Assuming that the founder of the 1st generation propagated around 1910, Kumkangdaedo is a long-standing religious order that holds history over a hundred years. According to the research in 1930, Kumkangdaedo is the third largest religious order in Korea, but it has not attracted social and academic attention. In the past years, it focused on internal growth for a long period, but recently it began to zero in on promoting it externally ever since the founder of the 4th generation became in charge.
Kumkangdaedo scholars argue that Kumkangdaedo consists of the total of six founding couples from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation. The six resided in heaven as Taoistic gods. They descended to earth to save mankind. After they drew their last breath, they ascended back to heaven. They created the space and have maintained it. The worshippers praised them as Maitreya. In the mind of the worshippers, the six were worshipped often as the King of Heaven. The Kumkangdaedo worshippers believe that they would get to heaven and live with the gods everlastingly when they die.
Kumkangdaedo holds the extensive Chinese record that the founder of the 1st generation orally delivered and the followers documented. It also retains the sayings from each founder of the first two generations and Taoism scriptures. With Kumkangdaedo’s 21 Major Rites held in a year, dates when founders and Dangun were born and passed away are included. By observing the changing course of the gods through the yearly major services, we can trace back Kumkangdaedo’s perspectives on gods being structural.
Kumkangdaedo intends to combine Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taioism in a practical way. Kumkangdaedo’s outstanding feature, when compared to other religious orders, is its combined personality that can be Confucianism-like, Buddhism-like, and Taioism-like. Another striking feature can be pointed out that the founders of the 3rd generation became equally divine. People seem to believe that Kumkangdaedo’s bright future will become realistic up until the founder of the 3rd generation’s regime. Looking forward with a founder of the 4th generation and later founders, it is necessary to consider the possibility of their becoming divine as well.