Revered Teacher Euiam and the Era of the Transparent Way

(Hyundosidae 顯道時代)

The name of Euiam (義菴) Sungsa (聖師) is Son Byunghee (孫秉熙). Euiam Sungsa was born at Daeju-ri Bugi-myeon Chungwon-gun Chungcheongbuk-do in the 2nd year of Podeok (1861). His father’s name was Eui-jo and mother’s name was Mrs. Choi. His mother had a precognitive dream about the birth of a child that the sun came in her bosom. Euiam Sungsa enjoyed a broad-minded youth. When he heard the rumor that Donghak was a truth having a great religious purpose constructing the heaven on earth, supporting the nation and comforting the people, he became a Donghak’s follower in the 23rd year of Podeok (1882).

After joining Donghak, Euiam Sungsa unlived broad-minded lifes all at once and trained extremely reading the Twenty-One Letters Incantation (21Ja Jumun, 21字 呪文) got from Donghak follower thirty thousand times a day. In addition to reading the incantation in this way he made two pair of straw sandals every day in his spare time. He went to the five-day periodic market in Cheongju and sold these sandals. He continued this life for three years. In other words he lived an consistent life with incantation-training. After then Euiam Sungsa went to Gaseopsa Temple in Gongju, Sajaam Temple in Iksan and Yongmunsa Temple in Pungcheon with his teacher Haeweol Sinsa and there trained devoutly. Later this devoutly religious training became a motivity that made so many achievement.

During the Donghak Revolution Euiam Sungsa performed actively in leading the Donghak army as the supreme commander of the north Donghak army. Afterwards to avoid the pursuit of government he wandered Weonju, Yeoju and so on, taking care of Haeweol Sinsa. When he was 37 years old he inherited the supreme leadership of Donghak organization from Haeweol Sinsa on December 24 in the 38th year of Podeok (1897) and he became the Great Church Leader of Donghak (大道主). Having inherited the supreme leadership of Donghak organization Euiam Sungsa reformed the order of Donghak organization. When he has gone abroad to search the world situation he stayed in Japan and discussed the national issues together with many compatriots living in exile there. He also considered how to handle the Donghak followers. Through this process, Euiam Sungsa became deeply aware of the importance of nurturing talent and selected excellent talents among the young Donghak followers and sent them abroad for study in Japan. Like this he arranged for reviving Donghak organization consistently.

In the 45th year of Podeok (1904) sensing the indication of the Russo-Japanese War, Euiam Sungsa directed the comrades living in Joseon to form the Progressive Society (Jinbohoe, 進步會) and to rally the Donghak followers. He also launched the New Culture Movement that throughout the country the Jinbohoe members cut their hair short and weared cloths dyed black (斷髮黑衣) in August of this year. He hoped to reform the declining fate of country. After this, on December 1 in the 46th year of Podeok (1905) it was proclaimed to the world that the name of Donghak had been changed to Chondogyo. Therefore Donghak got out from The Era of Faith in Secret (Eundosidae, 隱道時代) and became to welcome The Era of Free Faith (Hyundosidae, 顯道時代). On January in the 47th year of Podeok (1906) Euiam Sungsa returned from Japan and established Chondogyo Headquarters in Seoul and set up dioceses in each districts throughout the country. By doing this Chondogyo had a modern religious system. He also excommunicated together with Lee Yonggu and sixty others who joined Jinbohoe (進步會) with Iljinhoe (一進會) to show pro-Japanese activities and then he restarted.

However, in the 51st year of Podeok (1910) our country became to be ruled over humiliatingly by Japan. Being in sorrow of losing country Euiam Sungsa built Bongwhanggak (鳳凰閣) in Ui-dong. He called the leaders among religious workers throughout the country seven times here and guided total 483 persons for 49 days special training to find the stage of substituting the spirit of God for the mind of body (Isinwhansung, 以身換性). This training was for the solidarity of will power and for the reinforcement of organization power. Later this power became a important driving force of the Samil Independence Movement (3·1獨立運動). Like this Euiam Sungsa had prepared for the Samil Independence Movement for almost ten years ahead.

Therefore, on January 5 in 60th year of Podeok (1919) Euiam Sungsa commanded all Chondogyo believers in the whole country to practise 49 days special pray. Through this pray he armed all Chondogyo believers with the spirit of independence. After this primary process he led the nationwide Samil Independence Movement on March 1 in 1919. Euiam Sungsa was imprisoned as the supreme leader of Samil Independence Movement. He got a disease of general paralysis by tortures in prison. After this hardship he was released from prison by sick bail but his illness had worsened more and more. In the 63rd year of Podeok (1922) he died at the Sangchunwon (常春園) house outside the Dongdaemun Gate in Seoul and then he was 62 years old. As Su-un Daesinsa and Haeweol Sinsa, Euiam Sungsa also kept putting his heart and soul into looking after the oppressed peoples. At the end of this process he died a martyr for his faith stately by unfair forces. He is called as the Third Great Church Leader of Chondogyo (天道敎 3世 敎祖).