2Setting Forth on the Great Itineration in Response to Pleas from Sages, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas
  • Setting Forth on the Great Itineration throughout the World

    When Sangje stayed in the Ninth Heaven, divine sages, buddhas, and bodhisattvas gathered and petitioned Sangje, the Supreme God of the Ninth Heaven, that Heaven and Earth in this state of calamities cannot be rectified by anyone other than Sangje. Thus, Sangje descended to the Tower of Heavenly Revelation (Cheongyetap) in the Kingdom of the Great Law (Daebeopguk) in the West. And then He went on the Great Itineration (Daesoon) through the whole world to examine its state. Lastly, He reached this land in the East. And for thirty years, He spiritually entered the Golden-hued Icon of Maitreya at the Geumsan-sa Temple of the Mount Moak. He caused Choi Suwun (Choi Je-U) to establish the Great Dao by giving him the heavenly mandate and the divine teachings and power. However, in the Gapja Year (1864), He withdrew the mandate and the divine teachings and power and ultimately decided to personally descend into the human world in the Shinmi Year (1871).
  • Spiritually Inhabiting the Golden-hued Icon of Maitreya at Geumsan-sa Temple

    The Golden-hued Icon of Maitreya at Geumsan-sa Temple was enshrined by Vinaya Master Jin-Pyo in 766. He prayed for the coming of the Dragon-Flower World of Maitreya, filled Yongchu Pool (Dragon Pool) with charcoal, and placed the icon of Maitreya atop a cauldron. Before Sangje descended into the world in human form, He spiritually inhabited that Golden-hued Icon of Maitreya for 30 years at Geumsan-sa Temple.

    “I am Maitreya. The 16-foot high golden-hued icon (Yukjang-geumshin) enshrined in the Maitreya Hall of Geumsan-sa Temple holds the Cintamani Stone (wish-fulfilling stone) in its hand, while I have one in My mouth.”
  • Withdrawing the Heavenly Mandate and the Divine Teachings from Choi Je-U

    Choi Je-U received the revelation of the Great Dao of Redeeming the World in the Gyeongshin Year (1860) from Sangje. He established Eastern Learning (Donghak) to convey the Great Dao, yet ultimately he failed to bring the true meaning of the Great Dao to light beyond the framework of Confucianism. Therefore, in the Gapja Year (1864), Sangje withdrew the heavenly mandate and the divine teachings from Choi, and in the Shinmi Year (1871), He finally descended into the world.

    Suwun Choi Je-U
    Choi Je-U (1824-1864) sought to convey the teachings of Sangje’s Great Dao of Redeeming the World to people through Eastern Learning (Donghak). However, his teachings were met with opposition from Confucian scholars, who accused him of leading a cult and spreading dangerous untruths. As a result, he was formally censured and then beheaded in 1864.
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