Philosophy of Han Mu Do

Approximately ten thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Korean people living in pharmil fields of Central Asia began to migrate to the east for the warm weather and the bright sun. They crossed the Altai mountains and settled in what is today known as Manchuria and the Korean peninsula. There the Korean people created a unique civilization based on the Han philosophy.

The Han philosophy is purely of Korean origin. It was nurtured and matured by the Korean people before relations with neighboring nations were established. The Han philosophy is based on four distinct characteristics.

First, Han means head or high position. The Korean people look for leadership and guidance from the holders of high position. They are the King - Head of State, the Father - Head of the Family, and the Teacher - Head of the Classroom. They are regarded as very important persons in the nation.

The philosophy of Han gives the man of high position a simple lesson. When the water from the upper portion of a stream is clean and clear, the water in the lower portion will be clean and clear. Likewise, when the Head of State governs the Country with love, the subjects will follow with respect. When the Father takes good care of his family, he will receive respect. When the Teacher becomes a role model to his students in the areas of morality and ethics as well as his chosen field, the teacher will receive respect.

Second, Han means whole of big. Each person is considered a vital member of the community as a whole. Harmony within the community as a whole is very important in the pursuit of happiness for the individual as well as for the country.

Nature is a great example of "as a whole." Great beauty in nature does not come from a single element but from many elements such a clean stream, a green mountain, and blossoming flowers. All of these elements contribute to nature's beauty.

Third, Han means brightness or optimism. Brightness in the Korean language implies peace, cleanliness, and honesty in life. They see the future as optimistic regardless of the hardships they have faced in the past. The Korean people believe that there could be a peaceful coexistence among the different tribes or races. The believed that they could live in harmony with nature. They believed in a optimistic future. These beliefs of brightness associated with peace, honesty, and optimism have been carried out in the minds of Korean people for generations.

Finally, Han means higher learning. The Korean people place great value on education and culture. They strive for excellence in learning whether it be in literature or martial arts.

The Sun Bi( intellectual warriors) has a dual purpose in their lives. As trained soldiers, they could go to the battlefields to defend their country and, at the same time, the Sun Bi felt that, as learned scholars, they could go to work in the government to assist the King. The Sun Bi considered penmanship and swordsmanship were of equal value. The harmony between the two was the ultimate goal. The Sun Bi possessed scholarly charm and warrior's bravery.

These four characteristics of Han philosophy permeated into every facet of Korean society. It has been embedded in Korean culture, religion, economics, politics, and especially in martial arts. It still plays a significant role in what constitutes the Korean identity.