Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 192

192. Teacher (4)

After Madam Jo finished speaking, another person began to speak.

“The ancient sages taught their disciples through questions, answers, and discussions, not through beatings. We aren’t saying to eliminate corporal punishment altogether, but to minimize it. That, in fact, will teach the children even more.”

After that, the discussion continued a little longer, but in the end, it concluded with ‘minimizing corporal punishment.’

* * *

Next, a major debate arose over the issues of ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ [a set of Confucian principles dictating a woman’s subservience to her father, husband, and son].

The starting point of the battle was Madam Jo’s statement.

“I don’t think we should carelessly teach ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences.’”

“Why is that?”

At Madam Jo’s words, many of the male applicants asked back with surprised expressions.

This was because it was so unexpected that Madam Jo, a filial daughter and virtuous woman, criticized ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences.’

Madam Jo, who received the question, calmly explained the reason.

“This is because ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are not in the Three Bonds and Five Relationships.”

“Yes?”

* * *

The Three Bonds and Five Relationships, that is, the Three Bonds and the Five Relationships, were the three principles and five human ethics that must be observed in Confucianism.

The Three Bonds referred to the duties that must be observed between the king and his subjects, parents and children, and husband and wife. The Five Relationships were the five ethics that must be observed as a human being.

* * *

Madam Jo explained the reason in her usual calm voice.

“The reason why I have fulfilled the duties of a filial daughter and a virtuous woman is because my deceased husband fulfilled his duties to me. As the head of the family, he kept the duties of the head of the family—‘The father is the foundation of the son’ and ‘The husband is the foundation of the wife’—and because he fulfilled his duty to keep the distinction between husband and wife in the Five Relationships, I also fulfilled my duty.”

“Ah….”

Many people nodded at Madam Jo’s words. In particular, most of the virtuous women and filial daughters nodded. After taking a moment to catch her breath, Madam Jo continued to speak.

“But what about the scene in Chang’an now? How many husbands or wives insist that their partners keep the ways of people while they themselves do not keep the ways of people?”

Some people coughed at Madam Jo’s words. Madam Jo continued to say meaningful words to those people.

“Even the hooligans in the market emphasize loyalty. Even they would do that, so in this situation, insisting only on ‘A wife must obey her husband’ or ‘The Three Obediences’ will be poison.”

“Loyalty, loyalty….”

“They list words here and there, but in the end, it is loyalty. Dividing the loyalty between parents and children and between husband and wife in detail is ultimately the current Three Bonds and Five Relationships. So, the most important thing is to thoroughly educate on the Three Bonds and Five Relationships.”

A fierce battle broke out over Madam Jo’s unconventional remarks, but women were generally dominant. This was because most of the female applicants who supported Madam Jo had a strong background as those who had received the titles of filial daughter and virtuous woman. In addition, most of the virtuous women had thick calluses on their hearts as they went through all kinds of hardships to protect their families. Naturally, those who had only studied academics were no match for them.

* * *

In the end, the matter was brought up to Sejong as a conclusion was not easily reached.

Among the ministers who heard the story, a fierce debate broke out as well. Unexpectedly, the Daesagan [Censor-General] and Daesaheon [Chief Censor] came out in support of Madam Jo.

“First of all, it is natural that the Three Bonds and Five Relationships must be observed first! There is nothing wrong with Madam Jo’s words!”

“That’s right! ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are not in the Three Bonds and Five Relationships anywhere!”

While the Daesagan and Daesaheon, who were ‘strict’ themselves about Confucian values, supported Madam Jo, Hyang added his support.

“As Madam Jo said, unless the duties as a person represented by the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are observed, ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ will only become shackles. This will come back as a greater poison in the distant future.”

In the end, Sejong issued a formal order.

– ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are subordinate to the Three Bonds and Five Relationships, so they are not as important as the Three Bonds and Five Relationships! Remove this part!

“Well, did this reduce the amount of criticism I’ll receive in the future?”

Hyang, who was muttering while recalling the gender war that took place in the 21st century, suddenly realized something he had forgotten.

“Damn it! I have to reprint the textbooks!”

* * *

However, Sejong’s decision caused a huge backlash.

“Even though the world is changing, ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are virtues that women must observe!”

“That’s right! We must inform the King of the injustice!”

Not only conservative Sadaebu [scholar-officials], but even conservative Sadaebu agreed this time and began to write petitions.

It wasn’t just the Sadaebu who were in trouble.

It was the same among the common people who heard the rumors.

“What is this? Are we going back to the Goryeo Dynasty [preceding dynasty of Joseon]?”

“Aren’t we going to have the Ssanghwajeom song again?”

The lyrics of ‘Ssanghwajeom’ were as follows.

‘When I went to the dumpling shop, the Mongolian owner of the dumpling shop grabbed my wrist, when I went to the temple, the chief monk grabbed my wrist, and when I went to draw water from the well, the dragon of the well grabbed my wrist.’ was the content.

Here, grabbing the wrist was a metaphor for sexual activity.

This was a song that implied the promiscuous sexual culture of the time, and thanks to this, many Sadaebu were disparagingly calling it ‘Namnyeo Sangyeoljisa (男女相悅之詞)’ [Words of love between men and women].

One of the biggest criticisms of Goryeo by the Confucian scholars who founded Joseon was this promiscuous sexual culture.

To overcome this, they found and favored virtuous women and filial daughters, and emphasized ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences.’

“It has always been said that ‘If the hen crows, the family will be ruined.’ If you’re a woman, you should stay at home and listen to what your man says….”

“That’s what I’m saying. It seems like the King made a big mistake this time.”

When men were whispering like this, women also had something to say.

“Oh, really? What did the King say? He said that the way of people comes first, right? What nonsense are you talking about when you only drink alcohol, gamble, and womanize after the harvest is over!”

“What are you talking about when you only drool when you see a pretty maid….”

* * *

At that time, many men gambled during the off-season.

Some people spun straw ropes at home or prepared for the next farming season, but for most farmers, drinking alcohol and gambling in their spare time was a daily routine during the off-season.

And this scene was a common rural scene even before the military regime of the 20th century in Korea began the ‘New Village Movement’ in earnest.

As they were mobilized for water management projects during the off-season according to Sejong’s orders, the number of cases where such gambling occurred decreased, but there was also a side effect.

A bigger gambling game was held with the wages earned through the water management project.

In response, the government kept a close eye on finding gambling dens and arresting gamblers and farmers, but the gambling dens stubbornly survived.

The Sadaebu’s house was just as noisy. No, it was even noisier.

The reason was the issue of concubines.

There were frequent discords due to the concubine issue, and the most useful tool to quell these discords was the ‘Seven Grounds for Divorce’ [reasons a man could divorce his wife, rooted in Confucian principles] based on ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’.

Of course, compared to the late Joseon Dynasty, the status of women was relatively high in the early Joseon Dynasty.

Divorce was also freer than in the later period, and in the case of inheritance of property, sons and daughters had the same rights.

Even in such a situation, Sejong’s decision brought great backlash.

* * *

As the situation became like this, the ministers also began to subtly talk about withdrawing their opinions.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty’s intentions are clearly right, but it seems too early. How about putting it on hold for a while?”

At Yeonguijeong [Chief State Councilor] Lee Jik’s words, Sejong shook his head firmly.

“There will be no postponement.”

“But the situation is….”

When Lee Jik trailed off, Sejong said briefly.

“If you had moved while looking at the situation like that, the position of Yeonguijeong would still be held by the criminal Ryu Jeong-hyeon.”

“….”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers closed their mouths.

“What are the Three Bonds and Five Relationships? They are the most basic duties and ethics that people must observe. ‘A wife must obey her husband,’ ‘The Three Obediences?’ As I said before, these are secondary. In a situation where the people do not keep the most basic duties, do you think it will work if you tell them to keep these two things?”

“….”

The ministers continued to remain silent.

“If a man demands that his wife keep her duty while womanizing, and if he tells his husband to keep his duty while having relations with several men, will that be kept? The most important thing is the Three Bonds and Five Relationships! Only when the Three Bonds and Five Relationships are established can the next thing follow!”

“….”

“Ah! Did Madam Jo say it was not duty but loyalty? That’s the correct answer! People must have loyalty in their lives!”

No one raised an objection to Sejong’s words.

This was because Sejong’s words were fundamental, and there was nothing wrong with them.

In the end, Sejong had to write a proclamation again.

– ‘A wife must obey her husband’ and ‘The Three Obediences’ are important, but they are secondary. The first and most certain thing that people must observe is the Three Bonds and Five Relationships. If you do not properly observe this, no matter how much you recite the passages from the Gyoteuksaeng chapter of the Book of Rites and the Sangbokjeon chapter of the Book of Etiquette, it is nothing more than a castle in the sand!

Therefore, the most important thing to teach at Samin Hakdang is only the Three Bonds and Five Relationships!

This is because it is the duty and loyalty that people must observe!

The Sadaebu closed their mouths at Sejong’s firm answer.

“No matter how much more we talk, we’ll only end up like those fools from last year.”

“I thought the King was wise, but now it seems like he’s not. He’s creating a noose that will strangle future generations, even if not now….”

* * *

The ministers were showing a similar reaction to the Sadaebu.

In the State Council building, Heo Jo was talking about the situation in a worried voice.

“This time, His Majesty made a big mistake. His Majesty and the Crown Prince are wise, so there will be no problem, but the problem is later. If the person who inherits the throne in future generations lacks the qualities, it will surely bring great disaster.”

Meng Sa-seong, who was nodding silently at Heo Jo’s point, looked towards Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] and replied.

“Who doesn’t know that? His Majesty must also know it clearly. The problem is that he is still insisting on this.”

* * *

Hyang was also aware of this problem.

“The first of the Three Bonds is that the king is the foundation of the subject…. There’s no way Father doesn’t know….”

In the end, Hyang went to find Sejong.

“What’s wrong? It’s unusual for you to come to me first.”

“I am in awe.”

“Yes. What did you come for? I’ll tell you in advance, there is no time or budget.”

A smile briefly lingered on Hyang’s face at Sejong’s words full of jokes, then disappeared.

“The reason why I came to see Father is because of the proclamation you proclaimed this time.”

“Why the proclamation? There were no typos, were there?”

Hyang’s voice became more serious as Sejong continued to joke.

“Father also knows that’s not it, doesn’t he? The Three Bonds and Five Relationships are the most basic duties, but they can create a noose that can grab the king’s neck.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong smiled and opened his mouth.

“You mean the words ‘The king is the foundation of the subject’ and ‘There is righteousness between the king and his subjects’?”

“Why is that?”

Hyang’s face became even more serious. This was because he knew that Sejong had said it intentionally.

At Hyang’s appearance, Sejong replied with a still comfortable face.

“There are several reasons, but I can give two as the biggest reasons. One is to untie the shackles on women. In order for this Joseon to develop further in the future, more talent is needed. That means that even if she is a woman, if she is talented, she must be accepted. However, it is difficult for the vested interests to accept newcomers. When that time comes, those who have no ability but are full of greed will put forward ‘A wife must obey her husband,’ ‘The Three Obediences,’ and ‘The Seven Grounds for Divorce’ and block the way. Even though there are more than a few women who are responsible for the livelihood of a family even now.”

“That’s right.”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s point. It was common to see women who had lost their husbands due to war or disease and were responsible for the livelihood of their families. There were more than a few of them among the water maids working in the palace right now.

When Hyang understood, Sejong told the second reason.

“The second is to prevent an incompetent person from ascending to the throne of this Joseon and ruling Joseon. As that Ryu Jeong-hyeon said, no one can guarantee that a tyrant like Geulju (King Geul and King Ju) will never appear. Of course, even if he is not a tyrant, do you think Joseon will be properly protected if a guy who can’t even keep the Three Bonds and Five Relationships ascends to the throne? In that case, the king must be replaced.”

After pausing for a moment, Sejong looked into the distance.

“For the sake of the royal family, for the sake of the people, and for the sake of this Joseon, such a guy must not ascend to the throne.”

“Did the ministers notice?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong chuckled and replied.

“They must have noticed it to some extent by now. Because they are smart people.”

* * *

Hyang, who had finished talking with Sejong and left Gangnyeongjeon, turned his head while heading to Donggungjeon.

Hyang, who was looking in the direction of Gangnyeongjeon, which was located beyond Geunjeongjeon, soon shook his head and turned his body.

“You’re a very harsh person.”

* * *

Note 1) A Confucian term referring to the moral norms that specified the status and role of women in the pre-modern Confucian cultural sphere. Samjongjideok.

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture

Note 2) Seven reasons for expelling a wife, a system derived from Confucianism in the Joseon Dynasty.

Source: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture