Lee Yu-rip (李裕岦, 18 December 1907 (14th day of the 11th lunar month, 1907)1 – 18 April 19862) is known as a Korean religious figure, the leader of a minor religion called Taebaekgyo, and a nationalist activist.3 However, allegations of collaboration with Japan have been raised in some quarters.4 His family seat was Goseong (固城), his courtesy names were Chaeyeong (采英) and Jungjeong (中正), and his art names were Hanamdang (寒闇堂), Jeongsan Choin (靜山樵人), Danha Sanin (檀下山人), Hosang Pogaek (湖上逋客), and Danhak Dongin (檀鶴洞人).
Life
He was a descendant of Yi Am (李嵒), a civil official of the late Goryeo period. His father was Lee Gwan-jip (李觀楫), and his mother was from the Taein Baek clan.5 From an early age he studied Classical Chinese, and in 1915, at age 9, he secretly practiced the songs and marching drills of the former Korean army (舊韓國軍) taught by Oh Dong-jin (吳東振). In 1919 he reportedly joined the Korean Independence Movement in Sinan-dong, carrying a Taegukgi, and he is said to have had strong patriotic convictions.3 However, the accounts of Lee Yu-rip's and his father Lee Gwan-jip's independence activities all rely on books written by Lee Yu-rip himself, and they have not been cross-verified elsewhere.64
Chronology
- 1907: Born as the fourth son of Danhae (檀海) Lee Gwan-jip, in the Cheonggyeryeong Mountain area, Cheonggok Valley, below Guryeongpo in Pungan-dong, Gokgu-myeon, Sakju County, North Pyongan Province.
- 1921: Took part in the organizing activities of the Joseon Independent Youth Corps (朝鮮獨立少年團) and became its leader.3
- 1924–1927: Entered and graduated from the third year of Sakju Higher Common School.
- July 1931: His poem "Sahoe (寫懷)" was published in the monthly magazine Joseon (《朝鮮》), issued by the Government-General of Korea.
- August 1933: His poem "Sakju (朔州) Eulsan-chon (乙山村)" was published in the monthly magazine Joseon, issued by the Government-General of Korea.
- 1933: Joined the Myeonggyo Academy (明敎學院), founded by An Sun-hwan (安淳煥), which was affiliated with the Joseon Confucian Association (or Joseon Confucian Society).
- 1935: Served as branch head of the Sakju Confucian Youth Association (朔州儒敎靑年會支敎部長)7, and as chief editor of the Ilwol sibo (《일월시보》), the organ of the Joseon Confucian Association.
- 1938: Served as Sakju branch chief of the Dong-a Ilbo.8
- 1939: Founded the Sinpung Academy (新豊學院), where he worked as dean of studies and teacher.
- April 1945: Took charge of the Pyongan-bukdo Sakju branch of the Korean Independence League (建國同盟). He was connected to the leaflet distribution incident of Jeon Bong-cheon (全鳳天), who wrote "Theory of Refusal of the Greater East Asia War" (「대동아전쟁거부론」), and was interrogated by the Japanese military police at Guryeongpo. On 9 September he was appointed principal of Apnokgang Elementary School, head of the Pungmin Cooperative (豊民組合), and head of the Culture Department of the Korean Workers' National Association (大韓勤勞國民會). On 3 October, at the Cheonmasan Festival, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the journal Taegeuk (太極), the organ of the Dan Hak Society (檀學會), which had been formed under the leadership of independence activist Lee Yong-dam (李龍潭).3
- Advocated the Restoration of the monarchy and was charged with violating the National Security Act.
- 1963: Became the third president of the Dan Dan Hak Society (檀檀學會), which succeeded the Dan Hak Society, and published its organ Keobalhan (《커발한》).
- 1976: Together with Park Chang-am, Ahn Ho-sang, Yu Bong-yeong, Mun Jeong-chang, Park Si-in, Im Seung-guk, and others, organized the Council for the Search for National History (국사찾기 협의회).
- 1979: Published the Hwandan Gogi (100 copies, limited edition).
Allegations of collaboration with Japan
He is generally known as an independence activist or nationalist activist, but based on the following conduct, claims have been made that he was pro-Japanese.4
- He submitted poems to the monthly magazine Joseon, published by the Government-General of Korea, and the content of the poems sings of an age of peace under Japanese rule.9
- He was active in the Joseon Confucian Association, a pro-Japanese Confucian organization, served as chief editor of its pro-Japanese organ Ilwol sibo, and founded the Sinpung Academy, an affiliated organization.10
- He served as branch chief of the Dong-a Ilbo, which became a pro-Japanese newspaper after the Second Sino-Japanese War.11
Meanwhile, Lee Yu-rip claims to be the inheritor of the Hwandan Gogi, but it is considered almost certain that he himself wrote it.124 The Hwandan Gogi is also known to contain nationalist content, but there is criticism that its actual content has strong pro-Japanese elements. Furthermore, Lee Yu-rip passed the Hwandan Gogi on to General Park Chang-am, and Park Chang-am in turn delivered the original text of the Hwandan Gogi to the Japanese historical writer Kashima Noboru (鹿島昇).13 Kashima Noboru was an ultra-right historical writer who advocated a state-centered historiography such as the theory of common origins of Japan and Korea (日鮮同祖論), and his translation of the Hwandan Gogi includes a remark stating, "I thank Lee Yu-rip for passing on a book that serves as evidence for the theory of common origins of Japan and Korea."14 In response, Lee Yu-rip claimed that he had not permitted the book to be passed on and that it had been leaked without his permission.
Religious activities
Lee Yu-rip claims that, from the Japanese colonial period onward, he was active in national groups or national religions such as the Dan Hak Society and Taebaekgyo. However, the Dan Dan Hak Society, which he claims as the successor of the Dan Hak Society, as well as Taebaekgyo and Keobalhan, are classified as a kind of minor religion, and Lee Yu-rip is known as their leader. The Hwandan Gogi also contains many passages describing the doctrines of Taebaekgyo, of which Lee Yu-rip is the leader.15
Works
- Gwanggaeto Seongreung Bimun Yeokju (《광개토 성릉 비문 역주》), Daedong Munhwasa, 1973
- Keobalhan Munhwa Sasang Sahak 1–2 (《커발한 문화사상사》), Dan Dan Hak Society, 1976
- Hwandan Gogi (《환단고기》), Gwang-o Haesasa, 197916
- Hanamdang Lee Yu-rip Sahak Chongseo (Cheon) (《한암당 이유립 사학총서 (천)》), edited by the Dan Dan Hak Society, Moeum Publishing, 198317
- Daebaedal Minsok Sa 1–5 (《대배달민족사》), Goryeoga, 1987
References
Notes