This glossary is for those who are not native speakers of Korean and who are new to Sun Do. This is a practical guide and should not be understood as an official or academic resource. This glossary will list the words which Sun Do practitioners most commonly encounter during practice sessions.
Multiple explanations will be used in most cases to help the understanding of the complicated meanings of certain words, or simply to ease the difficulty of finding the appropriate English word.
This glossary will include Korean and Hanja (漢子, Han characters) whenever necessary to help understanding.
The sounds between B and P, U and O and EO, T and D, K and G, C and S, among others, are often used interchangeably in translating Korean. We tried to keep it as consistent as possible. The contents will be edited or added as necessary.
Sun Do, Sundo (선도, 선道)
Kouk Sun Do; Bark Dol Bup; Way of Life; 국선도;
Sun (선, 선)
Human and the universe in harmony; immortal; yogi ;
Do (도, 道)
Tao; way of life
Ki (Chi, Qi) (기, 氣)
Life energy; life force; vital energy
Danjeon (Danjon, Tanjon단전, 丹田)
The energy center located at the center of the lower abdomen, below the navel; physical center of gravity; elixir field; Tantien or Dantien in Chinese, Danten in Japanese; (roughly equivalent to) Manipura - the seat of prana
Dan (단, 丹)
The combined life energy of Yin and Yang; elixir of life
3 Danjeon(s) (삼단전, 三丹田)
- Lower Danjeon at the lower abdomen relying on the two kidneys
- Upper Danjeon relying on brain
- Middle Danjeon relying on heart
Bark (Park, Bark) (밝)
Ancient word for the Sun; energy and light of the Sun; the virtue of the Sun as the source of all life;
Bark Dol Bup (밝돌법, 밝돌法)
The way of participating in the cycle of universal Ki energy
Dol (돌)
Cycle, rotation, change
Bup (Beup) (법, 法)
Law (of nature), the way
Jung Ki Sin (Jeung Ki Shin) (정기신, 精氣神)
Jung (정, 精): Physical essence of life energy relying on the Lower Danjeon; physical essence; vital essence
Ki (기, 氣): Spiritual/intellectual essence of life energy relying on the Upper Danjeon; intellectual essence; vital energy
Sin (Shin 신, 神): Mental/heart essence of life energy relying on the Middle Danjeon; congenital mind-will essence; vital spirit
Ho Heup (호흡, 呼吸)
Inhalation and exhalation; breathing
Dan Bup (Danbup단법, 丹法)
Practice levels of Sun Do; 9 levels of Sun Do - Jung Ki, Kun Kon, Won Ki, Jin Ki, Sam Hap, Jo Ri, Sam Chung, Mu Jin, and Jin Kong
Joong Ki Dan Bup (중기단법, 中氣丹法)
Level 1; beginner level with two sets of 25 Haeng Kong postures with Breathing Pattern 1
Kun Kon Dan Bup (건곤단법, 乾坤丹法)
Level 2; intermediate level with 23 Haeng Kong postures with Breathing Pattern 2
Won Ki Dan Bup (원기단법, 元氣丹法)
Level 3; advanced level with 360 Haeng Kong postures with Breathing Pattern 3
Hun (Hoon) (훈, 訓)
Principle; precept; decree; core value
Jung Sim (Jeong Sim, Chung Shim) (정심, 正心)
Righteous mind; one mind; genuine mind; mind in truth
Jung Si (Jeong Shi, Chung Shi) (정시, 正視)
Righteous point of view; right view; correct observance; view in truth
Jung Gak (Jeong Gahk, Chung Gahk) (정각, 正覺)
Right Enlightenment; right awakening; right understanding; enlightenment in truth
Jung Do (Jeong Do, Chung Do) (정도, 正道)
Right way; the way in truth
Jung Haeng (Jeong Hang, Chung Haeng) (정행, 正行)
Right conduct; the conduct in truth
Ki Sin Bup (기신법, 氣身法)
Stretching to spread Ki to the internal organs; 5 sets of stretching exercises for 10 internal organs (kidneys, urinary bladder, heart, small intestine, liver, gall bladder, lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen)
