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Dear List:<BR>
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Like Professor Ledyard, I too would hope for this discussion to be embellished by an expert of Buddhism, and perhaps an expert on Korean Buddhism as well. In reading the various threads, I am reminded of the latter day deification of Confucius, something that I'm sure was an abhorent idea in the mind of the Master. <BR>
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Best regards,<BR>
Lawrence Driscoll<BR><BR>> Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:02:29 -0400<BR>> From: gkl1@columbia.edu<BR>> To: Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws<BR>> CC: erichwein@hotmail.com<BR>> Subject: Re: [KS] Name used for "god" in Korean language<BR>> <BR>> I'm wondering what Erich Weingartner thinks of the discussion <BR>> that has resulted from his query, "What is the word in Korean for <BR>> "God"? I notice in<BR>> going back to his original message that he used the capitalized form <BR>> "God" without any definite or indefinite article, whereas the spelling <BR>> in his subject line was the uncapitalized "god".<BR>> My own supposition is that in saying simply "God", he had in <BR>> mind a transcendent, monotheistic deity as in the three Abramic <BR>> religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. If that is so, then we <BR>> properly have to do with Korean and in some cases broader East Asian <BR>> concepts specifically adapted to or created for one or more of these <BR>> religions. Given the general history of modern East Asian religion, <BR>> this will mean mainly Christianity.<BR>> If we are dealing with the word(s) for "god", with an <BR>> uncapitalized initial, then we would seem to be moving into a more <BR>> complex and mainly polytheistic religious scene of which few could be <BR>> master of all the necessary details.<BR>> I believe that so far, all five of his questions have been <BR>> addressed to one degree or another. But in dealing with the Buddhist <BR>> scene, the discussion gets more complicated and subtle, and that's <BR>> where we are now.<BR>> <BR>> It would be good if someone who specializes in Buddhism could <BR>> join the discussion, because the issues are fascinating, going far <BR>> beyond mere distinctions between "God" and "god(s)" and to what degree <BR>> such distinctions are theological or simply matters of popular <BR>> perception.<BR>> <BR>> Gari Ledyard<BR>> <BR>> Quoting erichwein@hotmail.com:<BR>> <BR>> > 1. What is the word in Korean for "God"? (Transliteration, please)<BR>> ><BR>> > 2. Is this an original Korean word, or one introduced by Christian<BR>> > missionaries?<BR>> ><BR>> > 3. Is it the same word used in traditional Korean folk religion (e.g.<BR>> > shamanism) and in Buddhism?<BR>> ><BR>> > 4. Is the same word used in both North and South Korea?<BR>> ><BR>> > 5. In North Korea, is the same word for "God" used both in reference<BR>> > to the Christian God (e.g. in worship services of the Korean Christian<BR>> > Federation) and in reference to the "Great Leader"? (Explanation: I am<BR>> > told that the word "god" is not used in reference the the GL. However,<BR>> > on several occasions my interpreters in the DPRK did use the word<BR>> > "god" in reference to KIS. This may have been a wrong translation.<BR>> > Example: Referring to the young age at which KIS founded the PKA, one<BR>> > interpreter told me, "That is why I consider him a god.")<BR>> ><BR>> > 6. If not, what distinguishes the two words/concepts used?<BR>> ><BR>> > Thanks for any clarifications you can render.<BR>> > Erich Weingartner<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> <BR>> ----- End forwarded message -----<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR><BR><br /><hr />Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger. <a href='http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_messenger2_072008' target='_new'>IM anytime you're online.</a></body>
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