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Drysdale’s
School Of Tae Kwon Do
Do San
Do-san commemorates the
pseudonym of the great patriot and educator Ahn Chang-Ho (1878-1938).
Ahn Chang-Ho was committed to
preserving the Korean educational system during the Japanese occupation and was
well known for sincerity and lack of pretense in dealing with others. A farmer's son, he abandoned traditional learning in
his home town, Pyongyang, and studied for two years at a missionary school
operated by the Salvation Army. He became a Christian and felt he could not
hate the Japanese as men. He decided to seek a source of national strength and
cultivate it to regain national independence and prosperity.
To understand the significance of
Ahn Chang-Ho's achievements, one must understand the oppressive climate
throughout the Korean peninsula during the Japanese occupation (1904-1945).
During the occupation, the Japanese tried to eradicate Korean culture,
literature historical records, and education. As a result, many refugees fled
to China, Manchuria, United States, and other countries.
In 1894, at the age of
17, Ahn became a member of the Tongnip
Hyophoe "Independence Association," which promoted
independence from Japan and worked to reform domestic affairs and reduce
dependence upon foreign countries. But the conservative ruling
class, so, Chai-pil, leader of the group, went into exile in the United States
interrupted the group’s activities. This strengthened Ahn's belief that Koreans
themselves were to blame their failures and thus victory must come from within.
He returned to his hometown and established the Chomjin School, the first
private modern school established in Korea.
Among the first Koreans to immigrate
to United States in 1902 were Ahn Chang-Ho and Rhee Syngman, who were later to
become the first president of the Republic of Korea. Once in United States, Ahn
Chang-Ho established groups within the Korean community in support of the
independence of the Korean people. In 1903, Ahn organized a fraternity that
became the Kungminhoe (Korean National Association), which inspired
Korean immigrants toward a movement for national independence. The group
published a newspaper called "Kongnip Shinmun."
Upon learning of the Japanese
protectorate treaty enforced on Korea in 1906 following the Russo-Japanese war,
Ahn returned home in 1907. He organized an underground independence group in
Pyong--An Province called Shinmin-Hoe (New Peoples' Association). The Shinmin-Hoe
was associated with Protestant organizations and was dedicated to promoting
the recovery of Korean independence through the cultivation and emergence of
nationalism in education, business, and culture.
In 1908 the Shinmin-Hoe established
the Tae-Song (large achievement) School in Pyongyang to provide Korean
youth with an education based on national spirit. He ran a ceramic kiln to
raise funds for the publications of books for young people. However, the
political environment of the time was not conducive to the founding of such a
school; the Japanese were in the process of actively banning education for
Koreans. By denying the Korean children proper schooling, the Japanese wanted
to ensure their illiteracy, thus essentially creating a class of slave workers.
Together with Yi Kap, Yang Ki-tak,
and Shin Chae-Ho, he embarked on a lecture tour throughout the nation; warning
of a national crisis incurred by the Japanese and urged the public to unite to
resist the Japanese. Ahn repeatedly told Japanese leaders that Japan would
profit much by keeping Korea as a friend rather than annexing Koreans and
inviting their resentment.
By 1910 the Shinmin-Hoe had
around 300 members and represented a threat to the occupation. The Japanese
were actively crushing these types of organizations, and the Shinmin-Hoe quickly
became a target of their efforts. In December of 1910 the Japanese governor
general, Terauchi, was scheduled to attend the dedicating ceremony for the new
railway bridge over the Amnok River. The Japanese used this situation to
pretend to uncover a plot to assassinate Terauchi on the way to this ceremony.
All of the Shinmin-Hoe leaders and 600 innocent Christians were
arrested. Under severe torture, which led to the deaths of many, 105 Koreans
were indicted and brought to trial. During the trial, the defendants were
adamant about their innocence. The world community felt that the alleged plot
was such an obvious fabrication that political pressure grew, and most of the
defendants had to be set free. By 1913, only six of the original defendants had
received prison sentences.
By this time, the Japanese had
become fairly successful at detecting and destroying underground resistance
groups. However, they were not successful in quelling the desire for freedom
and self-government among the Korean people. The resistance groups moved
further underground and guerilla raids from the independence groups in
Manchuria and Siberia increased.
The Japanese stepped up their
assault on the Korean school system and other nationalistic movements. After
the passage of an Education Act in 1911 the Japanese began to close all Korean
schools. In 1913, the Tae- Song School was forced to close, and, by
1914, virtually all Korean schools had been shut down. This all but completed
the Japanese campaign of cultural genocide. Chances of any part of the Korean
culture surviving rested in the hands of the few dedicated patriots working in
exile outside of Korea.
When Japanese governor-general
Hirobumi Itoho was assassinated by Ahn Choong-gun (1879 - 1910), an
independence fighter, Japan tightened its grip on Korean leaders. Finally Ahn
exiled himself to Manchuria, then traveled to Siberia, Russia, Europe, and
finally to the United States, along with Rhee Syngman. Rhee organized the
Tongjihoe (Comrade Society) in Honolulu. In 1912, Ahn was elected chairman of
the Korean National People's Association, which emerged as the supreme
organization for Koreans abroad and played an active role in negotiations with
the U.S. government. During this time, he established Hungsadan, a
secret voluntary group of ardent patriots.
Through these and other
organizations an attempt was made to pressure President Woodrow Wilson into
speaking in behalf of Korean autonomy at the Paris peace talks. Finally, in
1918, a representative of the Korean exiles was sent to these peace talks.
In 1919, when the Joseon
Dynasty was forcefully absorbed into the Japanese Empire, Ahn started
underground activities that focused on regaining Korean independence. He returned to Shanghai in April 1919 along with Rhee
Syngman and Kim Ku, where and became acting premier of a provisional
government. They drew up a Democratic Constitution that provided for a freely
elected president and legislature. This document also established the freedom
of the press, speech, religion, and assembly. An independent judiciary was
established and the previous class system of nobility was abolished. After
trying in vain to narrow the differences of opinion between the leaders in
Shanghai, he resigned from the post after two years.
Finally, on March 1, 1919, the
provisional government declared its independence from Japan and called for
general resistance from the Korean population. During the resistance
demonstrations the Japanese police opened fire on the unarmed Korean crowds,
killing thousands. Many thousand more were arrested and tortured.
Even after the Korean Declaration of
Independence, Ahn Chang-Ho continued his efforts in the United States on behalf
of his homeland. Ahn wanted to establish an ideal village for wandering Korean
refugees in Manchuria and visited them in the 1920s. In 1922, he headed a
historical commission to compile all materials related to Korea, especially the
facts concerning the Japanese occupation.
After a bombing incident launched by
Yun Pong-gil, the Japanese arrested him, though he was not involved in the
incident. His 23-year-long fight for national independence abroad ended with
his imprisonment in Taejon in 1932. After a brief release from the prison, the
Japanese police arrested him again. With failing health, he left the prison on
bail only to die in a Seoul hospital on March 10, 1938.
Philip Ahn
"Master Kan" (1905 - 1978)
Philip Ahn was born in Los Angeles,
California on March 29, 1905, the son of Ahn Chang-Ho. In an acting career
spanning four decades, he became one of the best-known Asian-American character
actors in Hollywood films and on television. In the 1970s, Ahn was
the wise Master Kan, leader of the Shaolin Temple in the ABC TV series,
"Kung Fu." He played the part of the monk who held the rock out for
Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine) to grab from his palm and graduate
from the Shaolin training. "Grasshopper, as soon as you are able to
grab the rock from my hand you may leave the temple ..." is probably
the best-remembered line from this era of his career. Philip Ahn died in Los
Angeles on February 28, 1978, from complications following surgery for lung
cancer.
Number of Movements: 24
The 24 movements of the
hyung represent Ahn's entire life, which he devoted to the education of Korea
and its independence movement.
From the Tae Kwon Do
Tudor
Edited by Master David
D. Drysdale Sr. VII Dan ITF/DSOTKD/USITF
Mrs. Joan M. Drysdale VI Dan ITF/DSOTKD/USITF
16266 King Road
Riverview, Michigan 48193
1-734-479-6255
mailto:drysdaletkd@sbcglobal.net
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