Cheonbugyeong: The Solution to the Mystery of nature

 Cheonbugyeong: The Solution to the Mystery of nature

Every human in the existence has pondered upon thoughts like “Who am I?” “What is my purpose on this Earth?” Even though these questions seem impossible to answer, there exists a forgotten short but important piece in the history which can prove to be the ultimate key to these locks of the nature

The Scripture of Heavenly Code, known as Cheonbugyeong, stands as the world's most ancient sacred text, imparting the profound laws of the universe through numerical principles. 

“Singyo”, also referred to as "Spirit Teaching," traces its roots to Hwanguk, which proudly held the distinction of harboring the earliest known religion. This original faith subsequently influenced the emergence of various other religious beliefs. In Hwanguk, the governance of the nation revolved around divine laws derived from cosmic revelations. As a testament to their devotion, they embraced the esteemed Cheonbugyeong as their sacred scripture.

Earliest mentions of Cheonbugyeong – in Hwandan Gogi

 

“Hwandan Gogi”

The profound revelations within the Book of Hwandan Gogi unveil the true genesis of Korea, shedding light on the earliest human civilization known as Hwanguk. This remarkable tome comprises five distinct volumes, penned by five gifted authors over the course of a thousand years. Its contents are nothing short of extraordinary, providing comprehensive and meticulous accounts that encompass every aspect of human life, including politics, language, customs, and religion. Kashima Noboru, a Japanese lawyer who brought forth the Japanese edition of Hwandan Gogi in 1980, hailed it as “The greatest treasure of Asia” and stated “Hwandan Gogi is a unique book that provides a comprehensive understanding of every dimension of human life, including politics, language, custom, and religion”

Out of these five books namely: Samseong Gi I, Samseong Gi II,  Dangun Segi, Bukbuyeogi, and  Taebaek Ilsa, Taebaek Ilsa includes the text of Cheonbugyeong along with descriptions of the history of Hwanguk, Baedalguk, Samhan, Goguryeo, Balhae (Daejinguk), and Goryeo.

What is Cheonbugyeong?

Cheonbugyeong, an essential text for the people of Hwanguk, was ingrained in their hearts. Its concise length of eighty-one characters allowed for a swift recitation in just twenty seconds. Initially passed down orally through the ages, it was later transcribed into writing during the fourth millennium BCE by Sinji Hyeokdeok, an official responsible for conveying imperial commands during the Baedal era. The Nokdo characters used in its transcription resembled elegant deer hoofprints.

 

“Scolar Choe Chi-won”

In the second millennium BCE, during the illustrious Joseon era, Cheonbugyeong was immortalized on a stone, carefully inscribed in the ancient Seal Script, found atop present-day Mt. Baekdu. The discovery of these carvings led to their translation into the contemporary language by the esteemed scholar Choe Chi-won, also known as "Goun" or "Lonely Cloud," from the Silla Dynasty.

The wisdom of Cheonbugyeong continued to inspire generations, and during the Goryeo Dynasty, several books containing enlightening commentaries on the sacred text were published. This legacy speaks to the enduring significance and impact of Cheonbugyeong throughout Korean history.

 

Teachings of Cheonbugyeong

“Script of Cheonbugyeong ”

Cheonbugyeong is the wellspring of human knowledge and enlightenment, serving as the foundational principles that underpin the philosophical and political structures of civilizations worldwide. Unlike a mere myth, this profound scripture unveils the interconnected existence and purpose of heaven, earth, and humanity as a unified principle. Within a single timeless and boundless space, Cheonbugyeong illustrates the profound connection between the heaven, earth, God, spirits and humans, all deriving from the singular essence known as "Mu meaning nothingness." In essence, this sacred text imparts the wisdom that humans evolve from beings of God’s offspring to earthly forms and ultimately progress into cosmic beings of great significance. Also it begins and ends with a description of the number “One”. This represents the ultimate one, source of all creation that is Dao or God.

It has answers to the questions the whole of humanity has:

 Who are we? 

 What were we born to do?

 What are heaven, earth, humanity, and God? 

 Why is heaven and earth the source and the parents of all beings? 

Let’s decipher a few part of this scripture:

 

“One is the beginning; from Nothingness begins One.

One is the end; in Nothingness ends One. ”

One embodies both the origin and culmination of all existence, giving rise to everything while being the ultimate destination all things seek. Though present in all entities, its true essence remains veiled. 

 

“One divides into the Three Ultimates, yet the source remains inexhaustible” 

The universe takes shape as heaven, earth, and humanity—the Three Ultimates, rendering it recognizable. This trinity is essential for the birth of countless aspects in the visible world. Despite the universe's immense size and complexity, the unchanging source symbolized by one continuously gives rise to diverse beings and objects due to the virtue of three ultimates, ensuring the universe's perpetual existence. Life that merges harmoniously with the universe also shares in this eternal existence.

 

Arising from One, Heaven is One.

Arising from One, Earth is Two.

Arising from One, Humanity is Three.

Cheonbugyeong reveals the eternal unity of heaven, earth, and humanity, portraying them as integral parts of a divine whole. Within each of us lies the unchanging essence of oneness, a common thread that binds all beings in the universe. Our purpose is to fully embrace and realize this inherent oneness (tae-il) and to restore our connection to Samsin, the Divine trinity. This oneness can be likened to water, the original source of life on Earth, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all existence. In Korean philosophy, number one is linked to the concept of Taeguek, representing an undifferentiated state of absolute and infinite potential from which everything originates.

 

One accumulates and opens as Ten,

yet all occurs due to Three’s creative change.

The progression from one to ten symbolizes creation from nothing. When reaching ten, it signifies the journey's completion and a return to unity after a transformative ninefold experience. This journey elevates everything to a higher level, leading to a fresh beginning represented by maturity and the season of autumn. It also gives the idea of the “Early Heaven Gaebyeok” and the “Later Heaven Gaebyeok”.

Dreams of the Perfect City: The metaphorical representation of Cheonbugyeong

 

Chen Dai Goang: Dreams of the Perfect City exhibition

(Source: www.mmca.go.kr)

Chen Dai Goang: Dreams of the Perfect City was an exhibition showcased at MMCA Cheongju Art Storage Center from September 17, 2021, to July 24, 2022, as a part of the "Cheongju Project 2021" organized by The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

The exhibition aimed to provide viewers with diverse encounters with contemporary art in an outdoor setting while offering artists a platform to create new works. Chen Dai Goang's contribution to the exhibition involved crafting a miniature "city" using various materials and forms on the lawn space in front of the Art Storage Center. 

This creation, known as Dreams of the Perfect City, served as a symbolic representation of an ideal city, inspired by the concept of Cheonbugyeong 

References:

• https://book.interpark.com/product/BookDisplay.do?_method=detail&sc.saNo=001&sc.prdNo=225870205&product2020=true

• https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/421734/chen-dai-goangdreams-of-the-perfect-city/

• https://www.mmca.go.kr/eng/exhibitions/exhibitionsDetail.do?exhId=202102010001388&menuId=1010000000

• https://www.korea.net/Government/Briefing-Room/PressReleases/view?articleId=5994&type=O

• Mason, David A. (24 April 2016). "The Cheonbu-gyeong, Holy Seondo Scripture". Solitary Sage: The Profound Life, Wisdom and Legacy of Korea's "Go-un" Choi Chi-won. ISBN 978-1-365-06780-8

• Teachings of the sessions of HACD season 2