[Essay in My Heart]

By Solti 

Ten Lessons from Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho

A book arrived from Korea around mid-July. It was Professor Shin Yong-Ha’s “Ahn Chang-Ho: A Biography of Korean National Independence” (Jisik Sanup Publications, Co., Ltd.). This book was carefully packaged and sent by Professor Choi Jeong-Gie of Chonnam National University, and I am incredibly grateful.

Last year, after reading all of the books of Mr. Chang-Soo Lee of the Young Korean Academy (YKA) USA, who sent me a box of books, in particular, I was curious to see if there were any recently published books on Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho, and I happened to find that book. Knowing this, I had to ask Professor Choi for a book without making any excuses.

As I read the books little by little as soon as I had free time, I realized that Professor Shin's books were written by a scholar, which is a little different from the books I have read before and recognized that his effort to objectively describe the historical facts based on the records. 

I am ashamed to say that I vaguely remember hearing about Dosan's name and the Young Korean Academy(YKA: 흥사단(興士團)) he founded in San Francisco, USA in 1913 in Korean history class in middle and high school days. Until recently, I knew truly little about Dosan and Young Korean Academy.

After reading the book, I personally summarized the ten lessons I learned from Dosan as follows. Although many representative patriots in Korea each contributed to our country's independence in their own way, Dosan in particular is clearly remembered by me as a person with a very noble and desirable character worthy of imitation and diligence for our people to follow.

Unfortunately, we cannot hear about Dosan's upbringing, who was famous at the time as an outstanding orator who dominated the era, but it is said that about two hundred famous sayings have been passed down through various channels. The following ten qualities were selected by the author after reading and analyzing these quotes and related books that have been passed down among the words of Dosan, and it is a collection of representative Dosan quotes related to each character.

Honesty

Even if you die, do not lie.

Let us not deceive or lie, be truthful and save the capital of credit. By studying one or more academics or skills, let us allegedly save the capital of knowledge to cover our profession. Let us save at least two-tenths of one's income to save at least ten Won or more of the capital of the alliance.

Sincerity

Clumsiness ruined our country. Even if we do our best, it will be difficult to do our best. How much more, can we achieve a thousand-year-old business with clumsiness? 

Let us swear over and over again that we will put away the lies that are in your skin and in mine, and fill you with sincerity.

Patience

Japan started a war that was too great for its own power, and in the end, it was defeated by this war. Be patient no matter what difficulties you face.

It is easy to defeat a thousand horses, but it is difficult to overcome my habit.

Love

Let us study love too, let me study love too. People, we, the 20 million Koreans, let us become a nation that loves each other.

Why is our society so chill? We do not have warm energy. We must create a world where we smile with love for each other.

Unity

Even if all those who grumble and rebuke for not joining in with others, only forming a side and fighting, there will be at least a few million people.

On the day that the people of Korea believe the words of the people of Korea and the writings of the people of Korea, the people of Korea will be happy to see the faces of the people of Korea, and the people of Korea will be happy to collaborate with the people of Korea.

Sacrifice

All my life, I try to see through every day what I have to do today.

I am not trying to be your head. I am here to serve you.

Persistence

All important things should start with the smallest and the most difficult things should be solved with the easiest.

The world, whether we laugh at or praise, help or hurt, confess, or hate, believe, or doubt, we must hold on to it and go to the end when we realize that this is the proper way to save our nation. 

Cleanliness

National work is sacred work, and it is not right to do sacred work with unholy money or means.

It is a pleasure to see a beautiful woman. If you want to see that face, look straight ahead and confidently. Do not peek sideways. And do not take the thought of wanting to see it in your heart. 

Practicality

If you love Korea and I think you will love Korea too, you and I, let us all work together to reform Korea. Our education and religion must be reformed, our agriculture, commerce, and civil engineering must also be reformed, and our customs must also be reformed. We must renovate our food, our clothing, our shelter, our cities, and countryside, and even our rivers and our mountains.

Whether it is a rough stone or a round stone, there is a law that can be used all over, so there is nothing to criticize if someone else's personality is different from mine.

Positiveness

I believe that the truth must be followed, and justice must be fulfilled one day.

This is the only thing I earnestly ask for. Build up your strength, build up your strength, except for these words.

Everything in the world is a product of power. If you have little strength, you will accomplish little; if you have great strength, you will achieve greatness. If you do not have strength, you cannot accomplish anything at all. Therefore, whoever wants to achieve his purpose will first find his strength.

The ten noble qualities of the Dosan are worthy of being engraved in our hearts and practiced for the rest of our lives. The noble spirit and precious teachings of Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho, a truly national and independent revolutionary who dedicated his life solely to the complete independence of his country with amazing insight and strong practical ability to foresee the future with clear intelligence, still accurately suggest the clear direction we should take in the future, and what they suggest is incredibly significant and valuable to us.

“Build up your strength, build up your strength!”

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August 4, 2022