Poch’ŏngyo

Poch’ŏngyo, (Korean: “Universal Religion”), indigenous Korean religion, also popularly called Humch’igyo from the distinctive practice of chanting humch’i, a word said to have mystical significance. Poch’ŏngyo was founded by Kang Il-sun (1871–1909), who initially gained a following by offering to cure illnesses through incantations and by medicine. The Japanese rulers of Korea, fearful that Poch’ŏngyo was an underground political movement, so restricted Kang’s activities that only a weak organization was established before his death. Leadership...