3Sangje Descending into the World
  • Descending into the World under the Family Name of Kang

    Sangje (the Supreme God), who had been residing in the Ninth Heaven, incarnated as a human born into the Jinju Kang family on the 19th day of the 9th lunar month of the Shinmi year (1871). His birth name was Il-Sun, His courtesy name was Sa-Ok, and His honorific name was Jeungsan.

    Sangje revealed the reason He descended to be born in the world: “I decided to stay to first help the nameless weak people who had been swept away by tremendous adversity and resolve their grievances that had accumulated from time immemorial.”

    Pung was the first surname in the world and can be traced back to Taihao Fuxi, but it was not passed down to the present. Kang, which emerged as the next surname, originates from the Flame Emperor Shennong, and it is thereby the oldest. For this reason, Sangje sought out the beginning and returned to the original root by taking the surname of Kang when He descended into the world.
  • Descent into the World and Childhood Years

    Sangje’s father was Mun-Hoe, and His mother’s given name was Yang-Deok, a descendant of the Andong Kwons. Before her pregnancy, Sangje’s mother dreamed that the sky split north and south, and a massive ball of flame emerged and covered her body, brightening the Heaven and Earth. Later, after 13 months, Sangje was born.

    At the time of His birth, the delivery room was filled with light as two celestial maidens descended to Earth from Heaven. They entered the delivery room, which was aglow with their presence, and the maidens attended to the newborn Sangje. An effervescent, mysterious fragrance filled the entire delivery room. An auspicious vapor enveloped the entire house in which Sangje was born, and its light extended up into the sky.

    From His youth onward, Sangje exhibited a good-natured and generous personality. Even as a little boy, Sangje possessed the great virtue of respecting all life. For instance, He did not harm any insects, no matter how small, and never broke even a single branch; instead, He enjoyed planting trees. At the age of seven, A village school teacher asked Him to compose a verse in Chinese. Given the prompt ‘驚 (gyeong, frighten)’ by the teacher, He composed the following poem:

    遠步恐地坼 大呼恐天驚
    “Taking a great stride,
    I fear that I may demolish the Earth.
    Shouting with a big roar,
    I worry I may frighten Heaven.”
Take a Virtual Tour
TOP