Korean Calligrapher: Falun Dafa Is My “Map of Life”

(Minghui.org) “How could someone like me, who’s been interested in cultivation practices since childhood, only encounter Falun Dafa when I was 60?” said Mr. Han Jisan.

Mr. Han Jisan, 64, is a calligrapher and scholar who has given lectures on calligraphy and published books. Mr. Han graduated from the College of Fine Arts, Hongik University in South Korea. He fell in love with calligraphy. For more than 30 years, he dedicated himself to refining his craft and hoped his calligraphy enriched others. Mr. Han had been interested in following a spiritual practice since childhood and tried various ways in his quest for spiritual improvement. After a long period of wandering, Mr. Han finally found Falun Dafa. He said Falun Dafa gave him a “map of life.”

Mr. Han Jisan said Falun Dafa pointed out a new direction for his life.

Confused About Life

Jisan has been interested in “invisible worlds” since he was a child. He came into contact with Christianity when he was 7, and read various Christian-related books including the Bible. But the books didn’t answer his questions about life. Instead, the more he read, the more questions he had. When he looked up at the vast sky, he wondered: "When a person dies does he go to the stars in the sky?" Seeking an answer to his questions, he spent a lot of time pondering and meditating.

He read books related to Buddhism when he was a teenager and was fascinated by Zen Buddhism from his college years to his 40s. He was also interested in traditional oriental thought, numerology, philosophy, Chinese medicine, Feng Shui, acupuncture, qigong treatment, etc.

Predestined Relationship

Before he was 30 in the early 1990s, Jisan quit his job and focused on calligraphy. After studying for a year he opened a calligraphy academy and has since written books on calligraphy and given online lectures. He started a YouTube channel in 2016 to share calligraphy-related content, and through this channel, he found Falun Dafa.

Around 2021, a man who saw the content on his YouTube channel asked to meet him. Jisan often met his subscribers, so he accepted the request and invited the man to his home. They chatted for eight hours. The man talked about a lot of things and Jisan listened attentively. When he mentioned Zhuan Falun Jisan thought the title referred to Buddhas’s teachings. The man said that Zhuan Falun is the title of the main book of Falun Dafa, which he practiced, and he explained more about Falun Dafa.

Determined to Practice

After they talked Mr. Han searched the Internet for more information about Falun Dafa. He started to read Zhuan Falun online and watched the exercise videos. He initially was only interested in learning more about Falun Dafa, but after he saw a practitioner do the exercises he decided to begin practicing.

Insadong is a famous tourist attraction in Seoul. It features tea houses, restaurants, and shops that sell traditional products such as ceramics, tea, and handmade Korean paper. Jisan often went there and recalled seeing a Falun Dafa practitioner doing the exercises near Anguk Subway Station. Even though he was on an extremely busy street, the practitioner was so calm and peaceful, as if he was insulated from the noise around him and in another world.

He was determined to seriously learn about Falun Dafa. So he went to the Tianti Bookstore, located in Samgakji in Seoul, bought a copy of Zhuan Falun, and began to practice.

Zhuan Falun Is My “Map of Life”

“By reading Zhuan Falun, I was able to review the path of my life during which I previously tried various methods in my search for the answers to life,” Jisan said. “After reading Zhuan Falun, I gradually let go of my attachment to seeking recognition from others and proving the capabilities that I developed during my teaching career. I quit drinking and my health improved.”

He said, “Falun Dafa pointed out my ‘map of life,’ a very clear map about where I’m from, where I am now, and where I should go. I no longer waste time being distracted by countless temptations—like a bug attracted to fire. Because I now understand cultivating oneself means letting go of various attachments, it’s easier for me to walk on an upright path. I also gained the courage to face life’s twists and turns and tests.”

Jisan also said that his perspective on pain changed after he began practicing. He no longer avoids suffering—instead, he now realizes he’s paying off debts he owed from past lifetimes. He said happiness and joy are fleeting—like sand trickling through one’s fingers. You don’t get it by pursuing it hard. It comes naturally after you gradually let go of desires and attachments one by one.

Jisan’s wife also began to practice Falun Dafa. Jisan said with a smile, “This is also a great blessing.” His wife seldom praises others. But after he began practicing, she saw he quit smoking. He diligently practiced the exercises every day. She praised him and told their friends and family his positive changes were “amazing.”

Jisan’s life changed dramatically after he started practicing, so when he met people, he naturally told them about Falun Dafa. More than 10 people began practicing so far.