The Meaning of 'Ttaengchu': From Symbol of Resistance to Corrupt Monks

500 Years of Stigma in One Word, Originally a Symbol of Resistance

Today, the word ’ttaengchu’ is used to mean “a contemptible monk who is not a proper monk.” However, its origin was not a simple insult. It originally derived from ‘Dangchwi (黨聚),’ a secret organization formed to fight against the oppressive Buddhist policies of Joseon.

This article traces the two faces of history hidden in the single word ttaengchu. Following how a noble symbol of resistance became synonymous with corruption and contempt will offer a new perspective on language and history.

1. The Origin of Ttaengchu: The Secret Society ‘Dangchwi (黨聚)’ Born from an Era of Persecution

To understand the emergence of ‘Dangchwi,’ the etymological root of ’ttaengchu,’ we must first look at Joseon’s religious policies. Joseon, adopting Confucianism as the state ideology, implemented the policy of Sungyueokbul (崇儒抑佛)—exalting Confucianism while suppressing Buddhism.

Sungyueokbul Policy: Shaking the Foundations of Buddhism

The Joseon court enforced harsh policies that uprooted Buddhism’s foundations:

• Forced closure and consolidation of temples: From thousands during the Goryeo period, only 36 temples remained by King Sejong’s reign.
• Economic deprivation: Confiscation of temple lands and slaves, removal of tax exemptions, blocking economic independence.
• Social status degradation: Banning monks from entering the capital, abolishing official monk certification (Docheopje (度牒制)) and monk civil service exams (Seunggwa (僧科)), cutting off social advancement.

Struggling to Survive: The Emergence of ‘Dangchwi (黨聚)’

Under such severe persecution, monks formed a secret underground organization called ‘Dangchwi (黨聚)’, meaning “gathering in groups.” It was a self-organized group aiming to protect Buddhism against state oppression.

With the official order of monk society destroyed by the state, ‘Dangchwi’ filled the void as a kind of ‘shadow state.’ They established a nationwide network operating under an unwritten rule: “help each other in hardship and avenge any harm done to members.” This shows they were more than a social club—they had their own discipline and protective power.

The Idealistic Face of ‘Dangchwi’

‘Dangchwi’ was not merely a profit-driven group. It inherited the spirit of resistance from the Uiseungguns (義兵僧)—righteous monk militias who rose during the Japanese invasions (Imjin War) and Manchu invasions (Byeongjahoran) to save the nation.

Moreover, their activities are sometimes linked to the belief in Maitreya Buddha (Mireuk). Just as Maitreya is believed to descend to save suffering beings, ‘Dangchwi’ was interpreted as a revolutionary group aiming to overthrow a corrupt world and open a new era.

2. From Resistance to Plunder: The Corruption into ‘Ttaengchu’

The ideal of protecting Buddhism gradually faded, and ‘Dangchwi’ degenerated over time.

The Beginning of Corruption: Influx of ‘Unqualified Monks’

The decisive turning point was the abolition of the monk certification system, Docheopje. With official paths to becoming monks blocked, many people seeking to avoid military or labor service, orphans, widows, and those struggling for survival flooded into temples.

These ‘fake monks’ had no commitment to Buddhist doctrine or practice but pretended to be monks for survival. Temples became filled with people driven by worldly desires.

The Dark Side of ‘Dangchwi’

With new members, ‘Dangchwi’s goals shifted from noble resistance to secular power struggles. During this period, ‘Dangchwi’ became akin to organized gangs roaming temples, engaging in violence and plunder.

They harassed diligent monks, stole temple wealth, and openly violated precepts by drinking alcohol and eating meat (ju-seok-u-yuk, 酒色魚肉).

At this point, ‘Dangchwi’ earned a negative stigma as a group of corrupt monks in public perception. This was also a result of the Joseon government’s prior destruction of the monks’ self-regulation by abolishing the certification system. The state created the ‘problematic monks’ and later condemned and suppressed them under the name ‘Dangchwi.’

3. Historical Traces of ‘Ttaengchu’

‘Dangchwi’ was not just a rumor. Its activities are clearly recorded in various historical documents, including the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.

‘Dangchwi’ in Legend and Records

• Shindon’s secret reform group (late Goryeo): Legend says Shindon organized monks into ‘Dangchwi’ to push reforms, deliberately breaking monastic rules to evade pro-Yuan faction surveillance.
• Alliance with Jang Gilsan (late Joseon): The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty mention ‘Dangchwi’ allying with Jang Gilsan, one of Joseon’s top three bandits, indicating a network of social discontent involving marginalized groups.

The Failed Revolution: The 1697 Unbu (雲浮) Rebellion

The climax of the ‘Dangchwi’ story was a treason incident during King Sukjong’s reign. The leader of the Dangchwi in Geumgangsan, the old monk Unbu (雲浮), conspired with Jang Gilsan’s forces to overthrow the Yi dynasty but was discovered beforehand.

Though it failed, this incident is the strongest evidence that ‘Dangchwi’ was more than mere thugs; it was a political force threatening the state. Depending on perspective, ‘Dangchwi’ was seen as rebels, criminals, or righteous fighters against corrupt power. Yet today, only the negative meaning of ’ttaengchu’ remains, showing that the Confucian state’s narrative ultimately prevailed in historical discourse.

4. From ‘Dangchwi’ to ‘Ttaengchu’: The Linguistic Stigma

How did ‘Dangchwi’ become today’s ’ttaengchu’? The change involves both semantic shift and phonetic evolution.

Phonetic Change Path: Dangchwi [dang-chwi] → Dangchu → Ttaengchu [ttaeng-chu]

The most accepted path is a three-step process: ‘Dangchwi (黨聚)’ → ‘Dangchu’ → ‘Ttaengchu.’

1. Step 1 (‘chwi’ → ‘chu’): The diphthong ‘ㅟ’ in ‘chwi’ simplified to the monophthong ‘ㅜ,’ turning ‘Dangchwi’ into ‘Dangchu.’
2. Step 2 (‘Dang’ → ‘Ttaeng’): The initial consonant ‘ㄷ [d]’ underwent fortition to the tense consonant ‘ㄸ [tt],’ a process called tense consonant formation (경음화), resulting in ‘Ttaengchu.’

The Role of Tense Consonant: Embodying Contempt in Sound

The change from the soft plain consonant ‘ㄷ’ to the strong, explosive tense consonant ‘ㄸ’ is no coincidence. As ‘Dangchwi’ became associated with violence, the public’s contempt and disgust were reflected in the pronunciation.

The ‘ㄸ [tt]’ sound is harsher and more aggressive than ‘ㄷ [d].’ By pronouncing ‘Dangchu’ as ‘Ttaengchu,’ people embedded their negative feelings into the very sound of the word. This is a powerful example of sound symbolism, where language sounds evolve alongside meaning to express social stigma.

‘Ttaengcho’ Is a Miswriting

Sometimes written as ’ttaengcho,’ this is a mistaken spelling influenced by the similarly pronounced spicy pepper ’ttaengcho.’ There is no etymological basis for this.

Conclusion: The Shadow of History Lives in a Word

The word ’ttaengchu’ is not just a simple insult but a linguistic relic compressing 500 years of religious conflict, social marginalization, and power struggles in Joseon. Before knowing its origin, I too thought of ’ttaengchu’ only negatively, but learning the history of resistance and corruption behind it gives the word a different weight.

Summary of the ‘Ttaengchu’ story:

1. Beginning of Resistance: The root ‘Dangchwi’ was a secret monk resistance group defending Buddhism against Joseon’s Sungyueokbul policy.
2. Process of Corruption: The abolition of monk certification led to an influx of unqualified monks, turning ‘Dangchwi’ into a violent, plundering group.
3. Linguistic Stigma: Public contempt changed the pronunciation from ‘Dangchwi’ to the harsher ‘Ttaengchu,’ preserving the negative meaning to this day.

Words we casually use often hide echoes of forgotten history. Perhaps next time, we should take an interest in the origins of other words around us.