Lably
Skip to content

Won Buddhism

Modernized form of Buddhism

  • 9 min read
  • 4 chapters

Related on Lably

Through New religious movement, Nirvana and Dharma

Lab · Class 6–7Vedic AgeLab · Class 6–12Buddhist Art at SanchiLab · Class 7–9Ancient Indian EmpiresLab · Class 7–12Ashoka & the Mauryan Empire

Founder and early history

Background

Buddhism was introduced to the Korean peninsula in the fourth century CE. During the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), Confucianism became the predominant belief system and Buddhism was suppressed. Christianity — initially Catholicism and later Protestantism—was introduced in the late 19th century. Under Japanese occupation (1910–1945), Japanese-oriented Buddhism became prominent in part to counter Christianity's influence. Concurrently during the late 19th/early 20th centuries, new movements arose in Korean Buddhism to reform its traditional elements or form a "new Buddhism", e.g., Won Buddhism.

Won Buddhism is a modern Buddhist tradition that emerged in Korea. The term won, meaning "circle" in Korean, symbolizes the unity of the world and its inhabitants. This spiritual practice seeks to harmonize scientific and economic progress with personal development and ethical values. Established by Sotaesan, who achieved enlightenment in 1916, Won Buddhism was created as a response to the realization that materialistic pursuits were diminishing the human spirit. Sotaesan advocated a return to spiritual fulfillment and communal living. His vision led to a reformation of traditional Buddhist principles, blending them with contemporary needs.

Won Buddhism emphasizes a holistic approach, integrating spirituality with scientific understanding, moral principles with social justice, gender equality, and religious practices with everyday life. Practitioners of Won Buddhism engage in meditation before a won, or circle, rather than traditional Buddhist images. This practice underscores the concept of universal unity and reflects a commitment to merging scientific and economic advancement with personal wisdom and social responsibility. Sotaesan's creation of Won Buddhism is regarded as an evolution of Buddhist teachings, designed to make them more relevant and accessible to modern society. This approach aims to update and revitalize the teachings of Buddhism for contemporary understanding.

Founding of Won Buddhism

Sotaesan (Korean: 소태산), born Bak Jungbin (Korean: 박중빈; Hanja: 朴重彬, 1891–1943), grew up in a poor village in the southwest corner of the Korean peninsula. His only formal education was two years of local primary schooling, in the Confucian tradition.

According to Won Buddhism tradition, he began asking questions about universal phenomena at age seven and expanded his inquiries to problems of life and death and existence. He began his quest by praying to mountain spirits for four years, following this with equally unsuccessful questioning of those considered enlightened teachers. Finally, he spent several years in deep observation and contemplation, often in harsh physical conditions. By the age of 25, he was viewed as a lost soul by his fellow villagers. On April 28, 1916, he claimed to have experienced enlightenment and entered a state of nirvana. Won Buddhists annually celebrate this date as Great Enlightenment Day.

Sotaesan did not set out specifically to embrace Buddhism; rather, after his enlightenment he examined various religions. Although his thought contained Confucian and Taoist elements, after reading the Diamond Sutra he found himself predisposed to Buddhism.

He then attracted a small group of followers and selected nine disciples. Early guiding principles included diligence, frugality, elimination of formal rituals and superstition, and abstinence from alcohol and smoking Major elements, still central today, are the lack of a wide distinction between laity and the priesthood, equality of men and women, modernizing practice and doctrine, and concern about the swift rise in material development. Early on, Sotaesan sought to improve the daily lives of his followers by establishing a thrift and savings institution, and embarking on an arduous, year-long levee-building project to reclaim 25 acres of land from the sea for rice cultivation.

In August 1919, the nine disciples pledged to follow the new movement even at the cost of their lives. In an event commemorated today as "The Miracle of the Blood Seal", thumbprints placed on a sheet of paper recording their pledge were seen to turn red.

Sotaesan named his community Bulbeop Yeongu Hoe (Society for the Study of the Buddha-dharma) in 1924. It remained a small rural order based in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, until the Japanese occupation ended in 1945. Sotaesan's successor, Jeongsan (Song Gyu) renamed it Wonbulgyo (Won Buddhism) in 1947.

Since the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, Won Buddhism has grown markedly. The precise number of Won Buddhist practitioners worldwide is unclear. In South Korea's 2005 census, approximately 130,000 people identified themselves as members. However, this may be an under-representation, since people could also identify themselves on the census as "Buddhists". Won Buddhist Headquarters estimates the number to be over one million worldwide. Currently, there are approximately five hundred Won Buddhist temples in Korea and over seventy temples and centers in 23 countries.

Sign in to keep reading

3 more chapters are free with a Lably account.

More in Religion

PinyinRomanization scheme for Standard ChineseHindusAdherents of HinduismTraditional Chinese charactersStandardized set of Chinese charactersLiteral translationWord-for-word translation of a textReligionSocial-cultural systemTheologyStudy of the nature of deities and religious beliefs