Na Cheol (羅喆, birth name: Na Du-yeong, Hanja: 羅斗永, 2 December 18631 – 12 September 19162) was a civil official and scholar at the end of the Joseon and Korean Empire periods, the founder of Daejonggyo, and an anti-Japanese independence activist during the Korean Empire and Japanese colonial period. His family seat was Naju, and he was born in Beolgyo, Boseong, Jeolla Province.
His birth name was Na Du-yeong (羅斗永). His changed names were Na In-yeong (羅璌永 → 羅寅永)3 and Na Cheol (羅喆). His courtesy name was Munhyang (文鄕), his family seat was Naju (羅州), and his pen name was Hongam (弘巖).
On 5 February 1909 (15 January of the lunar calendar, 1909), he founded Dangun-gyo, the first ethnic religion of the Korean Empire. On 15 January 1910, shortly before the first anniversary of the founding of Dangun-gyo, he reorganized it and renamed it Daejonggyo.
Life
Early life
Na, a native of Beolgyo, Boseong, Jeolla Province45 and a direct descendant of longtime residents of Naksan, studied Classical Chinese learning from an early age.
Official career after leaving home to study
In 1883 (the 20th year of King Gojong), he left for the Chungju Garrison in Chungcheong Province. In 1886 (the 23rd year of Gojong), he went to the Suwon Yuboo in Gyeonggi Province, and in 1888 (the 25th year of Gojong) he went to study in Hanseong. In 1891 (the 28th year of Gojong), he passed the regular civil service literary examination of the Joseon period and was ranked in the third grade. In 1894 (the 31st year of Gojong), he served as junior secretary (副正字) of Hongmun-gwan. In 1895 (the 31st year of Gojong), he was appointed scribe of Hongmun-gwan. In 1896 (the first year of Gunyang), he was appointed tax collection chief (徵稅署長) of the Ministry of Finance, but within a few years he resigned. About fifteen years after leaving his hometown, he returned home in 1898 (the first year of Gwangmu).
Anti-Japanese struggle after returning home
After returning home, in 1904 he organized a secret society called the Yushinhoe (維新會) with Oh Gi-ho of Gangjin, South Jeolla, Yi Gi of Buan, North Jeolla, Choi Jeon (崔顓), and other intellectuals from the Honam region. In June 1905, just before the Eulsa Treaty, he went to Japan with Oh Gi-ho (吳基鎬), Yi Gi (李沂), and Hong Pil-ju (洪弼周). There they proposed to Japanese politicians that Korea, China, and Japan form a mutual friendship alliance for the sake of peace in East Asia, and that they cooperate with Korea on the basis of neighborly goodwill. When this produced no results, he staged a hunger strike in front of the imperial palace. He was thus engaged in nationalist movements from early on. After the Eulsa Treaty was concluded, he recruited Yi Cheol, Kang Won-sang (康元相), and others to form the Jasinhoe (later reorganized and renamed the Five Traitors Assassination Corps). They attempted to assassinate the Eulsa Five Traitors, but failed. In 1907 he surrendered and was sentenced to ten years of exile on Jido. However, one year later, in 1908 (the second year of Sunjong), he was released through a special amnesty granted by the retired Emperor Gojong.
National salvation through Daejonggyo
Afterward, as part of his national salvation movement, Na devoted himself to ethnic religious activity. On 5 February 1909, in Hanseong, he founded Dangun-gyo. Then, on 5 February 1909 (15 January of the lunar calendar, 1909), the name of the new Dangun-gyo was also changed to Daejonggyo. In any case, on 5 February 1909, together with ten comrades including Oh Gi-ho, he enshrined the "Dangun Great Imperial Ancestor Spirit Tablet" (檀君大皇祖神位) at Jaedong in Seoul and proclaimed the "Dangun-gyo Public Declaration" (檀君敎佈明書). This was the beginning of Dangun-gyo, that is, Daejonggyo.
On 15 January 1910, nearly a year after its first founding, the religion was renamed Daejonggyo (its believers increased to about 20,000), and a branch office was established in the region of Eastern Jiandao. After the Gyeongsul Treaty of National Humiliation (Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty) was concluded, the religious order moved toward Manchuria to escape the persecution of the Japanese. At this time, Daejonggyo believers, including Seo Il, threw themselves into the independence movement en masse. On 13 March 1914, the head office was moved there, and the scope of its missionary work was extended to the Manchuria area. Feeling threatened by this, the Japanese in October 1915 proclaimed the "Religious Control Regulations" (宗教統制案), openly intensifying their repression.
Death
On 12 September 1916 (15 August of the lunar calendar), at the Samseong Shrine on Mount Guwol in Hwanghae Province, he performed a Jecheon ritual to Hanbaegeom (Dangun). Afterward he left the "Three Articles of Sacrificing One's Life" (殉命三條), a farewell statement stating that he ended his life to offer ritual to Hanbaenim, to serve Daejonggyo, to serve Hanbaenim, and to serve humanity, and then he took his own life.
Legacy
Today, Daejonggyo designates the 15th day of the first lunar month as Jungkwangjeol (重光節, the day on which Na Cheol founded Daejonggyo) and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month as Gagyeongjeol (嘉慶節, the day on which Na Cheol died as a martyr), and commemorates them.
In 1962, the Order of National Foundation, Medal of Independence, was posthumously conferred on him.
Daejonggyo
On 1 September 1916 (4 August of the lunar calendar), Kim Gyo-heon (金敎獻), who became the second leader of Daejonggyo, moved the head office to Hwaryong (和龍) in eastern Manchuria. He then proclaimed and distributed the Hongbeom Rules (弘範規則), and also organized a secret society called the Jungkwangdan (重光團), which developed into the armed independence group Bukno Military Government (北路軍政署). In 1920 it achieved great success in the Battle of Qingshanli (靑山里戰鬪). As retaliation, the Japanese launched a large-scale punitive campaign the following year, indiscriminately massacring many believers. Kim Gyo-heon died of illness after being overcome with grief. Kim Gyo-heon wrote works such as Sindan Silgi (神檀實記), Sindan Minsa (神檀民史), and Danjo Sago (檀祖事攷) in order to institutionally establish Daejonggyo and to verify it historically.
Yun Se-bok (尹世復), who became the third leader, moved the head office to Dongjing City (東京城), the former capital site of Balhae, after the Jilin provincial governor Zhang Zuoxiang (張作相), under Japanese pressure, issued a ban on Daejonggyo missionary activity. There he founded Daejong Academy and launched the Daejong Scripture Publishing Association, publishing works such as Samil Singo (三一神誥) and Jongji Gangyeon (宗旨講演). However, while hurrying to build the Cheonjeon (天殿), in November 1942 Yun Se-bok and twenty other officials were arrested by the Japanese police on the charge of "forming an organization aimed at Korean independence," and they either died from torture or perished in prison.6
Gagyeongjeol
On 11 September 1916 (14 August of the lunar calendar), Kim Du-bong (金枓奉), the senior teacher (尙敎), together with six attendants, entered the Samseong Shrine on Mount Guwol and began a period of ascetic practice. Then, climbing the hill in front of the shrine, he bowed toward Mount Paektu in the north and toward the graves of his ancestors in the south, and after writing on the gate, "From three o'clock today, I will fast and cultivate for three days. Let no one open the door," he entered his practice. However, at dawn on the 16th, there was an unusual silence, so his disciples broke down the door and went in. Na Cheol had already died by breathing exercises (調息法), leaving a farewell letter explaining why he had chosen death. In accordance with Na Cheol's last wishes, his remains were interred at Cheongpa Lake, and afterward Daejonggyo designated the day he died as Gagyeongjeol (嘉慶節), commemorating it as one of the Four Great Festivals.
Family
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Paternal great-grandfather: Na Seok-chae (羅碩采)
- Paternal grandfather: Na Su-cheon (羅壽天)
- Father: Na Yong-jip (羅龍集), a Confucian scholar
- Mother: Lady Han of Cheongju, daughter of Han Wi-jeong (韓位廷)
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Wife: Lady Song of Yeosan, daughter of Song Ju-won (宋柱元)
- Eldest son: Na Jeong-ryeon (羅正練, 17 September 1882 – 17 September 1943), independence activist. Posthumously awarded the Order of National Foundation, Medal of Merit (Republic of Korea Presidential Commendation in 1968) in 1991.
- Second son: Na Jeong-mun (羅正紋, 28 November 1892 – 7 February 1944), independence activist. Posthumously awarded the Order of National Foundation, Medal of Merit (Republic of Korea Presidential Commendation in 1968) in 1991.
Works
- Sindan Silgi (神檀實紀)
- Samil Singo (三一神誥)
- Sinri Daejeon (神理大全), a Daejonggyo scripture
References
Notes