Baptism on Shipboard in Ganghwado

A Sculpture, “Baptism on Shipboard” A Sculpture, “Baptism on Shipboard” A Sculpture, “Baptism on Shipboard” A Sculpture, “Baptism on Shipboard” A Sculpture, “Baptism on Shipboard”

 

My project helps us to understand how an early Korean church and its community in Ganghwado was started and built. The sculpture of baptism on the shipboard is an important symbol that illustrates an event that ignited people to participate in community building. The sculpture of baptism on the shipboard represents how early Korean Christianity in Ganghwado was formed. At that time, many Koreans and royal families had an extremely exclusive policy and antagonistic attitudes towards Christianity associated with Western cultures so it was almost impossible for people to accept Christianity even if they were willing to.

 

 

In around 1892, Seung-hwan Lee, an early believer in Joseon Dynasty(current Korea), wanted to be baptized but as a filial son he refused to be baptized until his mother receives her baptism since he learned baptism meant the rebirth in Jesus Christ and it was the proof of salvation to go to heaven in the afterlife. Thus, he asked George H Jones, UMC missionary in Joseon, also successor of Appenzeller, to baptize his mother.

 

 

As a result, Lee and Jones came up with an idea that they can baptize the mother on a ship since they were not allowed to enter the land of Joseon. This baptism inspired people, resulting in the beginning of the formation of the very first local church in Ganghwado. The church community developed their institution, culture and systems based on equality regardless of age, social status, and gender.

 

In addition, Gyosan Korean Methodist Church, as it expanded in size and members, started to financially and communally support the local community to build other churches across Ganghwa city. Furthermore, Jones also sponsored and helped those Chosun people from Ganghwa who wanted to emigrate to Hawaii.

 

In order to remember the early church community in Ganghwa, Incheon city built a Christian history gallery, which has been designated as a holy place for Korean pilgrimage. In this gallery, the sculpture of “Baptism on Shipboard” is located, which thousands of people visit every year. 

 

My project contributes to answering the course question by narrating the history of Christianity in Korea through the first baptism on shipboard in Ganghwa. This narrative provides an accessible, relevant, and meaningful way to understand the challenges faced by the early Korean church community, the impact of Confucianism on Korean society, and the struggle for social equality in a homogeneous and hierarchical society. 

 

The story of her being baptized in the Confucian Joseon Dynasty, which valued love and respect of children for their parents, was touching and inspiring for many Joseon people including the governor of the town, Sang-im Kim as this story carries on filial piety, the core value of Confucianism. Then, under Sang-im Kim’s great influence, the very first church community in Ganghwa was built, which freed slaves, forgave debts, donated real estates to build the church building and produced pastors. 

 

 

By emphasizing the story of a courageous woman, her son Seunghwan lee, and Sang-im Kim, who challenged social norms and prejudices to become Christians in Ganghwa, this narrative offers an inspiring example of faith and devotion that can resonate with the Drew community, the public, the church, and ourselves. 

 

 

Reference

Lee, Deokju. The Tear Story of Ganghwado. Seoul: The Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2002.

KMC, Ganghwado Gyosan Korean Methodist Church. 1994.

http://www.gsch.co.kr/

 

 This page is curated by Pyeongkang Kim, an M.Div. Student at Drew Theological School.