Chapter 192: Teacher (4)
After Madam Jo finished speaking, another person opened their mouth.
"When the ancient sages taught their disciples, they guided them through questions and discussions, not with the rod. This is not to say we should eliminate corporal punishment entirely, but rather that we should minimize it. On the contrary, that will provide greater instruction to the children."
Some further discussion followed, but eventually the conclusion was reached to "minimize corporal punishment."
* * *
The next major debate erupted over the issues of "Yeobiljongbu" (Women Must Follow Their Husbands) and "Samjongjido" (The Way of Three Obediences).
The catalyst for this fierce debate was Madam Jo's statement.
"I believe that Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido should not be taught carelessly."
"Why is that?"
At Madam Jo's words, many of the male examinees asked back with surprised expressions.
This was because it was completely unexpected that Madam Jo, a filial daughter-in-law and virtuous woman, would criticize Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido.
When questioned, Madam Jo calmly explained her reasoning.
"Because Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido are not even found in Samgangoryun (Three Bonds and Five Relationships)."
"Pardon?"
* * *
Samgangoryun, that is, the Three Bonds and Five Relationships, were the three fundamental principles and five human relationships that must be observed in Confucianism.
The Three Bonds referred to the duties that must be observed between ruler and subject, parent and child, and husband and wife, while the Five Relationships were the five ethics that humans must observe.
* * *
Madam Jo explained her reasoning in her usual calm voice.
"The reason I have fulfilled my duty as a filial daughter-in-law and virtuous woman is because my late husband fulfilled his duty toward me. As the head of household, he observed Buwajagang (A father must be the foundation for his children) and Buwibugang (A husband must be the foundation for his wife), and because he fulfilled the duty of observing Bubuyubyeol (There is a distinction of human relationships between husband and wife that must not be violated), I too have fulfilled my duty."
"Ah...."
At Madam Jo's words, many people nodded. In particular, most of the virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law nodded their heads. After catching her breath for a moment, Madam Jo continued speaking.
"However, looking at the current scenery of Hanyang, how is it? Are there not one or two husbands or women who do not observe human duty themselves while demanding that their partners observe human duty?"
At Madam Jo's words, a few people coughed awkwardly. Toward such people, Madam Jo continued with pointed words.
"Even the riffraff in the marketplace speak of righteousness and duty. Since even they do so, in such a situation, if we only preach 'Yeobiljongbu' or 'Samjongjido,' it will become poison."
"R-righteousness and duty...?"
"However one may spin words, ultimately it is righteousness and duty. What has been detailed as righteousness between parents and children, and between husband and wife, is ultimately the current Samgang and Oryun. Therefore, the most important thing is to firmly teach Samgangoryun."
Although a fierce battle ensued due to Madam Jo's groundbreaking statement, generally the women had the upper hand. This was because most of the female examinees who supported Madam Jo had the powerful background of having received titles as filial daughters-in-law and virtuous women. Moreover, most of these virtuous women were people who had developed thick calluses on their hearts while enduring all kinds of hardships to protect their families. Those who had merely studied academics were naturally no match for them.
* * *
Ultimately, as no easy conclusion was reached, the matter went up to King Sejong.
Among the ministers who heard the story, a fierce debate likewise broke out. What was unexpected was that the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector came forward to support Madam Jo.
"First, it is only natural that Samgang and Oryun must be observed! There is nothing wrong with Madam Jo's words!"
"That is correct! Nowhere in Samgang and Oryun are Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido to be found!"
With the Chief Censor and Chief Inspector, who were 'strict' incarnate regarding Confucian values, supporting Madam Jo, Hyang added his spoon to the mix.
"As Madam Jo said, as long as the duty of a person, represented by Samgang and Oryun, is not observed, Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido will only become shackles. This will return as an even greater poison in the distant future."
Ultimately, King Sejong formally issued his command.
-Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido are secondary to Samgangoryun and therefore not as important as Samgangoryun! Remove this part!
"Tsk, has this reduced the things I'll be cursed for in the future?"
Recalling the gender wars that occurred in the 21st century, Hyang muttered to himself, then suddenly realized something he had forgotten.
"Damn it! I have to reprint the textbooks!"
* * *
However, King Sejong's decision caused an enormous backlash.
"No matter how much the world is changing, Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido are virtues that women must observe!"
"That is right! We must inform His Majesty of this injustice!"
Not only the reactionary scholar-officials but also the conservative scholar-officials found agreement in their opinions this time and began writing memorials.
It wasn't just the scholar-officials who were in an uproar.
Among the common people who heard the rumors, similar talk emerged.
"What is this? Are we going back to Goryeo times?"
"Is the Ssanghwajeom song going to circulate again?"
The lyrics of 'Ssanghwajeom' were as follows:
'I went to the dumpling shop and the Mongol owner grabbed my wrist, I went to the temple and the head monk grabbed my wrist, I went to draw water from the well and the dragon of the well grabbed my wrist.'
Here, grabbing the wrist was a metaphor for sexual intercourse.
This was a song that hinted at the promiscuous sexual culture of that era, and because of this, many scholar-officials looked down on it as 'Namnyeosangyeoljisa' (Words of Men and Women Rejoicing Together).
One of the largest parts of what the Neo-Confucian scholars who founded Joseon criticized about Goryeo was precisely this promiscuous sexual culture.
To dismantle this, they had found and given preferential treatment to virtuous women and filial daughters-in-law, and had preached 'Yeobiljongbu' and 'Samjongjido.'
"It has been said since ancient times that 'when the hen crows, the household falls.' If you are a woman, you should just listen to men's words at home...."
"Exactly. It seems His Majesty has made a big mistake this time."
When the men were whispering like this, the women also had something to say.
"Oh my? What did His Majesty say? He said human duty comes first, didn't he? As soon as the harvest ends, they drink alcohol, gamble, and womanize, and what nonsense is this!"
"Talking big when they can't even control themselves from drooling over a half-decent female servant...."
* * *
At that time, when the farming off-season came, many men would engage in gambling.
While there were some who twisted straw ropes at home or prepared for the next farming season, for the majority of farmers, drinking alcohol and gambling with their excess time was the daily life of the farming off-season.
And this scene was the everyday rural landscape even before the military government of 20th century Korea launched the 'Saemaul Undong' (New Village Movement) in earnest.
While the number of cases of gambling decreased as people were mobilized for water control projects during the farming off-season according to King Sejong's order, there were also side effects.
Larger gambling operations began to take place, betting the wages earned through the water control projects.
Accordingly, the authorities, with eyes blazing, searched for gambling dens and arrested gamblers and farmers, but gambling persistently survived.
The scholar-officials' households were equally noisy. No, they were even noisier.
The reason was the issue of concubinage.
Due to the concubinage issue, discord was frequent, and the most useful tool to silence such discord was 'Chilgeojiak' (The Seven Grounds for Divorce) based on 'Yeobiljongbu' and 'Samjongjido.'
Of course, compared to the late Joseon period, early Joseon was a time when women's status was relatively high.
Divorce was freer than in the later period, and in the case of property inheritance, sons and daughters had equal rights.
Yet even in such a situation, King Sejong's decision brought about great opposition.
* * *
As the situation developed like this, the ministers also began to quietly speak of withdrawing their opinions.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty's intention is certainly correct, but it seems the time is not yet ripe. How about granting a temporary postponement?"
At Prime Minister Yi Jik's words, King Sejong firmly shook his head.
"There will be no postponement."
"However, the situation is...."
When Yi Jik trailed off, King Sejong spoke briefly.
"If we had moved while watching the trends like that, the criminal Ryu Jeong-hyeon would still be guarding the Prime Minister's seat."
"...."
At King Sejong's words, the ministers closed their mouths.
"What are Samgang and Oryun? They are the most basic duties that people must observe, and they are reason. Yeobiljongbu, Samjongjido? As I said before, these are secondary. Do you think it will work to tell the people to observe these two things when they are not observing the most basic duties?"
"...."
The ministers continued to remain silent.
"While men womanize and demand their wives observe duty, and while women have relations with various men and demand their husbands observe duty, will that be observed? The most important thing is Samgang and Oryun! Only when Samgangoryun stands straight can what follows connect!"
"...."
"Ah! Did Madam Jo say not duty but righteousness and duty? That answer is correct! People must have righteousness and duty as they live!"
No one among the ministers raised a counterargument to King Sejong's words.
This was because, while King Sejong's words were fundamental, they were precisely for that reason without error.
Ultimately, King Sejong had to write another proclamation.
- While Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido are important, they are secondary. What a person must observe first and most certainly is Samgang and Oryun. Without properly observing these, no matter how much one recites passages from the "Gyoteuksaeng" chapter of the Book of Rites and the "Sangbokjeon" chapter of the Etiquette and Rites, it is merely a castle built on sand!
Therefore, the most important thing to teach in the Four People's School is only Samgang and Oryun!
This is because these are the duty and righteousness that anyone who is a person must observe!
At King Sejong's firm answer, the scholar-officials closed their mouths.
"No matter how much more we talk, we'll only end up looking like those fools from last year."
"They said His Majesty was wise, but looking at it now, it doesn't seem so. Even if not now, to create a snare that will bind the necks of future generations with his own hands...."
* * *
The ministers were also showing reactions similar to the scholar-officials.
In the Uijeongbu government office, Heo Jo spoke about the situation with a voice full of worry.
"This matter is a great mistake by His Majesty. His Majesty and the Crown Prince are wise, so there will be no problem, but the future is the issue. If the qualifications of the one who inherits the throne in later generations are lacking, it will surely bring great disaster."
At Heo Jo's point, Maeng Sa-seong nodded silently and answered while looking toward Gyeongjeongjeon Hall.
"Who doesn't know that? His Majesty is surely aware as well. The problem is that despite that, he is being this stubborn."
* * *
Hyang was also aware of this problem.
"The very first of Samgang is Gunwisingang (The ruler is the foundation for the subject).... Father cannot not know this...."
Ultimately, Hyang sought out King Sejong.
"What brings you here? It's unusual for you to come looking first."
"I am grateful, Your Majesty."
"Alright. What did you come for? I'll tell you in advance, there's no time or budget."
At King Sejong's words, full of playfulness, a smile briefly lingered on Hyang's face before disappearing.
"The reason I sought Father is because of the proclamation issued this time."
"Why the proclamation? There were no typos, were there?"
At the response still treating it as a joke, Hyang's voice became even more serious.
"Father knows that's not it, doesn't he? While Samgang and Oryun are the most basic duties, a snare that can seize the king's neck can be created from them."
At Hyang's words, King Sejong smiled and opened his mouth.
"You mean Gunwisingang (The ruler is the foundation for the subject) and Gunsunyuui (Between ruler and subject there is righteousness)?"
"Why is that?"
Hyang's face became even more serious. This was because he knew King Sejong had said this deliberately.
At Hyang's appearance, King Sejong answered with a still relaxed face.
"There are several reasons, but I can name two as the largest. One is to unlock the shackles placed on women. For this Joseon to develop further in the future, more talented people are needed. That means that even if it's a woman, if she is talented, she must be accepted. However, the vested interests will have trouble accepting newcomers. When that time comes, those without ability but full of greed will stand in the way, wielding Yeobiljongbu and Samjongjido, and Chilgeojiak. Even now, there are more than one or two women responsible for a family's livelihood."
"That is true."
At King Sejong's point, Hyang nodded. Women who had lost the head of household due to war or disease and were responsible for the family's livelihood were commonly seen. Even among the musuri working in the palace right now, there were not just one or two such people.
When Hyang was convinced, King Sejong spoke of the second reason.
"The second is to prevent an incompetent human from ascending to the throne of Joseon and ruling Joseon. As that Ryu Jeong-hyeon said, no one can guarantee that a tyrant like Jie and Zhou will absolutely not appear. Of course, even if not a tyrant, if a fellow who can't even properly observe Samgangoryun ascends to the throne, do you think Joseon will be properly protected? In that case, the king must be replaced."
After stopping his words for a moment, King Sejong looked into the distance.
"For the royal family, for the people, and for this Joseon, such a fellow must not ascend to the throne."
"Have the ministers figured it out?"
At Hyang's question, King Sejong snorted and answered.
"By now, they would have figured it out to some extent. Because they are smart people."
* * *
Having finished his conversation with King Sejong and exited Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Hyang turned his head as he headed toward Donggungjeon Hall.
Looking in the direction of Gangnyeongjeon Hall situated beyond Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang soon shook his head back and forth and turned his body.
"What a ruthless man."
* * *
Note 1) A Confucian term referring to moral norms specifying women's status and role that were valid in the Confucian cultural sphere before modern times. Samjongjideok.
Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
Note 2) Seven grounds for divorcing a wife, a system derived from Confucian thought during the Joseon Dynasty.
Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture