Understanding Jeong (精) and Shin (神)

Among the Chinese characters commonly used in Korean, there is a word called Jeongshin (정신, 精神). Imagine taking a drop of water from a flowing river and placing it on a glass plate. The water, which was previously flowing, forms a round shape. This happens because the water gathers toward its own center point. The act of converging toward a central point is what we call Jeong (精). The character Jeong in the word Jeongshin represents this very concept.

We are familiar with convex lenses. In three words, a convex lens is often referred to as a magnifying glass. Normally, we cannot see scattered light clearly. However, when a magnifying glass is held in front of the light, the light converges into a single point. If that focal point is directed at an object, the object is destroyed and, at the same time, something new can be created. This is commonly referred to as mental power or Jeongshin-ryeok (정신력).

Through a magnifying glass, things appear magnified. While this is due to the refraction of the magnifying glass itself, it is also because of the concept of Jeong. The ability to gather widely scattered light into a single point—this is Jeong. The light itself, which is scattered broadly, is Shin (神). Through Jeong, this Shin can be concentrated into a single point.

I focus external energy into a single point through the Jeong I possess. Among the external energies that we may not easily sense but constantly use is air. If air were absent, my Jeong would lose its functionality. This does not mean that Jeong disappears; rather, its functionality ceases. Without Jeong’s function, I cannot gather focus, I feel disoriented, and I am unable to perceive. This is why, in Eastern thought, Jeong is not discussed in isolation but always in conjunction with Shin, forming Jeongshin (정신).

Furthermore, it is through Jeongshin that we reflect on the myriad things in existence. Using Jeong, we perceive, feel, and think about the images reflected in our bodies. For example, when we look at a flea through a magnifying glass, it appears much larger than it actually is. However, in reality, it is very small. Because we judge based on the images reflected through our Jeong, we often fail to see things as they truly are and are unable to maintain objectivity.

To attain our true self, we must not be deceived by the shadows created by our Jeong, like the magnified image through a lens. At the same time, through Jeong, we can gather Shin to create and destroy. This is a tremendous power—one that can easily burn things, shatter them, or create something entirely new. Just as a magnifying glass draws objects closer to our hearts and imbues them with functionality, our hearts are equipped with something akin to a magnifying glass for navigating life.

Most people cannot perceive the energy preceding Jeong—that is, Shin. A magnifying glass can gather light but cannot see light on its own. Attempting to see light through thought or knowledge is futile. What we see with our eyes is merely the image reflected through the magnifying glass, not the true essence of light.