@article{ART002623240},
author={Jo Sunghwan},
title={Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’},
journal={Religions of Korea},
issn={1738-3617},
year={2020},
volume={48},
pages={7-27}
TY - JOUR
AU - Jo Sunghwan
TI - Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’
JO - Religions of Korea
PY - 2020
VL - 48
IS - null
PB - The Research Center of Religions
SP - 7
EP - 27
SN - 1738-3617
AB - Choi Jewu (1824~1864), a Korean founder of Donghak (Eastern Learning), practiced rituals to Heaven before establishing Donghak. The purpose was to pray for spirituality and the teaching of Heaven. Incantations were added as a new method after Donghak, and Choi Jewu chanted incantations while practicing rituals to Heaven. Choi Sihyeong (1827~1898), the second leader of Donghak, opened a new horizon in the understanding of ancestor worship and Heaven worship by reinterpreting the concept of Heaven and Parents. In Choi Sihyong’s philosophy, Heaven is understood as Heaven and Earth indicating the whole environment, and thus the “Heaven within me” of Choi Jewu is understood as “spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth within me.” Moreover, Heaven and Earth are regarded as the ultimate parents of all beings (“Heaven and Earth are our parents”), and thus ancestor worship is reinterpreted as Heaven worship. Since “spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is acting within me” in Choi Sihyeong’s philosophy, ancestor worship is transformed into self worship, i.e. “worship toward the self.” This means ancestor worship is Heaven worship, and also worship for me. Choi Sihyeong also says having a meal is nothing less than ancestor worship. The reason is that ancestor worship is for dead parents, and having meal resonates with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, but in Choi Sihyeong’s philosophy Heaven and Earth are parents of all beings and the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth parents is within me. At this point, the difference between practicing worship and having a meal disappeared, and having a meal in everyday life is nothing less than ancestor worship and Heaven worship. In this respect, it can be said that “Rituals to Heaven become a part of everyday life” in Choi Sihyeong’s Donghak.
KW - Donghak;Choi Sihyeong;rituals to Heaven;worshipping toward the self;serving the Heavenly Lord within oneself (sicheonju);parents of Heaven and Earth
DO -
UR -
ER -
Jo Sunghwan. (2020). Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’. Religions of Korea, 48, 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. 2020, "Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’", Religions of Korea, vol.48, pp.7-27.
Jo Sunghwan "Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’" Religions of Korea 48 pp.7-27 (2020) : 7.
Jo Sunghwan. Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’. 2020; 48 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. "Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’" Religions of Korea 48(2020) : 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’. Religions of Korea, 48, 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’. Religions of Korea. 2020; 48 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’. 2020; 48 7-27.
Jo Sunghwan. "Making Rituals to Heaven Everyday Life in Donghak (Eastern Learning) ―Focusing on Choi Sihyeong’s ‘Worshipping toward the Self’" Religions of Korea 48(2020) : 7-27.
