Grant----7/6/2003 3:52 PM----Post Number: 1


Most of us have seen the translation . "east sea"

Is there a deeper meaning to this word? Several people online have spoken of the "way of haidong."

Any thoughts?

--Curious Student

Anthony_Boyd----7/6/2003 11:11 PM----Post Number: 2


Well, the HDGD essay on this site as well as the one on my personal website gets into that meaning a little bit. In addition, the new English site of the Federation explains it. For what it's worth, here are my two cents:

The characters for Hai and Dong have more than just one meaning. They deal with light, light energy, and reflections. As we mentioned in the thread on Ki Gong, linkages of chinese characters can expand beyond the mere dictionary definitions. For example, we like to think of "Do" as "the way" and get all content with our cultural bias for "the way" and we think method or system. This particular "way" is not so much about that as it is about making a life journey toward development. Pretty substantial difference.

Based on what has been printed over the past few years, Hai and Dong link with Gum and Do to create a substantially different meaning than just the meanings of those parts. While the literal meaning comes out as East Sea Swordsmanship (to give English speakers the right idea about "Do") the idea somehow elevates to one of reflected sunlight from upraised swords facing the East Sea. On the main website, the key principle of Haidong Gumdo is described as Executing Justice with the Sword light reflected from the majestic sun rising over the East Sea.

Heavy, huh?