Acknowledgement
Kim Donggill, my mentor, whom I have known since the winter of 1979, was the man who introduced me to the Korean Gandhi, Ham Sokhon. Kim also inspired and fully funded my previous research. Anthea Lee, my consistent encourager, warmly helped me to get financial support from the Hockerill Educational Foundation, which backed my preliminary studies at the University of Essex. The late Ingle Lawrence, my beloved English `mother', funded the writing of this thesis, enabling me to complete my PhD course. Moreover, she led me to the Study-Travel Bursary Committee of Quaker Peace and Service, which permitted me to travel to the United States in 1991 and to Korea in 1992, in order to conduct part of my research. Dr. James Huntley Grayson revitalised and supervised me tirelessly throughout the last four years. Professor Steve A.Smith at University of Essex, Dr. Susan-Mary Grant at University of Newcastle, Barbara Bowman in Settle and Sung Samje in Sheffield helped me by giving thoughtful comments on my thesis. Jean Carr cordially corrected my `dreadful' and `broken' English without complaint.
The late Ahn Byungmu gave me intellectual stimulation and motivation both through our interviews and through his Minjung theology. Kim Hyonglyol assisted me in my early research by privately funding me, despite his own economic difficulties. Rev.Choi Ildo, Shin Gilsoon, Shin Jooryun, Susan Hartshorne, David Blamires and Jean Wadge kindly helped me, not only with their ardent affection but also financially. The Dail Presbyterian Community, the Roger and Sarah Bancroft Clark Charitable Trust, the Edith Ellis Trust, the Overseers of the Bogert Fund for the Study and Practice of Christian Mysticism, the Pollard and Dickson Trust, the Overseers' Relief Funds of the Friends, the Friends Higher Education Committee and Churches Commission on Overseas Students Hardship Fund backed me, when I was in financial difficulties. Many thanks to Stuart Morton and Christina Lawson at Woodbrooke, and Yuki Brinton at Pendle Hill, all of whom supplied me with valuable articles on Ham Sokhon.
My parents-in-law, Barbara and Geoff, and my lovely wife Ann, who read this thesis thoroughly and gave me meticulous feedback. It was not possible to complete this thesis without their great help. I am also greatly indebted to my father and mother. Without their love and enthusiastic support, I would have given up on the completion of this thesis. On the occasions when I felt unable to continue with my studies and felt enormous hardships, they reminded me that "nothing is ever achieved without toil". Due to the whole-hearted backing and overwhelming assistance of all these people, I could entertain undertaking this thesis.
Last but not least, truly on top of all, I and my thesis are immeasurably indebted to Ham Sokhon himself. It will soon be eighteenth years since I first met him, and over nine years since he died. But the longer I live the more I am conscious of how much I owe him. Particularly I know that it was he who inspired me to become an historian rather than continue as an engineer; to become a latitudinarian rather than a fundamentalist, a humanist rather than an evangelical and a romantic rather than a puritan. It was he who taught me to love and enjoy history and philosophy, and all the most important things I needed to learn about life and humanity. For me, he has been a window through to the Truth, Tao and God. I wish he could have lived to see this result of his inspiration and teaching. His memory and example have been with me ceaselessly as I live and work at it.
1998
Sung-Soo Kim