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A sage of old said, “Proprieties are the fabric of celestial principles and the rules of human rituals.” Without proprieties, a person would be devoid of the highest of human qualities and public morals and social order would hardly be maintained; therefore, laying down the rules of propriety is a matter of vital importance in human life.
Due to the changes of times and borders, however, traditional proprieties from the past may be considered no longer proper in the present and what may be accepted as politeness in one country may not be in another country; hence the need for a person to adopt only what is proper arises. While proprieties, when first laid down, may seem carelessly done due to their procedural simplicity, adding volumes of supplementary expositions as time passes, on the contrary, would create troublesome practices that may not correspond well with people’s daily life; therefore the need for a person to adopt moderation without excess or deficiency is called for. As laying down the rules of propriety relates heavily to external matters, namely relations between people and those between people and things, a person ignorant of the fundamentals of propriety is likely to think that merely following formalities and keeping up appearance with whatever means according to time and place is all there is to practicing propriety. This is why a person should train himself from within, in pursuit of the fundamentals.
Consequently, what are the fundamentals of propriety? The first is to show far-ranging respect, which is always having respect for all things in the universe. The second is to show humility, which is always humbling yourself and honoring others. The third is to never compare nor reckon up, which is always asking yourself whether you have been improper in anyway and not reckoning up the improprieties of others.
Moreover, as the rules of propriety deals heavily with distinction of rank and seniority, a person may easily think that merely elucidating ways of distinction according to ranks and seniority with whatever means is the true nature of propriety. According to the principle, however, the way for a person to train himself in propriety as a whole is to first seek the mind, and then to have the mind rest in the place devoid of distinction, and finally to apply the ways of distinction in dealing with the matters of external nature. Only after having trained himself this way, will his conduct coincide with the fundamentals and will he be able to avoid being concerned with issues of minor or of no importance when dealing with matters.
The Won-Buddhist order, in consideration of all such points, compiled the Book of Rituals, the collection of necessary rules of propriety selected from both the old and the new, in which general propriety is first elucidated, followed by proprieties with regard to family affairs as well as the rites and rituals of the order that meet the needs of the times based on fairness and reason. Those who faithfully put them into practice as prescribed will truly be versed in the order of things in propriety and contribute to improving the world.
CONTENTS
General Introduction
Part 1. General Propriety
Chapter1. Introduction
Chapter2. Ordinary Routine
Chapter3. Attitude
Chapter4. Clothing Regulations
Chapter5. Courtesy in Greeting
Chapter6. Approaching and Stepping Back in Daily Living
Chapter7. Speaking and Responding
Chapter8. Serving Food and Giving and Receiving Gifts
Chapter9. Visiting and Receiving Guests
Chapter10. Invitations
Chapter11. Meals
Chapter12. Welcoming and Taking Leave
Chapter13. Congratulations and Condolences
Chapter14. Introductions and the Exchange of Gifts
Chapter15. Communication and Transportation
Chapter16. The Public and Public Facilities and Services
Chapter17. The People of the Nation and The International Community
Chapter18. Honor and Trust
Part 2. Formalities within the Family
Chapter1. Introduction
Chapter2. Birth
Chapter3. Entering into Adulthood
Chapter4. Marriage
Chapter5. The Sixtieth Anniversary
Chapter6. The Funeral
Chapter7. The Deliverance Service (Jae)
Chapter8. Ancestral Rite
Part 3. Rites and Rituals of the Order
Chapter1. Introduction
Chapter2. Enshrinement of Il‐Won‐Sang (Bong‐bool)
Chapter3. Dharma Services
Chapter4. Initiation into the Way (Deuk‐do)
Chapter5. Pledging of Sworn‐Family Ties (Eunbup‐gyoleui)
Chapter6. Dharma‐rank Advancement
Chapter7. Inauguration and Retirement of Head Dharma Masters (Daesa)
Chapter8. Dedication (Bonggo)
Chapter9. Special Prayer
Chapter10. Celebration
Chapter11. Won-Buddhist Obsequies (Wonboolgyo‐jang)
Chapter12. Ancestral Memorial Service (Dae‐jae)
Chapter13. Won-Buddhist Ceremonial Objects, Symbols, and Vestments
Appendix
HOMEPAGE TO THE SCRIPTURES OF WON BUDDHISM
eBook version of The Scriptures of Won Buddhism with Korean / English Translations including searching feature
The images redirects your browser to the official multilingual web page for the Scriptures of Won Buddhism. The web page provides the officially approved versions or best translated versions of the six main scriptures of Won Buddhism in eleven languages. (This web pages is managed by Headquarters of Won Buddhism in Korea)
Once you open up the Scripture, a new screen will pop up with ‘Language Search’ located in the upper right corner of the page. You can search a language for the content that best interests you.
