Mukdo (Silent Prayer)

Definition and Meaning

The term mukdo is written with the Chinese characters 默 ("silent") and 禱 ("to pray"). It refers to prayer offered silently in the heart rather than aloud. It stands in contrast to tongseong gido, in which many people cry out together in audible prayer. It also differs from mungnyeom, the bowing of the head in remembrance of the dead. Mungnyeom centers on commemoration, whereas mukdo is understood as prayer addressed to God.

In Korean churches, mukdo has two senses. The first is any silent prayer offered by an individual. The second is the name of an element of worship at the opening of a worship service, in which the congregation prays quietly together.

Biblical and Historical Background

Passages that depict standing before God in silence are commonly cited as the basis for mukdo:

• Habakkuk 2:20: "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
• Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God."
• 1 Samuel 1:13, where Hannah prays in her heart, with only her lips moving
• Matthew 6:6, the teaching to enter one's closet and pray in secret

Christian worship traditions have long included periods of silence after confession or after the reading of the Word. Some denominations, such as the Quakers, place silence itself at the center of worship. Designating mukdo as a distinct opening element of worship, however, is a practice particularly characteristic of Korean churches. Some argue that the practice was influenced by the silent prayer (Japanese mokutō) imposed as part of compulsory national ceremonies during the Japanese colonial period. Others hold that it was a church custom that predates that era, and opinions on its origin therefore remain divided.

Practice in Korean Churches

In traditional Sunday worship bulletins, "Silent Prayer (All)" was often listed as the first element of the service. Typically, the congregation bows in quiet prayer while instrumental music is played, and the worship leader then reads a Scripture passage such as Habakkuk 2:20. The service proper begins with a doxology or hymn.

The treatment of this element varies by church and denomination:

• In the service books and congregations of various denominations, including Presbyterian and Methodist churches, services reportedly open more and more often with a "call to worship" (an invitation to worship) instead of mukdo. The intent is to understand the beginning of worship as God's act of calling the congregation rather than as individual prayer. The controversy over the practice's possible colonial-era origin, mentioned above, is also cited as a factor behind this change.
• Churches that retain mukdo emphasize that it helps worshipers compose their hearts and prepare to stand before God.
• Churches that follow a prayer-book liturgy, such as the Anglican Church of Korea, do not include a separate element called mukdo. Instead, they observe periods of silence at designated points within the rite.
• Many churches also open worship directly with praise songs, without any such element.

Apart from the order of worship, the practice of bowing one's head in prayer after entering the sanctuary and taking a seat is also commonly called mukdo. The same term is used for personal prayer offered during the postlude after the benediction. Both customs are widely observed across denominations.