• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.49
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• pp.303-330
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• 2017

This paper examines the origin of the current Nigerian Yoruba artistic and cultural tradition through ancient artifacts and creation myths centered on $Il{\acute{e}}-If{\acute{e}}$ (or $If{\acute{e}}$) located in the southwestern part of Nigeria and recognition of cultural relativity. In the oral tradition, kingdoms of Ijebu, Oyo, and Benin all have their origins in the ancient city of $Il{\acute{e}}-If{\acute{e}}$, the cradle of Yoruba culture. Their founders were sons of Oduduwa, the god of Yoruba. In this way, kingdoms built around $Il{\acute{e}}-Ife$ were closely connected with culture, religion, and society. In order to understand the Yoruba culture, research on $Il{\acute{e}}-Ife$, the source of their artistic and cultural traditions, is very important. The Yoruba are deeply rooted in $Il{\acute{e}}-Ife$. They have been steadily preserving their artistry since the beginning. They have been using it in their lives to this day for centuries. Their evidences are mythology and Ifa divination system. They are cultural heritages that represent the art of Yoruba and the spiritual culture. Ifa devination system is one of Yoruba traditions associated with Yoruba gods 'Eshu' and 'Ifa'. It has been conducted among the Yoruba until now. If the culture and civilization of Africa, including these Yoruba traditional customs, are deemed illogical and superstitious, it would mislead their efforts to preserve the origin in its original form. If so, one should understand the relativity of other cultures and civilizations and the need for diversity and flexibility of value standards to judge their cultures and civilizations.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.59
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• pp.65-88
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• 2018

Lee Hang Ro's Mind-theory(心說) is an important theory comparable to it of Gi Jeong Jin, Lee Jin Sang and Jeon Woo. In this paper, I examined the influence of the Western-school(西學) in the process of formation of Lee's theory. Since the Western-school had flowed in the beginning of the 17th century, in the 18th century it was subject to Confucian intellectuals along with social stability. However, listed in the 19th century, along with the turmoil of the East Asian international order, the Western-school was also rejected. The Western-school was a tool to analyze the cause of Western invasion(西勢東漸) in him. Lee saw The Western-school from the standpoint of Christianity mainly. Especially Christianity was recognized as a religion that emphasizes God rather than humans. In contrast, Confucianism was understood as a thought system that emphasizes human moral subjectivity rather than God. In this process mind was expanded to the subjectivity of human. However, Lee only emphasized the traditional Confucianism order and ignored the rationality of the Western-school. He could not accommodate western civilization actively and properly respond to the world order in that time. On the other hand, we are now in the era of a new civilization called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To this the remarks of Lee's Mind-theory will be an important suggestion point for organizing the new civilization actively.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.52
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• pp.185-211
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• 2017

Lee Neung Hwa is a scholar of the late Joseon Dynasty, renowned for his studies of Korean studies. In this thesis, the study of Confucianism and Buddhism removed the research and teachings of Confucianism as a traditional study of Confucianism. Lee Neung Hwa criticized the social functioning of Confucian texts during the late Joseon Dynasty. His criticisms reflect the historical consciousness of the late Joseon Dynasty. Lee Neung Hwa is also known as the Buddhist religion. The History of Chosun Buddhism is his masterpiece. He pointed out the differences between the Buddhist scriptures of the Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese Buddhist scriptures. Moreover, the Joseon Dynasty felt more integrated into the Japanese Buddhist kingdom than in Japan. And ineunghwa also studied the mythology of Korea. He established a universal cultural phenomenon as a universal cultural phenomenon, which belongs to any ethnic Koreans. He insisted that the Sin Gyo of Dan Gun is the identity of Korean culture. His Founding Myth was not a matter of historical fact. His Founding Myth was a tool of ideological struggle to fight against Japanese imperialism.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.32
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• pp.185-213
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• 2011

This thesis is studing Kim Chi-in's Life and Confucianism-Buddhism-Taoism-Unity of Namhak lind on Jinan in Junbuk. He combined thought of Confucianism-Buddhism-Taoism and drawed up religious doctrine, after spotting internal and external troubles of nation. Kim Chi-in was influenced by Lee Un-gyu's thought of Confucianism-Buddhism-Taoism-Unity. He spoke with emphasis of Tao in doctrine through religious experience. The root of Tao originates in heaven. Although Tao was divided according to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism for the human's aspect of thought, it is ultimately the one. In time on explaining the one, he invoked 'eum(陰)', 'yang(陽)', 'che(體)'와 'yong(用)' as concepts of Neo-Confucianism. This ididn't incline to one side of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. While he spoke with emphasis on Confucianism's ethics of 'yang' and 'yong' with Buddhism and Taoism's divine of 'eum' and 'che' as the center, he want to find pivot of thought. He especially seeked Younggamu(詠歌舞) of sing and dancing on training mind and body. This was that he let the people and scholars in retirement demand realization of Tao and aim at real virtue. The study of Kim Chi-in's thought and religion of Confucianism-Buddhism-Taoism-Unity will be an opportunity look around his identity for the traditional native thought and universality.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.577-587
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• 2020

Background and objective: Plants in temples are the results of cultural symbolization that embraces the experience and enlightenment of humans about life. As a way to improve the acceptance of the foreign religion, China gave cultural symbolization to plants in temple gardens through integration with traditional cultures and the understanding of the nature of plants themselves. This study aimed to identify cultural symbolism and signs of acculturation associated with Buddhist plants, targeting Bolisu, the most essential and symbolic plant in temple garden forests in China and Korea. Methods: The morphological and ecological characteristics of plants, functions, the texts that contained the history of Buddhism and literary works were examined through literature review, and the relation of Ficus religiosa with its planting conditions and nature, and Buddhist culture was explored. In addition, the cultural value of Buddhist plants themselves in establishing temples and the reason why Bolisu was planted in temples were reviewed through time series analysis. The obtained results were interpreted using an inductive method to identify substitutes for F. religiosa, cultural symbolism and signs of acculturation. Results: F. religiosa as one of the three holy trees and the five trees and six flowers in Buddhism is known as the original Bolisu. Since it grows well and is widely distributed in regions that accepted Indian Buddhism, it became the most representative holy tree in Buddhism. From the perspective of tree shape and nature, F. religiosa is in line with the Buddhist spirit of saving those in need with mercy and redeeming mankind, and figuratively shows that perfection can be attained like the fruit of Bolisu. Chines Buddhism had adopted highly symbolic plants for a long period of time as a means to spread the same belief and doctrines as Indian Buddhism. In China, however, there were only limited areas suitable for the growth of F. religiosa, and for this reason, borrowed Bolisu trees including Tilia. miqueliana, T. mandshurica and T. amurensis and other plants such as F. virens Ait. var. sublanceolata, G. biloba and M. alba were planted as a substitute in most regions, having been given with symbolism and belief as Bolisu. Conclusion: Chinese Buddhism planted the same plants as Indian Buddhism in order to enhance symbolism and also similar substitutes to express the same symbolism. This is a kind of acculturation and its influence and customs were not limited to China, but were introduced to Korea, The difference between China and Korea was that G. biloba was excluded from the substitute for Bolisu in Korea.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.45
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• pp.187-226
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• 2023

In contemporary society, digital media has become an integral part of daily life that shapes how people interact with the world around them. This phenomenon has also influenced religious activities and practices. Studies on digital religion and religious practices among digital natives in the Western world have indicated that traditional religious practices are on the decline. Instead, more accessible and flexible forms of religious activities and beliefs are emerging. Given this context, it is important to investigate whether similar trends are occurring in Korea. This study aims to explore the religious activities and expressions of Korean individuals in the online environment. Specifically, the study focuses on four main areas: ①the online religious activities of established religions such as Protestantism, Buddhism, and Catholicism; ②the online religious activities related to divination belief systems such as the Four Pillars of Destiny (四柱 saju) and Tarot; ③online holy sites and wish comments or chats; and ④popular religious neologisms such as jileumshin (지름神 a god with the power to justify consumption) and gatsaeng (갓[God]生 one's best life). Through this review, it can be ascertained that religious ideas and practices are restricted by the attributes of digital media. This implies that the emergence of simplistic forms of religious ideas and activities is associated with the features of digital media and the consumption of digital content.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.30
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• pp.95-130
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• 2018

In religious studies, soteriology is a belief system that aims to compensate and solve the existential suffering of human beings through a doctrinal system of healing, liberation, and salvation as advocated by various religions. The purpose of this study is to understand the soteriology of Dasesoon Jinrihoe, a Korean new religion, and to understand its characteristics. The soteriology of Daesoon Jinrihoe is closely related to the theory of The Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth. The Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth is a doctrinal system in which the Supreme God, Jeungsan, was incarnated into a human body to rescue the world and creation and to achieve this, he had performed various religious works. In addition, the soteriology of Daesoon Jinrihoe is linked to the theory of orthodox lineage spanning Jeungsan to Jeongsan and lastly to Udang. The work of salvation performed by Jeungsan is settled by Jeongsan who systematized it into methods of practice. This soteriology has distinctive differences separating it from traditional religious traditions. First, it shows the characteristic of offering salvation through a supreme, personal God. Second, Jeungsan is seen as having changed the cosmic law and provided the basis for the world and creation to be saved. Finally, it proposes a theory that saving the world and creation is to be achieved through the principle of the Resolution of Grievances.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.23
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• pp.345-383
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• 2014

This article intends to examine the value of the world citizenship in the perspective from the root meaning that is stressed as the behavior style of Daesoon thoughts in relation with 'desirable attitude of life in education of morality. Traditional root meaning of Daesoon thoughts turned out to be proper moral behavior principle such as Yin Yang harmonious virtue, God Humane keeping unity, and conviviality with regrets settlement. Such three principles of Daesoon Thoughts show the characteristic of global code such as respect of life, solidarity unity, and tolerant trust. To revise the phenomenon of duality, and to realize the human awakening in radically changing reality, we need to cultivate world citizenship based on the root meaning of Daesoon thoughts. Daesoon thoughts covering the East and the West, especially the key features of religion, can cultivate the world view of citizenship in the era of plural society based on folk beliefs toward Gucheon Sangje faith as the essence of the multiplism. The world citizenship of human society is necessary to unite the world in the unified construction cooperative spirits. All beings need to be away from antagonistic confrontation with the practice of mutual conviviality. The diameter of acquired joining world citizenship can have the opportunity to realize of Gucheon Sangje's Heaven and earth construction. The root meaning of Daesoon thoughts can contribute to moral practicality with world citizenship by practice of heavenly truth and human truth. First, cultivating heavenly truth by means of insight can develope the profound world citizenship. Secondly, the solidarity of the public and private can cultivate public citizenship. Thirdly, in the crisis of the mankind, this awakening conviviality can be foundation for world citizenship of public communication. Fourthly, the spirit that would not deceive ownself can be contributed to cultivating the world citizenship by means of the process of internalizing Daesoon thoughts. Nowadays in the plural society demanding world citizenship, the public citizenship can deepen the spirit of respect of life, solidarity unity, and tolerant trust in the process of world citizenship cultivation. In the future, the world citizenship can be deepen the alternative of practice in the continuous cultivation of world citizenship. In this process, we can form the culture of coexistence which can contribute to human society as well as korean society by developing the value of living together happiness through the guide of this phonesis.

• Acta Via Serica
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-52
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• 2023

The astronomic observatory of Graw Village is located on Mount Dari Lolikan, facing the village. Graw is located in the foothills of Mount Ser-i-Rash, 25 km northeast of Erbil Governorate, Iraq. This study attempts to clarify the foundations of this observatory, its components, as well as the founder and the date of its establishment. The study made efforts to clarify the benefits of this calendar to local residents in their daily lives. The database for this study is based on direct observation of the observatory station. The observation included the recording date and position of sunset and the appearance of stars throughout the year. Observation and documentation for both sunset and stars were performed over several years due to weather conditions since observation was not possible on foggy and rainy days and nights. Each observation took five to ten minutes depending on the clarity of the sky. The observatory consists of a group of stone cones. Each cone was built by stones in a specific location after careful and long observation of the sunset. Efforts were made to observe the disappearance and reappearance of the stars based on the change in the position of the Earth in relation to the sun. Graw's calendar helped to recognize important times of the year, such as the winter and summer forties, which were very important, especially when snow covered the roads, transportation stopped, crops spoiled, and pets stayed in their barn. The most important features of the winter forties are the memories, experiences, and minds of the villagers' ancestors. The forties were associated with the arrival of cold and heavier rain throughout the year, which is consistent with modern science, as the angle at which the Earth rotates increases the number and activity of weather depressions that affect the study area during this period. This observatory has a close connection with the daily life of the villagers, especially in the past centuries. It helped the people of the area in their appointments to carry out their work in the field of agriculture. The observatory was also of great importance in the field of education in the past centuries, especially in traditional religious schools. It also appears from this research that the calendar has ancient roots, which extend back thousands of years, as evidenced by the Ezidis who follow an ancient religion whose roots extend back thousands of years and who fast during both the winter and summer forties annually, with the participation of people in various regions of the world. It is not known who made this astronomic observatory but most of the oral information that has been passed down to us by word of mouth agrees on both Mullah Abdullah Al-Kurdi and Mullah Omar. Likely, this astronomic observatory was built around the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.98-104
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to understand the origin and characteristics of stone tower's style through the study of the 'Village Shrine at Seoji-ri, Andong'. The three kinds of stone towers were located forming a line of 9m on the hill of a red pine forest along the stream in the village. Toward the direction looking at the village, the three-story stone located on left, the two-story stone located in the middle, and the common style stone tower located on right. The bottom part of the three-story stone was 2.5m in length, 1.8m in width, 1.3m in height. The bottom part of the two-story stone was 1.3m in length, 1.5m in width, 0.9m in height. The common style stone heap tower was 3.0m in diameter, 1.8m in height with a cone shape. The small hat-shaped stone was presumed to be the top part of a three-story stone. According to the three factors(heaven, earth, human) of the idea of the universe in Korea, most ancient remains have components of odd numbers. Then it had been substituted with smaller three-story stone(at present, two-story stone). And then altered to a common stone tower later, such as the 'Village Shrine at Seoji-ri, Andong' that shows the combination of the Bronze Age's megalithic and a folk religion. The 'Village Shrine at Seoji-ri, Andong' is a valuable relic that shows the stone towers, and is derived from the Bronze Age. The 'Village Shrine at Seoji-ri, Andong' shows that the 'Village Shrine at Seoji-ri, Andong' was embodied the three-factor(heaven, earth, human) idea of the universe in three-story stone of megalithic culture' remains.