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The Characteristics and Significance of Materials Stored in Sangju Donghak Church

Hyon-Suk Pae 1

1계명문화대학교

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ABSTRACT

Kim, Ju-hui (김주희, 1860-1944), the leader of Sangju Donghak Church (상주동학) learned a lesson from the Woogeumchi Battle (우금치전투) that the physical resistance was not the only way to achieve the goals; rather, a spiritual armament was more effective and valuable in the long run. Kim, Ju-hui put his idea, religious aspects of spiritual relief into practice by educating the followers on the truth which were in the Donghak Scriptures (동학경전), so that the teachings could be handed down from generation to generation. Since Kim, Ju-hui settled down at Woogi-ri, Euncheok Myon, Sangju City in 1915, the influence of Sangju Donghak rapidly grew. By the end of 1920 the total number of followers reached more than 1,500. This led Kim Ju-hui playing a dangerous game of hide-and-seek with the Japanese police and chasers for almost thirty years. Kim Ju-hui established a new direction of Donghak in theory and practice, by proposing a new explanation of Donghak philosophy. Kim Nak-se (김낙세), the deputy leader took efficient care of all the affairs of the Church. In reality, Kim Nak-se was involved in all the important affairs - getting the church officially sanctioned, construction of the Church buildings, printing of Scriptures and Songs, the mission work and the education of followers. In view of his role and status, Kim Ju-hui can be likened to the Founder, and Kim Nak-se to the role of the manager. Kim Nak-se’s another noteworthy achievement was his diaries, written in his own hand. His diary of 17 volume set has been likened to a time capsule that contains all the affairs for the previous 70 years. They held meetings and services, and printed and distributed the Scriptures and the words of Chants (가사) on Donghak. Accordingly, the Japanese authorities continuously monitored and inspected the activities of Donghak, eventually in June 1936 they closed down on the meeting halls and the printing shops without any prior notice. From then on the hide-and-seek games started. They held meetings and services secretly, and printed the Scriptures and words of Chants in secret. In November 1943, several Japanese police arrested members, captured mounds of papers and books together with their symbolic flags and took them to Sangju Police Station. This was a direct hit to the Donghak, and thereafter the influence of the Donghak was drastically weakened. Finally, Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945 and Korea got independence. Unfortunately the leader and the deputy leader had died before 1945 from the after-effects of torture by the Japanese police. So Donghak had declined drastically. Including Donghak Scriptures, words of Chants, woodblocks, movable types, printing instrument, mass vestments, flags and furnishings, 289 kinds of 1,425 pieces were handed down and stored in Sangju Donghak Church. These materials are not only great for the study of the religious significance of, and the history of Sangju Donghak, but also great materials for the study of the history of Korean linguistics, social education, bibliography and printing. In this study, 7 significance and values of these materials stored in Sangju Donghak Church have been analyzed.

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