Cheondoism

Cheondoism is a Korean religion that developed from the nineteenth-century Donghak movement. It teaches that divine presence dwells within humanity and emphasizes ethical conduct and social transformation.

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Donghak: A nineteenth-century Korean religious and social movement founded by Choe Je-u. Cheondoism grew from Donghak and retains its central teachings.
Choe Si-hyeong: The second leader of Donghak, who organized and transmitted the movement after Choe Je-u’s execution. His leadership preserved Donghak teachings that later formed Cheondoism.
Cheondogyo Youth Association: A youth organization associated with Cheondoism and founded in Korea in 1923. It brought Cheondoist education and social ideals to young people.
Christianity in Korea: The diverse Christian traditions established and developed in Korea since the late eighteenth century. Christianity expanded alongside Cheondoism, offering a different religious framework and institutional history.
Innaecheon: The Donghak teaching that divine presence resides within every person. This principle grounds Cheondoism’s account of human dignity.
Son Byeong-hui: A Donghak leader who reorganized the movement as Cheondoism in the early twentieth century. He led the formal transition from Donghak to Cheondoism.
Cheondogyo Central Temple: The principal Cheondoist temple in Seoul, completed in 1921. Its construction established a prominent center for worship and communal life.
Juche: North Korea’s official state ideology, emphasizing self-reliance and political sovereignty. Cheondoism’s traditional religious institutions have had a distinct, constrained status in North Korea’s Juche state.
Sicheonju: A Donghak practice and teaching centered on serving the divine presence within oneself. It expresses the inner divine presence that Cheondoism inherits from Donghak.
Donghak Peasant Revolution: A major Korean peasant uprising in 1894, led in part by Donghak adherents. The uprising made Donghak a force in Korea’s social and political history.