Won Buddhism (), is a modern religion originating in Korea. It can be regarded as either a syncretic new religious movement or a reformed Buddhism. The name "Won Buddhism" comes from the Korean words 원/圓 won ("circle") and 불교/佛敎 bulgyo ("Buddhism"), literally meaning "Round Buddhism" or interpreted as "Consummate Buddhism." The stated goals of Won Buddhism are for people to realize their own innate buddha nature and to save all sentient beings by serving others. Emphasis is on interaction with daily life, not “stilling the impulses,” but rather acting in accord with “appropriate desires.” Won Buddhism's Founder, Sotaesan (Pak Chung-bin, 1891-1943) believed that over-emphasis on the material world in relation to the spiritual world would create undue suffering; his Founding Motto was, “With this Great Opening of matter, let there be a Great Opening of spirit.” In essence, Won Buddhism proposes adapting to and overcoming modernity. Founder and early history Background Korea does not have a single dominant religion. Buddhism was introduced to the Korean peninsula in the 4th century CE. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Confucianism became the predominant belief system and Buddhism was repressed. Christianity, initially Catholicism and later Protestantism, was introduced in the late 19th century. Under Japanese occupation (1910-1945), Japanese-oriented Buddhism became prominent in part to counter Christianity’s influence. Concurrently during the late 19th/early 20th centuries, new movements arose in Korean Buddhism to reform its traditional elements or form a “new Buddhism,” e.g., Won Buddhism. Founding of Won Buddhism Sotaesan (Pak Chungbin, 박중빈, 朴重彬, 1891–1943) grew up in a poor village in the southwest corner of the Korean peninsula. His only formal education was two years of local primary schooling, in the Confucian tradition. According to Won Buddhism tradition, he began asking questions about universal phenomenona at age 7 and expanded his inquiries to problems of life and death and existence. He began his quest by praying to mountain spirits for four years, following this with equally unsuccessful questioning of those considered enlightened teachers. Finally, he spent several years in deep observation and contemplation, often in harsh physical conditions. By the age of 25, he was viewed as a lost soul by his fellow villagers. On April 28, 1916, he claimed to have experienced enlightenment and entered a state of nirvana. Won Buddhists annually celebrate this date as Great Enlightenment Day. Sotaesan did not set out specifically to embrace Buddhism. Rather, after his enlightenment he examined