In September 2005, the Diamond Sutra Recitation Group began a project to promote awareness of Korean history and culture. The project's aim is to inform the world of the lives and spirit of the many great figures in Korean history who are still largely unknown in the wider world, and provide others with a chance to learn about a country which has remained for a long time in the shadow of its neighbors China and Japan.
Even today, literature and internet websites that provide interesting and accurate information for people of other countries about Korea and its past are few and far between. Because of this, our organization is planning a series entitled Korean Spirit and Culture, which will provide a basic introduction to Korea's long and rich history, the spirit of its people, and its cultural values, both through the project website ( www.koreanhero.net ) and also through the publication and distribution of free research materials to individuals and major institutions.
The first installment in the series, Admiral Yi Sun-sin: A Brief Overview of His Life and Achievements, has been translated into English, German, French, Italian and Chinese. A total of 75,200 copies have been printed and given out to various government departments, colleges, research institutes, libraries and other institutions.
In the United States, the members of our New York branch have distributed copies to 600 colleges and 1,200 high schools, as well as Taekwondo centers, maritime war museums and research institutes, and also to individuals, including President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretaries of various Departments, and members of Congress. Donations of books were also made to the Pentagon, the Naval Headquarters, and also the military, naval, and air force academies.
Of the colleges that received copies of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Air Force Academy, Yale, MIT, UCLA, George Washington, Brown, USMMA (United States Merchant Marine Academy), Virginia, Texas A&M, Wittenberg and Armstrong have all informed us that their Departments of East Asian History, Regional Studies and Korean Language plan to adopt the book as part of their curriculum.
In Korea, we have offered the books to the ambassadors and staff of nearly 80 embassies located in Seoul. We have also given 1,250 English copies to the Commander and officers of the United States Forces Korea.
The books have also been given to the officials of the American Chamber of Commerce Korea (AMCHAM) and British Chamber of Commerce Korea (BCCK), and to international lawyers and foreign businessmen operating in the country.
The second installment in the series, King Sejong the Great: The Everlasting Light of Korea, has been translated into English, German, and French. A total of 74,000 copies have been printed and given out to various government departments, colleges, research institutes, libraries and other institutions abroad.
In the first half of 2007, we held an essay contest on the subject of King Sejong the Great, and distributed four booklets and leaflets to each of the participating 3,600 high schools. In addition, we sent leaflets and summaries of our booklet to a further 3,000 educational institutions. We also offered our booklets and leaflets to 500 colleges, ROTCs (Reserve Officer Training Corps) and 60 Dhan Yoga Centres.
Having received 570 submissions, we drew a close on 15th April 2007, and announced the winners on 15th May 2007 (the winning essays are displayed on our website).
Presently, a total of 58,000 copies of the third installment Chung Hyo Ye have been printed in English, German and French, and are being distributed in Korea and abroad.
Through this, and other events such as the ‘Taste of Korea’, cookery courses on Korean cuisine and the translation and distribution of audio and visual materials, we are endeavoring to share, with you and the rest of the world, the spirit and culture of Korea.