East Asia in the Modern World - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Moreover, both movements consider the spiritual history in material and selfless sense. In both counts, the material self means an individual’s material body that is ever considered real while on the other hand, the selfless is the spiritual consideration of the material body not being real. Notably, the material self often manifest itself in the violent millenarian movements as the selfless struggles often lead to peace of the inner mind (Ebrey, Walthall, and Palais 333). Apparently, both the Taipings and the Tonghaks are inspired by the “selfless” notion that has made them evade overt violence; however, the movements often attract some elements that are associated with material self-struggle.
Despite series of similarities shared by the Taipings and the Tonghaks, they also have some notable differences. The Taipings and the Tonghaks do not share collective sense in the spiritual world. For several decades, the Taiping founded a dream based on the peace and egalitarianism concepts. These concepts led to corruption, murder, power struggle, and terrible dictatorships (Ebrey, Walthall, and Palais 357). On the other hand, the teachings of the Tonghak advocated for terrestrial salvation; however, it did not teach the realization of the earthly heaven. Regardless of its miniature contributions to the early heaven, it initiated sociopolical reforms that trained and set the minds of people to believe on humanity have God’s nature or humanity is God and humanity is to be achieved through salvation that only comes through an individual’s own ...Download file to see next pagesRead More