Daehan Cheolligyo


Daehan Cheolligyo is a Tenrikyo-based Shinshūkyō that is based in South Korea. It is one of the two South Korean Tenrikyo organizations. Daehan Cheolligyo is known for adopting more localized customs to harmonize with the general post-Japanese colonial cultural atmosphere; the other one is Cheolligyo Han'gukgyodan that still preserves the Japanese Sect Shinto-affiliated cultural aspects in terms of religious practices and direct affiliation with the Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. Its headquarters are currently located in southern Uijeongbu right next to Mangwolsa station of Seoul [Subway Line 1] and 's 1st campus.

History

The Korean branch of Tenrikyo had to face the public backlashes of anti-Japanese sentiment after the surrender of Japan due to Tenrikyo being a religion of native Japanese origin. This nationwide circumstance had created an environment in which the Korean Tenrikyo adherents could not practice their religion openly in public.
The first attempt to make an autonomous and indigenous Korean Tenrikyo organization was led by Kim Gi-su in May 1947 who founded the General Association of Tenrikyo, which did not exist as an officially approved legal corporation. The disorganized social and political situation in South Korea at the time did not unite Tenrikyo followers instantly. In general, the collective hardship continued even further due to the growth of Christianity in South Korea. Another group of Korean Tenrikyo adherents reformed their religion and eventually established Cheon'gyeongsuyang'won with government approval in Seoul in 1948 as a way to cut down the overt Japanese connection within Korea's Tenrikyo communities, then evolved into General Association of Korean Tenrikyo on 14 December 1952 by the thirty-three members of Cheon'gyeongsuyang'won in Daegu during the Korean War.
The financial and charity arm of the religious organization, Incorporated Foundation Daehan Cheolligyodan, was established on 14 October 1963.
The headquarters were moved from Cheongpa-dong in Yongsan District to Uijeongbu around late 2000s and early 2010s for the purpose of future exchanges with North Korea.
There were around 90,000 adherents as of 2012.
The 8th Interreligious Thursday Prayer Meeting for New Reunified Korea organized by the Korean Religions Association was held at the headquarters in Uijeongbu on 21 November 2019.

Organization

The head of Daehan Cheolligyo is called the gyotong, and its congregations are called gyohoe or churches in Korean.

Differences from Tenrikyo

Daehan Cheolligyo does not largely develop an independent path from Tenrikyo's local church practices in Japan, but only Korean-ized or removed obvious Shinto-based elements in its religious practices.

Kanrodai

Unlike in Japanese Tenrikyo, Daehan Cheolligyo's adherents directly pray to the wooden kanrodai fixtures that are installed within the main halls of respective churches, instead of mirrors from Shinto traditions, during the localized services appropriate for the Korean social environment.

Teachings of Daehan Cheolligyo

The Doctrine expresses the mission of Daehan Cheolligyo. It also emphasizes the Three Instructions and Eight Precepts in which they have dedicated names.
The details of the Doctrine and two codes are:
  • Doctrine
  1. Let us influence others through repeatedly performing self-cultivation
  2. Let us achieve the true, the good, and the beautiful of the people through working hard and protecting the country
  3. Let us build freedom and peace for humanity through ethical loyalty and faith
  • Three Instructions
  1. Wake up early
  2. Have an honest heart
  3. Work diligently
  • Eight Precepts
  1. Throw away the heart that promotes desire
  2. Throw away the heart that promotes poverty of emotions
  3. Throw away the heart that promotes favoritism against others
  4. Throw away the heart that promotes hate
  5. Throw away the heart that promotes resentment
  6. Throw away the heart that promotes anger
  7. Throw away the heart that promotes expressing greed
  8. Throw away the heart that promotes arrogance