The founder, Doju Jo Jeongsan was born in Hoemun Village, Chilseo Township, Haman County,
in South Gyeongsang Province on the 4th day of the 12th lunar month of the Eulmi Year (1895).
His birth name was Cheol-Je, his courtesy name was Jeong-Bo, and his honorific name was Jeongsan.
His father was Yong-Mo, and his mother was Yeong-Myeong, a lady from the Min family-line of Yeoheung County.
She underwent an auspicious experience of having a bright light shine on her in a dream,
after which she showed signs of pregnancy and later gave birth to Doju. The Guiding Compass of Daesoon reveals that ‘Rebirth on the 26th day of the 12th lunar month’
signifies the birth of Doju, who achieved a full revolution of one sidereal year
when he descended on the 4th day of the 12th lunar month.
This further means that Doju succeeded Sangje in the Orthodox Religious Lineage
as the one who would take up the 50-Year Holy Work
and become the Lord of the Dao who would complete the True Dharma.
The Nation-saving Spirit of Doju’s Family
Doju’s grandfather, Jo Yeong-Gyu (1861-1905), made an effort to rescue the country
by joining Min Yeong-Hwan (1861-1905) and like-minded others.
Korea was in an extremely precarious state due to the expansionist ambitions of Japanese imperialism.
Yeong-Gyu and his allies rallied to stop Japan’s attempt to steal
Korea’s national sovereignty, but in the end, the Eulsa Treaty was signed nevertheless.
Doju’s grandfather was overcome with resentment. He passed away at age 45 after vomiting up blood.
During the anti-Japanese movement in Korea, Doju’s father who succeeded his own father’s will,
along with his younger brothers Yong-Eui and Yong-Seo, went into exile in Manchuria.
There, they worked with their comrades in the national sovereignty restoration movement.