Professor Joon-sik Choi's book is very important in gaining a full understanding of the doctrinal and historical antecedents of this populist new religion. It presents all its key tenets and practices in way that has never before been achieved in English. He does so without losing focus on the social and political milieu in which Won Buddhism emerged. During different stages in Korean history leading up to the to the 20th century, Buddhism and Confucianism took turns as Korea's prominant or favoured ideology. Sot'aesan sought a way to synthesise some of the confl icting teachings of Buddhism and Confucianism: for example, creating an urban-based practice allowed his followers to concurrently fulfi l their Confucianist duties of fi lial piety and familial responsibility while observing their Won Buddhist practice at a nearby temple.
