Kouk Sun Do

Infobox Korean name
hangul=국선도
hanja=國仙道
rr=Gukseon-do
mr=Kuksŏn-do

Kouk Sun Do is an ancient Taoist Korean system of Hermit monks who resided in the mountains of what is now known as Korea. The lineage of the system is unknown. However, a little known reference to the system can be found on [Hwarangdo.com] under the history link there is reference to "kuksondo" (Korean Hangul characters shown on site are the same, this English spelling is different)...". Hwarangdo's lineage is also traced back to a monk.

Kouk Sun Do system contains a meditation and healing art, which may appear similar to other Chinese Taoist (see Taoism) practices, such as Qigong(which is Kigong in Korean) but it is a much deeper and more comprehensive graduated practice. Kouk Sun Do builds chi, Ki, in Korean language of Hangul, or life energy in the practitioner's body and balances their mind, body and spirit. The Ki energy practice roots may be from Tao Yin which literally translated from Chinese means "stretching and contracting the body".

Kouk Sun Do was originally developed in the region now known as Korea over the past 9700 years or so, according to Chung San Guh Sa (Chung San) who came down from the mountains of Korea to spread Kouk Sun Do in 1967. At that time martial arts were taught along with the healing art until a decision was made to only promote only the healing art aspect of the system.

Kouk Sun Do (KSD) was practiced on the mountains secretly for hundreds of years by hermits, then in 1967, Chung San came down from the mountain to spread Kouk Sun Do, as instructed by Chung San's master. When Chung San first came down from 15 years of 10 hours a day training on the mountains of Korea, he did magnificent demonstrations that were thought to be impossible for ordinary humans. For instance, he sat on a burning fire for 15 minutes but his body was not burnt. After such demonstrations, in 1970 March 15, the first Kouk Sun Do center was established in Korea. Since then, numerous Koreans have practiced Kouk Sun Do, and there are currently over 100 Kouk Sun Do centres in Korea. Also, in a visit to the first center in Columbus, Ohio with seven other masters, he went into a lake and stayed underwater for 18 minutes.

In 1983, Chung San went back to the mountains. Nowadays, no one knows where he is. However, since then, Kouk Sun Do has slowly become famous in Korea. In one of the Korean dramas that were broadcast in the Korean national TV, one of the protagonists practiced Kouk Sun Do, proving KSD's wide recognition in Korea.

While Chung San was spreading Kouk Sun Do, he wrote two books on Kouk Sun Do, which are published in Korean and only available in Korea. The first book talks about Chung San's life in mountain as he learns Kouk Sun Do from his master; the second book talks about various aspects of Kouk Sun Do such as purpose, origin, method, etc.

Master Hyun Moon Kim's organization has three publications including his own book "The Tao of Life", an intro booklet and a newsletter. Another publication by the Korean Sundo Culture Institute (KSCI) at International Graduate University for Peace is ‘History and Culture of Korean Sundo’.

Unfortunately, there are very few KSD centres outside of Korea. Thus, it is pretty much unknown to non-Koreans but is spreading throughout the world. As of 2007, there were approximately eight Kouk Sun Do centres in the United States, including New York, Boston, Montpelier VT and Los Angeles as well as a branch instructor in Daytona Beach, Florida. There are also a few centers in Canada, France, Thailand, Malaysia and Germany. The main teaching center is directed by Hyun Moon Kim in West Hartford, Connecticut and there is a beautiful Retreat Center in the small town of Barnet, Vermont. See [http://www.Sundo.org] for center information.

Master Kim resides part of the year in the USA and teaches at Hanseo University in South Korea. He also heads the International Institute for Sundo-Taoist Cultural Research (IISCR) in Tangjin, South Korea.

Kouk Sun Do healing is similar to in effect to Chinese traditional medicine, i.e. acupressure points are used during the practice, the practitioners gradually learn to focus their Ki then circulate it through the energy meridians, they focus on energy centers and levels in the body. Acupuncture principles such as the five elements were founded by Taoist monks and is a part of the Kouk Sun Do system. In the USA acupressure is taught at seasonal retreats.

The process first works in the lower DanJeon (energy center) Dantianin Chinese and progresses to the middle and upper DanJeon. The healing is more gradual than an acupuncture treatment which can enforce and speed up the healing process but cannot advance the practitioner to the level of "sam we il chae" or balance of the three energy centers which the practitioners strive for. The resultant effect of balancing the three energy centers through continued practice is more powerful than acupuncture itself yielding a spiritual development leading to enlightenment.

A simultaneous healing of imbalances in Ki energy through building, balancing and release of energy blockages begins in what is referred to as the exterior level in acupuncture. With persistent practice and advancment to higher levels of Hang-gong (postures similar to yoga's asana), along with more advanced breathing and visualization practice healing continues deeper into the interior levels.

The aimed result of the practice is longevity or what in ancient times was referred to as Immortality through the balance and conservation of bodily energies as in other non-religious Taoist practices. Of course the monks practiced the martial arts for self-preservation.

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*Korean martial arts

External links

* http://www.kuksun.com/bc_4.htm (four Korean newspaper articles written back in 1970s when Chung San was spreading KSD; the picture in the second article shows Chung San sitting in fire; the picture in the third article shows Chung San standing on top of sword without his foot being injured; the picture in the last article shows Chung San lifting very heavy bar bell with his teeth)
* http://www.kouksundo.org/ (world Kouk Sun Do federation;
* http://www.sundo.org/ United States Kouk Sun Do organization.
* http://www.sundousa.org/ Introduction to Kouk Sun Do and its practice centers and groups in the United States