Up Menu
MAIN
Training
Discussion
Analysis
Korean Culture
Network
MAIN
Analysis
Training
Korean Culture
Discussion
Network
World Cultural Alliance of TAEKWONDO
World Cultural Alliance of TAEKWONDO
Taekwondo Bibles Menu

 

Introduction
Summary
Commentary
Main Text
 

 

<Commentary on Chapter 1>
 

Oneness and Nothingness be to be born together with each other()


"How should I begin Taekwondo?"
Master stood up with no word and I followed him.


(1) It is necessary that a man is born with his mind and body on earth, and it is impossible to control his mind and body in harmony unless he relies on the principle that has been existing since the time when there was nobody.

The basic ontology of Taekwondo is explained. Taekwondo is a principle that has been existing before man, which means its fundamental foundation is the Natrue, and not human stuff. Taekwondo is a martial art and it is systemic techniques of attack and defense. For attack and defense you have to control your mind and body, so for an effective one you need control yourself i harmony according to the right principle. Thus, the harmony is the key word to understanding of Taekwondo here.

(2) This principle, according to which everyone can control his mind and body and live his life, has been called "TAEKWONDO" by senior masters.

This is the definition of TAEKWONDO, and this sentence is connected to the previous one. Thus, the concept of TAEKWONDO is "the way of controling human mind and body based on the natural principle that has been existing without change", which is compose of three factors; motion, its control and constant principle.

In this article, the concepts of "Taekwondo" and "TAEKWONDO" are distinguished. "TAEKWONDO" refers to the philosophical principles that man should follow in his life, i.e, the inner feature of Taekwondo as Do(O©ø) while "Taekwondo" refers to the principles of motion to control one's mind and body, i.e. the outer feature of Taekwondo as motions. Pronunciations of both are same and both refer to a thing, to different aspects of a thing respectively. But this distinction was made just in order to suggest logically clearer explanation on what the old masters have taught. Perhaps ony may think this distinction is unnecessary. Anyway, readers can read and understand all with no considerations on it.

(3) There are the ways along which the planets move in the sky; the ways along which birds and beasts travel on earth; and also the rules that mankind should obey in society. (4) Just like these again, there is also the right way along which we should control our hands and feet whenever we make any motions. (5) This is another aspect of TAEKWONDO.

Man's life can be constructed only in his own motions and it is everything of his with the nature in. Owing to these reasons, we can call Taekwondo a <Do>(Ô³)>, which contains the eternal principle.
<Do> is what makes everything be such, i.e, it is the principle that penetrates everything. The very principle that penetrates or founds the suchness of everything given naturally is <Do>. It transcends every distinction and discrimination. So there is neither a part nor a whole in it. Because it has neither a part nor a whole, if you know it you know everything. Therefore, every single word written here is not a piece of knowledge on TAEKWONDO. It is an entirety of itself that includes everything.
Since early times many men, relying on what each of them attained, have divided the TAEKWONDO into three aspects, i.e. Musool(martial technique), Muyae(martial art), and Mudo(martial principle). Musool(martial technique) refers to those techniques with which you can control and surpass your opponent as you want. Muyae(Martial art) is to obtain the harmony of mind and body in which you use martial techniques at the level of arts sublimating distinctions between mind and body into perfect harmony. Mudo(Martial principle) refers to comprehension of the ultimate truth with its realization in addition to the level of Muyae(martial art). All of these distinctions among Musool, Muyae and Mudo, however, will and must disappear at the end. thus, talking about Taekwondo as Mudo, will hide its true <Do>. Things people distinguish look different from one another as if all kinds of distinctions were real. The real affair, however, is the existence of the entirety of everything mixed in changes with one another all the way. So it shows itself whenever you just do Taekwondo. Therefore, everyone should know that each word written here lies not in a book, yet rather in right motions of those who do Taekwondo.
<Do(Ô³)> exists in real. But since it transcends every distinction you cannot explain even though you know it. Therefore, there is no one who can talk about Taekwondo just as Mudo(martial principle). Owing to this reason, those antecedent masters have called it only as "Muyae(martial art)" but not as "Mudo(martial principle)" even though such a profound martial principle has not been forgotten in fresh preservation for several thousand years. It is but to teach people the meaning hidden behind words in direct way that I say here the word "Mudo(martial principle)". Taekwondo has been the Oneness of Musool(martial skill), Muyae(martial art), and Mudo(martial principle) all the way; in the past and the present. There already is <Do> in every aspect of Taekwondo.