A Study on the Thought of Return to Former Heaven(先天回復) of Donghakkyo (東學敎)

The idea about relationship between era and world in Donghakkyo東學敎is different from other new religions in modern Korea. Most of new religions think that this world, Former Heaven, is going to the Great Opening Era of the Latter Heaven. Donghakkyo, on the contrary to this, thinks that this world, Latter Heaven, is returning to Former Heaven. Dealing with these differences, this article says that the thought of returning to Former Heaven in Donghakkyo was already latent in the Early Donghak(19C). Although writings of divination such as Jeonggamnok(鄭鑑錄) and I-Ching philosophy were added to scriptures of Donghakkyo, the basic idea is similar to Early Donghak. In addition, this paper investigates the role of the saint in returning to Former Heaven