Zexeda
Korea's ancient wisdom, read with care
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- Korea & the World What Is a Sotdae? Korea's Bird Poles and the Sacred Ground Called Sodo A sotdae is Korea's bird-topped village pole. Behind it stands the sodo, and behind the sodo, the Budo that Dangun built for the whole world.
- Korea & the World What Is Gaecheonjeol? Korea's Opening of Heaven Day on October 3 Gaecheonjeol, October 3, is Korea's Opening of Heaven Day — and Korea's own chronicles say what opened was not a kingdom, but heaven, 1,565 years earlier.
- Korea & the World Why Did Koreans Wear White? The Meaning of the "White-Clad People" Koreans were called the white-clad people. The oldest Korean account traces that white not to cloth but to a handful of grass, and to a vow.
- Korea & the World What Were Korea's Oldest Festivals? Yeonggo, Dongmaeng, and Mucheon Yeonggo, Dongmaeng and Mucheon were Korea's oldest festivals — held in the tenth month, led by the ruler himself, and ending in drums and circle dancing.
- Korea & the World Why Does Korea Have So Many Dolmens? Korea holds roughly 40% of the world's dolmens. How many there are, what the stones were built for, and the rule their shape follows.
- Korea & the World What Is Chuseok, Korea's Harvest Full Moon? Chuseok is Korea's harvest festival, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Here is what it is, what the name means, and what it grew out of.
- Korean Spirituality What Is Korean Seondo (Sundo)? Korea's Native Path of Practice Korean Seondo, or Sundo, is Korea's own tradition of inner practice — not Korean Zen. Here is where it begins, how it was carried, and what it asks of you.
- Korean Spirituality What Is Seongtong Gongwan? The Nature Opened and the Work Completed Seongtong gongwan means the nature opened through and the work completed. Here is where the phrase comes from, and why it takes two halves to finish.
- Ancient Scriptures The Three Truths: What Are Seong, Myeong, and Jeong? Seong, myeong, and jeong are the three truths Korea's Samil Singo says every person receives whole. Here is what each one is, and what grew over it.
- Ancient Scriptures What Does Hongik Ingan Mean? Korea's Founding Ideal Hongik Ingan means to broadly benefit all human beings. Here is where the phrase comes from, the phrase that always travels with it, and why it comes last.
- Ancient Scriptures What Is the Samil Singo? Korea's Scripture of the Three and the One The Samil Singo is Korea's 366-character scripture. Its Truth Chapter says you were given three truths, three delusions covered them, and here is the way back.
- Dangun & Ancient History Who Was Dangun, the Founder of Korea? Dangun is remembered as the founder of Gojoseon, Korea's first kingdom. Here is what the oldest record says, what tradition adds, and what is still debated.