The word Chon in Korean means Heaven and the word Ji means Earth, combined this can be interpreted as meaning creation (the creation of the universe and beginning of life). This theory can be largely attributed to the Chinese classic, the I Ching - the “book of changes.” This text explained the processes of growth and change in the natural world. The fundamental philosophy of this ancient text is the need to retain balance and harmony within all aspects of life. This is known as the Um-Yang relationship (or Yin-Yang in Chinese).

The symbol of two interlocking “commas” is the Neo-Confucian symbol called the t’aeguk and this symbol can be found on the Korean national flag, the T’aeguk-ki. The flag also has further symbolism attached to it in the trigrams (the different 3 bar symbols) surrounding the Um-Yang roundel. These also originate from the I Ching.

Choong Sil Taekwondo Discipline Pattern #1, practiced from White Belt through Yellow Belt.

It is said that in the time of the mythical Chinese Emperor Yao, the supreme deity Hwanin allowed his son, Hwanung, to descend to Earth. This he did at T’aebaek-San (near modern day Pyong-Yang). The legend has it that he overheard a bear and a tiger talking “would that we might become men.” He promised to turn the creature that could complete the challenge that he would set, into a human. The task was to live in a cave for 21 days and to eat only garlic. The tiger, due to its fierceness, could not complete the challenge, but the bear, with greater patience and faith, was able to finish Hwanung’s test. He kept his promise and turned the bear into a beautiful woman, Ungnyo. The two were to have a child; this child was called Dan Gun (this name means “mountain birch ruler” to represent his birth underneath a Pak-Tal tree). Dan Gun eventually founded the Korean nation and led his people to reside on Mount Paekdu.

In what is now North Korea on the Chinese border, Korea’s highest mountain, Paekdu-San (White Headed Mountain) exists. This is an ancient volcano and at its peak a crater lake exists, named Lake Chon.

Ahn Chang-Ho became a prominent member of the Independence Club, an organization established by reformists fired by feelings of nationalism and a desire for social change. In 1899 he founded a school in his hometown of Kangso, before leaving for America. There he rallied Korean ex-patriots before returning to his homeland and taking part in the forming of the secret nationalist society, Sinminhoe, in 1907, with the purpose of promoting the patriotic education of the people.

Once again he left Korea traveling in Russia, China, Europe and America to again rally overseas Koreans.

After the 1^st March independence demonstrations of 1919 he joined the Government-in-Exile in Shanghai, but soon left due to the political squabbling of it’s leaders. In 1926 he was arrested by the Japanese, when caught with Manchurian freedom fighters. He was released early due to ill health but was again arrested in 1937, he died a year later.

Choong Sil Taekwondo Discipline Pattern #2, practiced from Green Belt through Blue Belt.

Won Hyo (617 to 686) is the best-known name in Korean Buddhism. At the age of 28 he became a monk and spent many years trying to unify the various schools of Buddhism that existed at that time. Later in life he spent his time teaching, declaring that Buddhism and achieving enlightenment was for all classes of people and not just for monks.

Won Hyo was invited to the royal court of King Muyol where he met and fell in love with a widowed Silla princess and they had a son called Sol Chong, who became a trusted royal advisor.

One story about Won Hyo recalls how, on a trip to China to study, he found a cave to sleep in over night. In the cave he found a cup which he used to drink from. In the morning he saw that the cup was in fact a human skull and realizing that the revulsion that he felt was purely a matter of mind, he saw that he had no reason to travel to China and returned home.

His writings were highly regarded in both China and Japan.

As a philosopher Yi I is regarded second only to Toi Gye. He was an original political thinker and educator. His pen name (Yul Gok) means “chestnut valley”. His mother was a very educated woman and a skilled painter and poet. After his mother died he went into the Diamond Mountains with thoughts of becoming a Buddhist. In 1556 he returned home and moved to Seoul, there he rejected his Buddhist teachings and took up Neo-Confucian philosophy, partly because it embraced political and social activity. Four years later at the age of 22, he stayed with Toi Gye for a short period at his retreat in Tosan.

He then entered into the government service and rose steadily up the ranks. In the last 4 years of his life he held the highest posts in the land. He proposed new policies in taxation, education and defense of the realm. He advised on maintaining a standing army of 100.000 men but his advice was not heeded and 10 years later the Japanese invaded and faced virtually no opposition (the 1592 Imjin Wars)

Ahn Joong Gun was trained from an early age in Chinese, horsemanship and archery. After the protectorate treaty was signed in 1905 (giving the Japanese almost ultimate control over the Korean government and people) Joong Gun fled Korea in disgust. Based in Vladivostok he set up a volunteer army and fought his way back into Korea with sporadic guerrilla raids. On 26 October 1909, disguised as a Japanese, he made his way to the platform of the Harbin railway station where he shot and killed the Japanese Resident-General of Korea, Prince Hiro-Bumi Ito. He was immediately arrested and was imprisoned and tortured at the Lui-Shung (Port Arthur) prison. During his imprisonment Joong Gun left his indelible mark on the wall of his prison cell with a single line of calligraphy (written in his own blood, after cutting off a finger) that showed his love for his country. It simply said; “The best rivers and mountains.”

Born in 1501, Yi Hwang was Korea’s greatest philosopher, renowned as a genial, modest and amiable man. At the age of 34 he had passed the exams to enable him to hold a position in the civil service. This was held in high esteem, as this was not usually completed until a person was much older. He held 29 official posts in government. In 1549 he retired from public service, justifying his brush name Toi Gye which meant “returning to the valley”. In 1558 he wrote a short work titled Chasonhuak. This became very influential with Japanese intellectuals after its introduction to Japan in the 17^th century. Even after 200 years (19^th C.) his work was still very popular amongst the Japanese and his influence can still be felt today in modern Korea, China and Japan.