동학 천도교는 한국 신종교의 효시로 주지되며, 특히 신문화로서 사회개혁에 선구적 역할을 하였다. 그 중에서 예복 제정 역사는 또 다른 큰 의의를 갖는다. 종교공동체에서 예복은 구성원들의 정체성 강화, 사회적 이미지 제고, 실용성 등의 차원에서 중요하고 유익한 것이다.
동학 천도교의 예복 제정 역사를 4단계로 구분할 수 있다. 첫째, 은도시대에 최시형이 청의흑관을 갖춘 최제우를 만났고, 이것이 예복 결정에 중요한 단서가 되었다.
둘째, 현도시대의 흑의단발은 조선 민중의 의복문화에 전환점을 제공하였다. 검은색의 옷이 예복과 일상복으로 중첩적으로 사용되었다. 셋째, 일제 및 한국 정부가 정한 흑색 법관 복장을 수용하였다. 넷째, 포덕 154주년(2013년)에 교단 차원에서 심도있게 논의하여 마침내 2014년 4월 5일, 최제우가 득도한 기념일부터 본격적으로시행하였다. 교리 반영, 한국적 아름다움, 실용성 등을 제고하여 집례복, 청수봉전복, 교역자복, 수련복 등의 4가지를 최종 결정하였다.
동학 천도교가 한국의 신종교 효시로서 의의를 갖고 왔는데 비하여 예복 제정은늦었지만 새로운 이정표를 제시할 수 있을 것이다. 제안사항이 있다면, 글로벌 시대에 맞게 일상복도 좀 더 연구를 하여서 대중화 세계화하기를 바란다. 의복과 예복을통하여 한국 신종교의 의의와 가치가 세계로 확산할 전환점을 만들어 주기를 바란다.
The purpose of this paper is to research the enactment history of ritual dress in Donghak and Cheondogyo. Generally speaking, Donghak and Cheondogyo have been made important role among the Korean religious history as a pioneer of Korea New Religious movement. They introduced a new religious culture to the end of Joseon dynasty.
Especially they innovated a new dress culture and ritual dress.
A ritual dress has a one of the main concepts to introduce religious culture and doctrine. Ritual dress, one of the religious symbols, strengthen the identity of religious community and social image, practicality. Religious community, therefore, should improve new concept and cultural movement continually.
There are four steps to adopt ritual dress of Donghak and Cheondogyo. First, in Eundosidae, the era of hidden way, among Je-u Choe who was known as a great master founder and Si-hyeong Choe who was second supreme leader, Blue ritual dress and black costume hat was adopted. Si-hyeong Choe met his master Je-u Choe between asleep and awake. The master put on blue dress and black costume hat.
Second, in Hyeondosidae, the era of the transparent way, Byeong-heui Son who was the third supreme leader of Cheondogyo commanded to put on black clothes and cut long hair short. It gave a chance to renovate a new clothes culture. Black clothes was used in ritual dress and daily dress.
Third, Cheondogyo adopted Japanese black court dress as a ritual costume dress. Under the Japanese imperialism most of new cultures were adopted through the Japanese culture. And it adopted Korea government black judiciary court dress. Of course there were some argument among the Cheondogyo believers, but they could not find another alternative. And other religions also adopted a black ritual costume dresses. It was nonavoidable social situation as a lower cultures.
Forth, the headquater of Cheondogyo decided a new four kinds of ritual costume dress; special designed for a officiating minister, a woman who offering clean water on Siil worship(sunday worship), an emcee person, a training people. This new ritual dress regulation was started at April 5th, 2013, which was a ceremonial day to congratulate the day of awakening truth by Je-u Choe, April 5th, 1860.
There are some tasks to accompany the rapid change trend and global mainstream. I hope the Cheondogyo will keep the pioneer to cultivate new religious cultures in the future. It would have a important task to promote Korea new religious value and culture all around world with a daily dress which designed and proud Korean beauty and traditional social morals and good manners.