipings. The Taiping Movement resulted from a deliberate synthesis of Christian ideas and native Chinese practices in China.