Choi Je-woo, the founder of Donghak, established an ideology based on Korean traditional ideas and West European ideas. His contribution to the modernization of Korean Literature is significant. This article focuses on his representative literary work, Geumgyeol(劒訣) , which distinctly shows his ideology through many symbolic features. The intensity of Geum`s symbolism earns him a label as a national traitor, and eventually leads to his execution by the Chosun government, which feared the dangerous symbolism. Geumgyeol, however, was mainly sung during religious rituals, especially connected with the spirit of Hwarang in Silla, calling a divine spirit to enter into a human body for worshipping the heavens. It served a dual function as a religious ritual song and a military marching song of revolution with the ideology of resistance. `Shinmeong,` which sought to unite a man with the cosmos, was placed in the rhythm of sword song and sword dance. It made Donghak believers become united in one body. Shin Chae-ho was a thinker and a writer who emphasized the importance of national independence and identity. He valued Nangga`s thought of nationality more than foreign ideology, which was mainly Confucianism and Buddhism during his time. He presented his thoughts through his literary works. Kkumhanul(꿈하늘), which contains a poem called Kalbulum(칼부름) that showed Nangga`s ideology of nationalism and reflect Hwarang`s militaristic spirit. In Danjae, sword is not just a simple object, but symbolizes its spirit and ideology that passes over the object. He insisted that Koreans take violent retaliation methods against the Japanese rule, and stressed that the only way of survival was contingent upon winning the war against Japan and overcoming the Japanese rule. Therefore, the sword for him was not only a physical tool in the military struggle for existence, but also a weapon of ideology in his revolution, which are reflected in his Kalbulum song. Kalbulum, a song of swords, is deeply related with modern Korean history. Donghak revolution is linked directly with Geumgyeol, and Ahn Chang-ho`s Kyeogkeumga(擊劍歌) was called the March 1st Movement. Geumgyeol of Donghak, Ahn Chang-ho`s Kyeogkeumga, Shin Chae-ho`s Kalbulum and other songs of swords serve as a metaphor of Korea`s modern spirit of independence, combativeness and revolutionary ideology.