Eui-am
Intro
Eui-am is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement, who was known as Eui-am Seong-sa.Pattern history
Son pursues Donghak religion
Son Byong-hi (April 8, 1861 - May 19, 1922) was a Korean nationalist and independence activist born in Cheongju, Chungcheong province. In 1884, he heard of the Donghak religion and its ideals of supporting the nation and comforting the people and decided to become a member. After joining Donghak, Son entered into a period of profound training that included reading and reciting the Donghak Incantation of Twenty-One Letters thirty thousand times a day. In addition, he made straw sandals, which he sold at the market in Cheongju. He is thought to have lived in this manner for about three years.After this period, Son Byong-hi became the student of Choe Si-hyeong, who was the second leader of Donghak, and entered a life of devoted study. In 1894, Choe Si-hyeong led the Donghak Peasant Revolution in protest of the corruption of the Joseon government, and Son Byong-Hi served as his commander. This revolution quickly grew into a resistance struggle against foreign invasion and occupation, of which Japan was the principal target. Choe's forces met defeat in 1895 and the revolution was put down at the hands of Japan's superior modern weaponry.
Son leaves Korea
After living a few years as a fugitive, Choe Si-hyeong was captured by pursuing government troops in 1898 and executed. However, before his capture he had foreseen that his time was marked so on December 24, 1897, he ordained Son as the 3rd Great Leader of Donghak. In 1898, following the execution of Choe Si-hyeong, Son sought political asylum in Japan.Son returns to Korea
After the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Son returned to Korea and established the Jinbohoe "progressive society," a new cultural and reformist movement designed to reverse the declining fortunes of the nation and to create a new society. Through Donghak, he conducted a nationwide movement that aimed at social improvement through the renovation of old customs and ways of life. Hundreds of thousands of members of Donghak cut their long hair short and started wearing simple, modest clothing. Non-violent demonstrations for social improvement organized by members of Donghak took place throughout 1904. This coordinated series of activities was known as the Gapjin reform movement.Members of Donghak were severely persecuted by the Japanese government, and so, on December 1, 1905, Son decided to modernize the religion and usher in an era of openness and transparency to legitimize it in the eyes of the Japanese. As a result, he officially changed the name of Donghak to Cheondogyo "Heavenly Way." The following year, Cheondogyo was established as a modern religious organization with its central headquarters based in Seoul.
Over the years of Japanese colonial rule since its annexation of Korea in 1910, Son, like all Koreans, longed for freedom and independence. As a result of these years of oppression, Son helped to set up a systematic underground anti-Japanese movement throughout 1918 which saw unprecedented cooperation between Cheondogyo, Christians, and Buddhists as they united under a common cause. Son's Cheondogyo gave financial support to the whole movement, and he insisted that the independence movement must be popular in nature and non-violent.
March 1st Movement
A Declaration of Independence was prepared, and 33 national leaders were selected, 15 of which were members of Cheondogyo. Son Byong-Hi was the most prominent of these. The climax came on March 1, 1919, when, during a period of public mourning for the recently deceased Emperor Gojong, the Declaration of Independence was publicly proclaimed at Pagoda Park in Seoul, this event was known as the March 1st Movement or Samil Movement. This spark ignited the public, who took to the streets and demonstrated, calling for Korean independence. This initiated a nationwide movement in which many people took part, regardless of locality and social status, but the Japanese immediately mobilized their police and army and brutally put down the demonstrations, despite their peaceful nature. More than 7,500 Koreans were killed, nearly 17,000 wounded, and around 47,000 arrested, including Son Byong-hi. While in prison, Son became ill and was eventually released from custody on sick bail. His illness worsened, however, and, in 1922, he died at home in Sangchunwon, just outside the Dongdaemun gate.Pattern movements
Number of Movements: 45The 45 movements refer to his age when Eui-am changed the name of Donghak (Oriental culture) to Chondokyo (Heavenly way) in 1905.
Diagram of movements
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