I’m currently focusing on my Oh Do Kwan roots and therefore I’ve been studying the Ch’ang Hon Hyung lately. The Dojang I “grew up” in has both Ji Do Kwan roots through one of my teachers but the founder of the Dojang was originally taught in an Oh Do Kwan lineage. He originally graded with the Ch’and Hon Hyung, but discarded them later when he converted to a Kukki Taekwondo curriculum in favour of the Kukki Taekwondo Poomsae. He did keep the Dojang Kwan Heon (school life directive or philosophy) an Oh Do Kwan Heon. Therefore from white belt onward I was taught the Tenets of Taekwondo and the 5 Laws of Taekwondo to the point that it was tested in belt promotion tests as theory, it was called out before and or after training or discussed periodically in training. I’ve been fascinated by the Ji Do Kwan roots and researched both its philosophy and its forms, but now my attention has shifted as I have found a home within Oh Do Kwan through Hwallyeog Dojang.
Chon-Ji means literally Heaven-Earth and according to Choi Hong Hi it symbolises creation of everything and therefore it is the first form taught to students, but as I heard him say in a 1968 video; it’s also important for black belts and masters to keep practicing it.
It consists of two halves, one symbolising heaven and one earth, although Gm Choi never explains which was which. Therefore you’ll see different explanations some saying the beginning form symbolises heaven as low block is chambered up, while others saying the first half symbolises earth because the ending position of the low block points down. I’ve even seen some make the case that the last 4 punches symbolises Man(kind) so you get a SamTaegeuk symbolism going (Heaven, Earth, Man). That one is interesting but the creator of the form himself said there were two halves, not three parts.
To my mind the Heaven-Earth symbolism equals Um(Yin) Jang symbolism where heaven (Chon) represents pure Yang Energy, and Earth (Ji) symbolises pure Um(Yin) energy. You’ll find both represented within the Palgwae or Taegeuk series that is taught in Kukki Taekwondo; namely Taegeuk/Palgwae 1 Jang which is based on Keon Gwe and Taegeuk/Palgwae 8 Jang based on Gon Gwe. Keon is Heaven/Father/Positive/Giver while Gon is Earth/Mother/Negative/Receiver.
You will find it represented practically in the form itself as it consists of Makki-Jireugi or defense-Offense. Defense being Ji or earth principle and Attack is Chon or Heaven principle. The 4 punches at the end also represents the same duality even though they’re all “punches”. You see two of them moves forward (Chon or Heaven Principle) and two moves backward (Ji or Earth Principle).
Below you can see me do a rendition of the form
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