Choe Je-u

Religious founder who created Donghak and proclaimed the idea that "Humans are Heaven."

Life

Impoverished yangban

Choe Je-u came from an impoverished yangban family in Gyeongju. Witnessing the turmoil in Joseon society and the arrival of Western Learning (Catholicism), he traveled widely in search of a way to save the world.

Donghak

In 1860 he declared that he had received a revelation from Heaven and founded Donghak ("Eastern Learning") to counter "Western Learning." Blending Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism and folk beliefs, it taught that all people are equal—"Humans are Heaven." Donghak spread rapidly among poor peasants.

Martyrdom

In 1864 he was executed by the authorities on the charge of "deluding the world and deceiving the people." Thirty years later, Donghak followers launched the Donghak Peasant War, which swept the whole country.

Legacy

Donghak, founded by Choe Je-u, later developed into Cheondoism and became an important force in Korea's modern national movement.

Major works & achievements

• Donggyeong Daejeon

Did you know? Fifteen of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in the March 1st Movement of 1919 were followers of Cheondoism.

Key dates

• 1860Founds Donghak
• 1861Begins preaching
• 1863Arrested
• 1864Executed