Su-un and His World of Symbols: The Founder of Korea's First Indigenous Religion

This book presents and explores the image which Ch'oe Su-un, the founder of the Tonghak Religion and prototype of new religious leaders in Korea, had of himself as a religious leader and human being in relation to the Lord of Heaven. Based on a study of the two seminal symbols which Su-un created and used to disseminate his religion, and the two books of Scripture that he composed, this book breaks new ground by presenting the only major work in English which attempts to ascertain the image Su-un had of himself as a religious leader.Paul Beirne concludes that Su-un saw himself as a new creation, the like of which the world had not experienced, who was in complete harmony with the Lord of Heaven with whom he shared one heart. Su-un gave his life so that he could share his symbols, his scriptures and the foundational principals of his religion with all people, regardless of status, gender and age, so that they too could become of one heart and one mind with the Lord of Heaven.