• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.35
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• pp.477-508
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• 2020

Awareness of grievances and the concept of "grievances (冤)" itself are both universal and essential among East Asian countries. Grievances have become a cultural symbol that has repeatedly appeared in the Han culture of later generations. The way new religious groups interpret "grievances" and face disasters, which are seen as having been brought by grievances, reflects the circumstances and historical backgrounds that Eastern nations hold in common. This paper aims to discuss the concept of "grievances" in Taiwan's Weixin Shengjiao and Korea's Daesoon Jinrihoe, which are represented doctrinally as "The Resolution of Grievances and Altruism" (in Weixin Shengjiao) and "The Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence" (in Daesoon Jinrihoe). How these two tenets are fulfilled in modern society will likewise be examined. Weixin Shengjiao takes solving the hatred among the Three Ancestors as a premise for achieving world peace and commits to stabilizing people's lives amid the capitalistic design of modern society. Daesoon Jinrihoe deems the "Reordering Works" to be the only way to unify the earthly energies to achieve balance in the universe. They also developed the "Three Major Works" to contribute to modern society. These two new religious orders share many similarities, but are distinct in their interpretations and practices. Both orders demonstrate the features and meaning of "Solving Grievances" as it relates to the process of modernization in East Asia.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.38
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• pp.83-114
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• 2021

This paper identifies what the theoretical similarities and differences are in the concept of Sangsaeng held by Zhuxi (1130~1200) and Jeungsan (1871~1909). Human beings cannot live alone. For humans to survive, they must live with others. However, humans have an infinite desire not only for survival but also for material things, honor, and power. In other words, humans, on the one hand, seek harmony and symbiosis for survival, and on the other, constantly confront, conflict and compete with one another to satisfy their infinite desires. Thus, human-to-human interrelationship is not a co-prosperity that creates partnerships for harmony but one of adversaries within competition that must be fought and defeated. At the same time, humans can achieve harmony and cooperation by overcoming their infinite desires and realizing morality. Therefore, various social problems that originate from competitive structure, which are dominated by confrontation and conflict, can be solved through human effort and reflection, so that humans can focus on solving social problems by mobilizing their own wisdom. Jeungsan emphasized Sangsaeng as mutual beneficence and it became one of the creeds of Daesoon Thought. In the Neo-Confucianism of Zhuxi, there is an ideology of Sangsaeng as co-prosperity and this is comparable to mutual beneficence in Daesoon Thought. In Zhuxi's terminology it is called 'In (仁), humanity.' In Neo-Confucianism, a harmonious world is achieved by loving people and caring for and nurturing all things when the principles of humanity are realized. This means that when the principle of co-prosperity is realized in Daesoon Thought, there will be no conflict or grudges, and only an acquired vision of reconciliation and mutual beneficence will be achieved. Zhuxi also emphasizes the realization of humanity (cheonli) by eliminating self-interest. At this time, the relationship between humanity and 'self-interest' is similar to the relationship between the mutual beneficence and grievances in Daesoon Thought. Just as the principle of 'In' fosters love among people and the benefit of things immediately after self-interest is removed, the principle of mutual beneficence is realized immediately after grudges are resolved. This achieves an endless of paradise on earth.