various religions. His thought contained Confucian and Daoist elements, but after reading the Diamond Sutra he determined that his beliefs aligned most closely with the teachings of the Buddha. He then attracted a small group of followers and selected nine disciples. Early guiding principles included diligence, frugality, elimination of formal rituals and superstition, and abstinence from alcohol and smoking Major elements, still central today, are the lack of a wide distinction between laity and the priesthood, equality of men and women, modernizing practice and doctrine, and concern about the swift rise in material development. Early on, Sotaesan sought to improve the daily lives of his followers by establishing a thrift and savings institution and embarking on an arduous, year-long levee-building project to reclaim 25 acres of land from the sea for rice cultivation. In August of 1919, the nine disciples pledged to follow the new movement even at the cost of their lives. In an event commemorated today as "The Miracle of the Blood Seal," thumbprints placed on a sheet of paper recording their pledge were seen to turn red. Sotaesan named his community Bulbeop Yeongu Hwe (Society for the Study of the Buddha-dharma) in 1924. It remained a small rural order based in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, until the Japanese occupation ended in 1945. Sotoesan’s successor, Chǒngsan (Song Kyu, Cheongsan) renamed it Wǒnbulgyo (Won Buddhism) in 1947. Since the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, Won Buddhism has grown markedly. The precise number of Won Buddhist practitioners worldwide is unclear. In South Korea’s 2005 census, approximately 130,000 people identified as members. However, this may be an under-representation, since people could also identify themselves on the census as “Buddhists.” Won Buddhist Headquarters estimates the number to be over 1 million world-wide. Currently, there are approximately 500 Won Buddhist temples in Korea and over 70 temples and centers in 23 countries. This includes 33 in the United States and 2 in Canada. Doctrine An early treatise was written by Sotaesan and published in 1935, the Treatise on the Renovation of Korean Buddhism (Hanja: 朝鮮佛敎改革論 Chosǒn Pulgyo Hyǒksillon) and then expanded into The Correct Canon of Buddhism (Pulgyo Chǒngjǒn) in 1943, just before his death. His successor, Chǒngsan, published the new canon in 1962, The Scriptures of Won Buddhism (Wonbulgyo Kyojeon). All were written in Korean to be accessible to as many people as possible. The Scriptures now also include the Dharma