The Donghak Religion and the Modernization of Korea- With a Focus on the Donghak Peasant War -

Abstract

This paper analyses significance of Donghak which influenced the Korean Modernization focusing on the Donghak peasant war and its relationship with the organization of Donghak. That the organizational structure and teachings of Donghak played an important role in the Peasant War canot be overlooked. In this context, the writer attempts to explore the philosophy of Suun and Haewol and then examined the historical significance of the Donghak Peasant War and the organizational structure of Donghak. Donghak organizations were composed of Jeop and Po (local religious comunities), which had ben built up through human relationships or spiritual lineages. What is especially interesting about these local Donghak comunities, compared with their counterparts of other churches, is that each Po or Jeop was an important mechanism for socializing the spirit of the Donghak ethical system. At the time of Donghak Peasant War, 339 Po comunities from 85 districts participated in the struggle, along with a greater number of like-minded non-believers. After the Jeonju truce, the Donghak leaders established Jipgang-so (administrative offices) in 53 counties of the three southern provinces. The reform plan of the Jipgang-so administrative office shows that Donghak began to pursue, through the Jipgang-so administration, agricultural reforms, abolition of the feudal system, and the severe punishment to corrupt officials and feudal landlords. In particular, this reform plan cleared the way for the transition of Korea into a modern civil society. Towards this end, the reform efforts to eradicate discrimination against people of the lowest caste and slaves and the emphasis on equality for all human beings were especially important.