Ch'oe Che-u

Ch'oe Che-u, also known as Su-un, was a Korean religious leader and reformer who founded the Tonghak sect, a syncretic religion that combined elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Catholicism. He was born into an aristocratic family, but his mother died when he was six and his father when he was sixteen. He received a good education in Neo-Confucianism and perhaps other traditions such as Daoism. He married in his teens, but his wife died soon after. He then devoted himself to studying various religious texts and meditating. He claimed to have received a revelation from God in 1860, which led him to create his own doctrine and write the Ch'ŏnju Kyŏng (Heavenly Scripture). He preached that all people are equal before God and that they should strive to achieve harmony and enlightenment. He also criticized the corruption and incompetence of the Joseon government and the influence of Western culture and Catholicism. He gained many followers, especially among the poor and oppressed peasants, who saw him as a savior and a prophet. However, he also aroused the suspicion and hostility of the authorities, who accused him of spreading heresy and subversion. He was arrested in 1863 and executed in 1864. His death did not end his movement, but rather sparked a series of uprisings and rebellions that challenged the status quo and resisted foreign intervention. The Tonghak sect, later renamed as Cheondoism, still exists today as one of the major religions in Korea.