Introduction: A Theology of Maum

Abstract

The English title of this book includes a Korean word—Maum (몸)—that may be unfamiliar to many. Maum is an original Korean word that roughly translates to “body.” Although not rooted in Chinese, it is similar to the Chinese word shin-che (身體). Shin-che, however, refers only to the physical body, while maum’s meaning can be multilayered. The noun maum comes from the verb mau-u-da meaning “gathering,” indicating that a body is a space in which different thoughts, emotions, memories, and visions are gathered and integrated into a unique self.¹ Maum has parallels to the body-mind-spirit concept of the so-called New Age movement in today’s culture, and to the centuries-old Asian spiritual practices of yoga and Zen meditation. Maum is also like the Hebrew word basar, which is typically translated as flesh but also means the non-dualistic “mortal human being” with both physical and spiritual aspects.²