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Chun Seung
Chun Seung represents the preservation of heritage and tradition. This heritage and tradition includes a rich history of traditional martial arts, traditional eastern medicine, Korean tea, traditional Baduk, eastern philosophy and natural health. Nature is the foundation for health. Nature provides the essential resources that promote and maintain a healthy natural condition. A life close to nature is a life close to health. A famous proverb states, "Far from Nature, close to disease; close to Nature, far from disease". This proverb is the foundation for the traditions preserved by the Song family.
The Tradition
Korean Joseon Dynasty scholar Song, Si-Yeol taught the concepts of “Songnihak”, Study of Nature and Principle, to his dedicated disciples. During the latter part of his life, he passed these teachings to his disciples at his academy named Namganjeongsa. Namganjeongsa was built in 1683 and is designated as Tangible Cultural Property #4 in South Korea. Song, Si-Yeol named the school in honor of the Chinese Song Dynasty scholar Chu Hsi. Song, Si-Yeol’s teachings promote optimum health through balance of mind and body, as well as through the study of Nature. Grandmaster Song Si-Yeol was recognized as an Author, Politician, Scholar and Master. During the reign of King Sukjong, the 19th King of the Joseon Dynasty, Song, Si-Yeol was exiled due to his opposition to the early appointment of Prince Gyeongjong . In the year 1689, he was executed in the city of Jeongeup on his way to trial in Seoul. After his murder, King Sukjong learned Song, Si-Yeol was wrongly executed and in 1694 restored the recognition, praise and honor reflected by his life. Song, Si-Yeol’s portrait is recognized as the 239th National Treasure of Korea and is on display at the National Museum of Korea. The life example and teachings of Song, Si-Yeol are the foundation for the Song family’s traditions passed on today.
Tradition Continues
Grandmaster Song, Duk Soon lived from 1851 – 1922 and was a famous martial artist as well as doctor of eastern medicine. Grandmaster Song was a practitioner of the Korean martial art Soo Bak Ki, as well as the Chinese arts of Shaolin as passed down from Xu Xuanping and Tai Chi as passed down from Zhang Sanfeng. The integration of philosophy, eastern medicine and the traditional martial arts of Soo Bak Ki, Shaolin and Tai Chi by Song, Duk Soon became the official start of the Song’s family tradition called Chun Seung. Chun Seung describes the continued preservation of traditions by the Song family. Song, Si-Yeol’s teachings are the root for the Chun Seung traditions. For this reason, Song, Si-Yeol is considered the founder of the Song family’s Chun Seung traditions. However, Grandmaster Song, Duk Soon created the official tradition name of Chun Seung and passed these traditional concepts to his son and disciples. The Chun Seung traditions were preserved and passed down within the Song family from father to son and to select Song family disciples. Grandmaster Song, Duk Soon transferred the traditions to his son Grandmaster Song, Keum Sool.
Grandmaster Song, Keum Sool transferred the Chun Seung traditions to his son Grandmaster Song, Jung Soo in 1967. Grandmaster Song, Jung Soo transferred the Chun Seun traditions to his son Grandmaster Song, Kyong Sik, also known as Dr. Edward K.S. Song, in 1983 as acting Chairman. After the unfortunate passing of Grandmaster Song , Jung Soo in 1996, Grandmaster Song, Edward (K.S.) became the acting President of Chun Seung. The early translation of Chun Seung to English was a significant decision. The Chun Seung name translates from Korean to English to mean “Heritage Continues” or “Tradition Continues”. Grandmaster Song’s intention was to create an English translation that would capture the traditions of the Song family. The translated English name “Oriental Heritage Total Concepts” or “OHTC” was created. Due to the sensitive connotation that “Oriental” carries, the name was later changed to “Optimal Health Total Concepts”. In order to properly preserve traditions and the honor of the Song family, the original name of Chun Seung given by Grandmaster Song, Duk Soon was restored to represent the Song family traditions in the United States. Chun Seung is intended to be a resource for those who seek a sincere and serious life. Grandmaster Song, also known as Dr. Song, is the embodiment of these teachings and traditions that Chun Seung represents. Chun Seung continues to develop, preserve and promote the benefits of Nature as an essential resource for total life development.
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