Cheondogyo
| Korean spelling | |
|---|---|
| Korean alphabet : | 천도교 |
| Hanja : | 天道 敎 |
| Revised Romanization : | Cheondogyo |
| McCune-Reischauer : | Ch'ŏndogyo |
The Korean religion of Cheondogyo (Korean for religion of the heavenly way ) arose from the Donghak movement (Korean for Eastern Doctrine ), founded around 1860 by Choe Je-u ( 최제우 ), a nationalist protest movement against the social conditions in the country, which are characterized by corruption and oppression Korea of the Joseon dynasty . In South Korea, the denomination has over a million members, including about 400,000 in Seoul . In North Korea there are around 3 million believers, about 12.9% of the total population. There is a block party , the Chondoist Ch'ŏngu Party , which refers to the religion of Cheondogyo.
Faith
Cheondogyo is a syncretistic religion that combines elements from Confucianism and Shamanism in Korea .
It is not spoken of a creator god, but of an all-pervading energy that holds the universe together. The energy or primal force is called Haneullim (하늘님) or “Divine Master”. In addition to this primal force there are a multitude of gods and spirits as well as ancestral spirits.
As in Confucianism, great emphasis is placed on self-cultivation. One has to be of a strong mind and can thus gain influence on reality. Prayers to gods and spirits are useful but do not have to be performed. If one has enough "magical power", one becomes a higher spirit being oneself. Everyone has a free will.
history
Cheondogyo emerged from the Donghak movement, a political and religious renewal movement from the 19th century against Christianity . It was founded in 1860 and was recognized as an independent religion with its third leader Son Pyŏng-Hi .
Choe Je-u called Cheondogyo an alternative to Christianity ("Western teaching"). Due to the union of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism and the claim to represent the "Eastern Doctrine", the Chendogyo quickly reached the masses.
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://english.seoul.go.kr/residents/religlous/rel_01.htm
- ^ Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Retrieved December 22, 2018 .
- ↑ [1] , 천도교 개관 (영문) - 천도교
- ↑ Lee Chi-ran, p. 16
- ^ Xinzhong Yao: An Introduction to Confucianism . Cambridge University Press, 2000, ISBN 0521644305 , pp. 121-122.
- ↑ Young, Carl F. pp.6-7
- ↑ Young, Carl F. pp. 113-121
- ↑ Young, Carl F. pp.6-7
- ↑ Young, Carl F. pp. 10-12
