• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.34
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• pp.1-26
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• 2020

In Taiwanese Daoism, the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe (九天應元雷聲普化天尊) is the highest deity in the Thunder Ministry. In the the Korean new religion, Daesoon Jinrihoe (大巡真理會), he is the Supreme God. However, since the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe has the same name in these two traditions, it naturally leads people to wonder whether or not they can be considered the same deity. Or failing that, it could still be asked, to what extent are these two deities related? Or it could further be asked what meaning does the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe have in these two religions? Anyhow, all such questions depend on first establishing a greater degree of basic clarity. Religious scripture can serve as a cornerstone in gaining such basic clarity. Scripture almost invariably contains information regarding the divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity of deities reflective of what is understood by the devotees of those religions. Clues on the precise nature of these key attributes of deity-depiction can be drawn out of scriptural accounts, and as such, the research presented in this paper will begin by comparing two relevant scriptures. The representative scriptures highlighted in this paper will be The Canonical Scripture (典經) of Daesoon Jinrihoe and The Scripture of the Jade Pivot (玉樞寶經) of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity, 正一) Daoism. These scriptures will serve as the basis for exploration and analysis of the divine attributes of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe in terms of his divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity. By comparing these two scriptural accounts of his divine attributes, the similarities and differences that arise can be properly explored. This paper endeavors to clarify the ultimate purpose of 'the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe.' In this paper, the first step will be an exploration of scriptural analysis. The contents of this paper is roughly divided into four sections. The first section is an exploration of the general contents of the two scriptures, including their origin, contents, and value. The second section focuses on the three main divine attributes of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe: his divine nature, divine authority, and sacrosanctity. The third section will compare the depictions of the deity in the two scriptural accounts in terms of those three attributes. Lastly, the deity's evolutionary history in both religions is shown and compared and final remarks are made on the contemporary value of the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven, Responder, Thunderbolt-bearer, and Transformer of the Universe.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.29
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• pp.71-100
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• 2017

This study focuses on examining 'the Supreme God and Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin', which Daesoon Jinrihoe believes in as the highest divinity. The name of this divinity was first found in Chinese Daoist scriptures. This study starts by considering the global propagation of virtue and then research connected to this topic. There are two alternative names for this divinity in relation to his human avatar, Kang Jeungsan, the subject of faith in Daesoon Jinrihoe. One is 'the Lord God of Great Creation in the Ninth Heaven' meaning the divinity before assuming a human avatar, and the other is 'the Celestial Worthy of Universal Transformation' the same divinity after he discarded his human avatar and returned to his celestial post. To understand how the belief system of Daesoon Jinrihoe differs from that of Daoism, it is necessary to study the divinity's change from being 'the Lord God of Great Creation in the Ninth Heaven' to becoming 'the Celestial Worthy of Universal Transformation'. If this distinction is not made clear, it brings about confusing arguments concerning the term 'Supreme God (Sangje)' as used in Daoism and Daesoon Jinrihoe. In order to offer a specific explanation, this study suggests three possible directions. The first hypothesis is that although these two names, 'the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin' from Daoism and 'the Supreme God of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin' from Daesoon Jinrihoe, are similar, they actually have nothing to do with one another. The second hypothesis is that they are in fact the same divinity. Lastly, the third hypothesis is that they are closely connected, however, the former (the Celestial Worthy of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin) is a position needed to fulfill the mission of Jeungsan, whereas the latter (the Supreme God of the Ninth Heaven Who Spreads the Sound of the Thunder Corresponding to Primordial Origin) is a name received after the human avatar passes and the deity returns to the Noebu, 'the department of lightning'. These hypotheses face certain problems such as arbitrary mixing, the need for the theoretical clarity, and argumental weakness. Therefore, by leaving some unresolved questions, this study encourages future follow-up studies.

• 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.35
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• pp.255-293
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• 2020

This study examines the God, Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun (九天應元雷聲普化天尊, 'The Supreme God of the Ninth Heaven, Celestial Worthy of Universal Creation through His Thunderbolt, the Originator with Whom All Beings Resonate' in Daesoon Jinrihoe), in terms of narrative imagination, by investigating the narrative of Wen Zhong (聞仲) in Investiture of the Gods (Fengshenyanyi 封神演義) and the narrative of Kang Jeungsan (姜甑山) in The Canonical Scripture (Jeongyeong 典經). This examination occurs along three dimensions: Firstly, I look into the cultural contexts of the image of the Thunder God (雷神) in Gojoseon (古朝鮮) mythology and the Korean seondo (仙道) tradition both of which are reflected in the narrative of Wen Zhong. At the same time, I also argue that the cultural contexts examined above are able to be found in the narrative of Kang Jeungsan. Secondly, I consider the essential meaning of the concept of "deifying" (封神) in the narrative of Wen Zhong and its connection to "the resolution of grievances" (haewon 解冤) in the narrative of Kang Jeungsan. Thirdly, I consider the traits of embracing heterogeneous things (異類) in the religious group "Jiejiao" (截敎) that Wen Zhong belonged to in relation to the values of "mutual beneficence" (sangsaeng 相生) that Kang Jeungsan pursued. In this study's conclusion, I posit that the "mentalité" of Dong-yi (東夷) culture and tales including Yin (殷) is identifiable in narrative imagination applied to the God, Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun. This means that the nature of Jiutian Yingyuan Leisheng Puhua Tianzun is closely related to the tradition of Korean seondo and Korean Daoism.