영학의 조직과 기독교와의 관계

Abstract

Although the government repressed Donghak after the Donghak Peasant War, there were some Donghak groups who continued their activities without losing their respective identity. Among them, Younghak-dang, which used a Western religion as a justification, started a civil war to fight with government troops in Heungdeok in the 11th month of 1898, and in Jeongeup and Gochang in the 4th month of 1899, according to the lunar calendar. The central force that organized Younghak-dang were the men of Son Whajung, who was one of the leaders of the Donghak Peasant War in 1894. They inherited the spirit in the Donghak Peasant War, organized Younghak-dang, and rose up in revolt. However, the question remains as to why the name ‘Younghak’(literally, ‘England’s learning’) was used when it was reminiscent of a Western religion. To which sect the Western religion referred was also in question. From the perspective of organizational, human, and doctrinal relations, this article demonstrates that Younghak-dang was related to the Southern Presbyterian Church. The organizational relationship between Younghak and Christianity can be confirmed in the expansion of the Younghak organization using an association, ‘Gye’, and the holding of meetings for Sunday worship. An ‘American pastor’ initiated the meeting and made a speech in Gobu and the members of Younghak-dang attended. The organizational activities of Younghak-dang are reminiscent of Christian offering, worship, and preaching. The human relation between Younghak and Christianity is confirmed by the fact that the 'American pastor' ordered any troublemaker in Younghak-dang to be sent to the ‘Wansan-Chilbong’ in Jeonju, which was the place where the missionaries of the Southern Presbyterian Church built a mission. This suggests that the missionaries had an influence on Younghak. If Donghak followers professed Christianity and disguised their identity as Younghak, Christian missionaries are likely to have regarded the members of Younghak-dang as the colporteur. As they professed Christianity, they also observed the proper rites and doctrines. They created doctrines based on the Christian view of God and ethics, and performed rites according to the doctrines. An arrested, low-level cadre in Younghak-dang confessed that Younghak was ‘Christianity.’ In this way, they utilized Christianity in organizational, human, and doctrinal terms. Younghak-dang, which was Donghak-dang in nature, professed Christianity for which legitimate missionary activities could be performed, thereby expanding the organization. Younghak-dang mobilized the organization to rise up in revolt to inherit the spirit in the Donghak Peasant War in 1894. However, it should be noted that, as Donghak professed Younghak, the boundary between Younghak and Christianity became uncertain. Thus, Younghak was in a situation where it was at risk of losing its self-identity.