Abstract

Hongam Nacheol (弘巖 羅喆) was a famous nationalist who had punished the Eulsa-ojeok (乙巳五賊) and began the Daejonggyo (大倧敎) in 1909. Daejonggyo thought itself as the Korean nation's native religion which was derived from Dangun's old Joseon. Daejonggyo influenced the growing process of Korean national consceness, and many leading nationalists were followers of Daejonggyo. The contributions and influence of Daejonggyo on Korean modern national movements were enormous. This article discusses the Nacheol's Daejonggyo movement from the viewpoint of religious nationalism. Religious nationalism means a kind of nationalist movement which used religion to accomplish the nationalistic aims. And Nacheol's idea was a typical example of this religious nationalism. Nacheol thought that the people who had lost their native religion world certainly be ruined. And he also believed that the reason for the Korean national crisis was derieved from the oblivion of native religion and the weakening of the native cultural identity. The character of Nacheol's religious nationalism may be seen from various angles. This article will limit discussion to the following four points; (1) his thought of jonggyo guguknon (宗敎救國論) (2) his thought about Daejonggyo as an alternative for the Korean nation revival and relief of mankind, (3) Aehapjongjoknon (愛合種族論) and dodeuksegeron (道德世界論) as social thoughts, (4) Jeonggyobunriron (政敎分離論) as a strategy of Dajonggyo's survival under colonial conditions. These four points will be given as the core of Nacheol and Daejonggyo's thoughts.