Bocheon-gyo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bocheon-gyo | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bocheon-gyo (from Korean - Universal Religion) is a religion of Korea. It was founded by Cha Gyeong-seok on Ibam Mountain in Daeheung-ri, Ibam-myeon, Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, in 1911. Today this site is part of Naejangsan National Park.
Cha Gyeong-seok was originally a Donghak priest, who converted to Jeung San Do after meeting Gang Il-Sun. After Gang's death in 1909, Cha established his own separate faith. Cha prophesied that the unification of the world would take place beginning in Korea. The name Bocheon-gyo was not adopted until 1921, at a great ritual held in Hamyang County, Gyeongsangnam-do.
During the Japanese occupation, Bocheon-gyo may have claimed as many as 6 million followers, including leading activists in the Korean independence movements. Today its followers are much fewer.
Bocheon-gyo is credited with encouraging local culture in the Jeongeup region, including the pungmulgut performance tradition. [1]
