太一神의 含意와 한국에서의 太一神 숭배

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The philosophy of Samsin or the Triune Spirit is the unique philosophy of Korean people. This system of thought consists of the spirit of the heavenly one, the spirit of the earthly one, and the spirit of the ultimate one, which respectively administer heaven, earth, and humanity. The spirit of the heavenly one is the spirit of creation that creates all things; the spirit of the earthly one is the spirit of edification that fosters all things;
the spirit of the ultimate one is the spirit of governance that completes and governs all things. Among these three spirits, the spirit of the ultimate one, which is the spirit of creation, is the noblest and greatest one, because it is the very spirit which realizes the purpose of heaven and earth, namely, perfecting human beings into maturity. In the period of Warring States, the Samsin teachings of Korea was first introduced to China, and later during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han dynasty, it was developed to be put into practice through imperial offering rituals. It continued till the last period of the Western Han Dynasty. The categories of the spirit of the ultimate one are as follows―the main deity of the Star of the Ultimate One (Polaris); Taeeul Gugo Cheonjon (Taeeul Heavenly Being That Delivers Humanity From Suffering); Taeeul Supreme Sovereign that, according to the Cantong qi (the Seal of the Unity of the Three), leads the immortals who had been mortal humans to the central abode in the heaven; Taeeul Spirit, one of the noblest being, that administers the process of life inside human body, and so forth. In the 10th year of the reign of King Munjong (1056 A.D.) of Goryeo Dynasty, the Taeil Choje (Heavenly Offering Ritual for the Ultimate One) first appeared in Korean history. Thereafter, the Goryeosa (the history of Goryeo Dynasty) recounts that there were 20 Taeil Chojes conducted in all till the 4th year of King Wu (1378 A.D.). During the Goryeo Dynasty, Doguans (Dao institutes) which presided over Taeil Choje, were established across the nation―Bokwon Palace, Shingyeok Shrine, Taecheong Temple in Gaegyeong (then capital city). Taeil Shrines were built in the provincial districts such as Hwa’nyeong in the gan direction, Choongju in the son direction, Bu’pyeong in the gon direction, Guiju in the geon direction, and each shrine conducted alternately the offering rituals for the star of the ultimate one (polaris) by the interval of 45 years. In the early period of Joseon Era, according to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the offering rituals for Taeilseong or the star of the ultimate one were performed in the Sogyeok Shrine for 24 times in all from the reign of King Taejo till the 4th year of the reign of King Sejo (1458 A.D.). Due to the influence of the 45-year relocation theory, Taeil Shrines of Joseon Dynasty were also established according to its unique principles; first, in the initial period of the dynasty, a Taeil Shrine was built in the Tongcheon of Gangwondo Province in the gan direction, and then 45 years later, in 1434 A.D., it was relocated to the Uiseong of Gyongsang Province, and then another 45years later, in 1479 A.D., it was relocated to Tae’an of Choongcheong Province to perform the offering rituals for heaven. It was Tae’an in the gon direction where the customs of performing offering rituals in the provincial districts came to an end.