Dosan's Four Principles

In order to better understand Dosan's achievements and thoughts, thorough understanding of his four ideals is necessary. Dosan’s four principal ideals of: Mooshil (truth), Ryukhang (action), Choongeui (loyalty), and Yonggam (bravery) could be described with one concept - sincerity.

The philosophy of strength was not simply the ideal of imperialism based on the weak becomes the victim of the strong. The strength that Dosan was talking about always had the individual as its core. This individual possessed much love of himself and for others and earnestly pursued human dignity and integrity. This philosophy enclosed humanism, the love for humanity, and attributed the theory of success and failure to individuals' character. Dosan, however, was not a moralist who was cultivating and pursuing the perfect personality and character. Because of his broad activities and influences, he was viewed as many different types of thinker and leader. Dosan was viewed as a politician, an activist of the independence movement, an educator, a revolutionist, a hero and even as a cautious, timid ordinary person. No matter what type of person he portrayed and no matter what kind of situation he was in, the principle of sacrifice and selflessness was always with him.

Moral Strength

Dosan believed that national independence would be possible when sufficient strength was built in various sectors and levels in society. Dosan thought that real base of the power was moral, ethical healthiness. The first step toward strengthening ability required the development of respectability. Without having proper moral values, neither a powerful nation nor a capable individual could be achieved. Dosan viewed individualistic values such as sincerity, honesty, and endeavor as sources for moral strength. Cultivation of respectable characters equipped with strong moral was, in fact, a direct process of strengthening ability and, therefore, expanding national power.