Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 403

403. Higher Education Institution (5)

After a long period of silent contemplation, Sejong finally spoke.

“I intend to establish specialized educational and research institutions dedicated to studying the words of the sages and exploring the principles of morality. Therefore, I want the ministers to deliberate on this matter and present their plans.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers bowed their heads and replied,

“We shall obey your command.”

* * *

After the meeting at Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where important state affairs were discussed], the ministers moved to the Office of the Prime Minister.

The main topic of conversation among the ministers gathered in the Prime Minister’s office was, of course, the educational institution that Sejong had mentioned.

“What should we do?”

Meng Sa-seong’s question was met with a matter-of-fact response from Jo Gye-saeng.

“What do you mean, ‘What should we do?’ His Majesty has ordered it, so of course, we must create it.”

“Does anyone not know that? I’m talking about how we should frame it, what kind of faculty we should fill it with, and who we should target for admission. Don’t we need to decide all of these things?”

“Shouldn’t we proceed by drawing on our past experiences?”

Hwang Hee, looking frustrated with Jo Gye-saeng’s reply, joined the conversation.

“Do you think that’s what His Majesty desires?”

“….”

Jo Gye-saeng fell silent at Hwang Hee’s pointed remark. Seeing this, Hwang Hee put a hand to his forehead and said,

“Do you still not know what the result will be if we proceed so carelessly? Do you need to hear His Majesty clicking his tongue and scolding us to feel better?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

Hwang Hee shouted at Jo Gye-saeng’s reply.

“You blockhead! Then why are you saying such things! Have you only known His Majesty for a day or two? You’ve become too relaxed these days! Huh! Every time you act like that, my insides burn black! Do you even know that?”

“Lord, Lord, please calm down….”

Meng Sa-seong stepped in to calm Hwang Hee, who had exploded.

“Now, now. Have a cup of cold water and cool down for a moment.”

While Hwang Hee emptied a cup of cold water, Meng Sa-seong continued the meeting in his stead.

“There’s some truth to what the Prime Minister is angry about. We were told to establish a specialized educational institution to study the words of the sages and explore the principles of morality, but we all know to some extent what he thinks of the Confucian scholars who will be in charge of that important task, don’t we?”

At Meng Sa-seong’s words, the ministers nodded.

* * *

Unlike when he first ascended the throne, Sejong now viewed Confucian scholars and local gentry with a very cynical eye.

Sejong’s perspective changed not only because of the Gi-yu Rebellion [a historical event; likely a purge or uprising].

The clash between Ryu Jeong-hyeon and Sejong, which brought a storm of blood to the court just before the reforms began, ignited the spark. Later, as the reforms progressed, the corruption of officials and the privatization of power by local gentry added fuel to the fire.

And what turned the bonfire-level problem into a massive conflagration was the Gi-yu Rebellion.

The Gi-yu Rebellion, which had become such a massive fire, turned the local gentry society of Joseon into ashes.

And it would have been good if it had ended there, but a significant number of the surviving local gentry were still showing conservative tendencies and resisting Sejong.

Therefore, Sejong’s view of the local gentry was as cold as ice.

Until now, most of those who were educated enough to be properly used were those gentry, so he was just putting up with the situation. However, once the educational institution started to function properly, the local gentry would be the first to be weeded out.

* * *

Having worked alongside Sejong for a long time, most of the ministers who had become accustomed to Sejong knew very well that Sejong was not favorably inclined toward this matter. Therefore, Jo Gye-saeng, who had spoken so nonchalantly without grasping the situation, was being criticized.

“Come on, let’s be a little more careful! Just a little bit of relaxation and you cause trouble….”

“Ahem! I’m sorry!”

Jo Gye-saeng apologized with an uncomfortable expression at Hwang Hee’s rebuke.

With that small commotion settled, Minister of Justice Jo Geuk-gwan opened his mouth.

“However, a specialized educational institution is necessary. Looking at the cases of lawsuits that have surged since the establishment of the Judgment Office, there are many instances where problems arise because the world is changing, but the principles, or rather, common sense, are outdated.”

* * *

As the reforms progressed, the Ministry of Justice was divided into the Ministry of Justice, the National Police Agency, and the Judgment Office.

As the ministries were divided in this way, litigation and security duties were separated from the duties of local officials.

Criminal cases were handled by the National Police Agency up to the Dohobu level [a major administrative division], and from the smaller Gun [county] to the Hyeon level [smaller county], Gyeongbyeong (警兵, present-day military police) from the Yuksu Army and Navy were dispatched to maintain security.

Trials for lawsuits and criminal cases between the people were handled by the Judgment Office.

The judges of the Judgment Office were primarily appointed from those who had worked in local government offices or the Ministry of Justice and were known for their fair judgments.

The plan was to establish a foundation with these individuals and then have those who were properly educated and trained take over.

* * *

The Judgment Office, created in this way, was flooded with all sorts of lawsuits.

Most of the lawsuits that flooded in were related to ‘intellectual property infringement’.

“…Until before the reforms, there was no concept that knowledge was also property, was there? Weren’t we all the same?”

At the Minister of Justice Jo Geuk-gwan’s remark, the ministers nodded.

* * *

Before the reforms, intellectual property rights were a non-existent concept.

If there was a valuable book containing the words of ancient sages or a collection of writings by a famous gentry, people would go and borrow it or make a copy, but there was no payment. Rather, it was considered natural to think that receiving such payment would tarnish one’s reputation.

This was the same among the common people.

“Good things are good! Geez! How narrow-minded can you be!”

If someone demanded payment for sharing their knowledge or skills, they would often hear the above words.

Of course, they could never say such things in front of blacksmiths or potters.

However, even if they could not share the technology, copying the results was common. Therefore, if rumors spread that a certain artisan had created something unique and gained popularity, it was commonplace for nearby artisans to release products that were made exactly like that item.

Therefore, when the law on intellectual property rights was first promulgated, there was much opposition.

“Good knowledge should be widely shared! How can you put a value on intangible things like knowledge!”

“Geez! It would be good if everyone could live well together! Why are you being so stingy! Aish! It’s the end of the world, the end of the world!”

Complaints and dissatisfaction erupted from all directions, but the strong enforcement of the law gradually quelled the discontent.

However, such intellectual property infringement became increasingly sophisticated, and the Judgment Office was crowded with people filing lawsuits related to it.

* * *

“As new things that did not exist in the past, such as intellectual property infringement cases, are emerging, it is right for people’s thinking to change. However, it is only right that the changing thoughts should be directed in the right direction.”

At Jo Geuk-gwan’s remark, the ministers nodded.

While the ministers were pondering Jo Geuk-gwan’s words, Jo Mal-saeng, who had been sitting quietly, opened his mouth.

“Creating an educational institution and having that educational institution study the words of the sages and re-discuss the principles of morality to suit the changing times are all right things to do. It’s something we should do. But the problem is the teachers who will study and teach in that educational institution, isn’t it? Even if we put aside the words of the ancient sages, how much of Zhu Xi’s Analects [a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius] is out of touch with reality if we adapt it to the present era? How much did we suffer from that problem while working? Therefore, the most important thing is how to find the faculty. If we do it wrong, we might end up playing the role of immortals in the sky [meaning detached from reality].”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s remark, the ministers nodded.

Afterward, the ministers frowned and pondered over and over again to find a solution to this problem.

At that time, Kim Jeom opened his mouth.

“It is obvious that no matter how hard we try to find faculty, they will soon be playing the role of immortals in the sky. Almost none of the scholars who are worth their name know reality. No, the higher the name value, the more they will try to return reality to the era of the ancient sages. Then, how about changing the approach?”

At Kim Jeom’s statement, the ministers’ eyes began to shine.

“Change the approach?”

“That’s right. Even if we find new principles that are adapted to the changed era, wouldn’t it be useless if we don’t apply them in practice? Therefore, let’s establish it as a research institution, not an educational institution. And, as members of that research institution, let’s put in those who have experienced sufficient practical work in the Ministry of General Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance and Economy.”

Hwang Hee shook his head at Kim Jeom’s words.

“There will be a war.”

“It’s something we have to endure. What else can those who sit in the Sarangbang [a scholar’s study] and talk about Confucius and Mencius come up with other than pie-in-the-sky theories? As Lord Jo said, how much did we suffer?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers were lost in memories.

They were reminded of the memories of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods when they first entered government service and boldly proclaimed that they would create an ideal nation in accordance with the ideals of Neo-Confucianism, but were blocked by the wall of reality and vomited blood [experienced great frustration].

“The problem is that there will be a very intense conflict.”

Kim Jeom scoffed at Hwang Hee’s remark.

“Huh! Who do you think will be the first to fall out of that conflict?”

“Probably the scholars.”

Kim Jeom immediately responded to Meng Sa-seong’s answer.

“In all likelihood, those pompous scholars will be the first to fall out. Because they have the biggest weakness of not knowing reality well. And, are there only one or two scholars in this Joseon?”

Meng Sa-seong pointed out the problem at Kim Jeom’s statement.

“There are not just one or two, but have you forgotten that most of those scholars are rebels?”

Since the introduction of Neo-Confucianism to Goryeo, there have been many scholars who studied Neo-Confucianism. However, a significant number of them – especially those with high names – either went into seclusion, resisted, or were purged, claiming that Yi Seong-gye’s coup was unjust.

Kim Jeom did not back down even at Meng Sa-seong’s point.

“How many of those who went into seclusion, claiming that the founding of this Joseon was unjust, are still alive? And even if there are those who are still stubbornly alive, would their disciples want to live a secluded life reading only the scriptures? And would there be only one or two of those disciples? Even if we can get our hands on two or three of those disciples, we can fill the scholars’ positions. Then, all we have to do is watch them fight fiercely and properly take care of the results. Isn’t it a familiar thing?”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers nodded strongly without realizing it.

It was Hyang’s specialty to pit those with opposing opinions against each other and then take care of the results, and it was a method that even Sejong had learned and was using well.

“But, will they really respond if we ask them to come?”

Kim Jeom pointed out the reality to Meng Sa-seong, who continued to show a negative reaction.

“Even now, when something happens, do you think those who submit memorials are really doing it out of patriotism? Aren’t they using that as a shallow trick to stand out and make a name for themselves? There are plenty of guys who would jump up and run barefoot if we asked them to come. So, come on, let’s be positive, a little!”

“….”

When Meng Sa-seong closed his mouth, Hwang Hee came to a conclusion.

“Then, let’s decide on the nature of the institution as a research institution rather than an educational institution and draw up a plan accordingly.”

“Which ministry are you thinking of entrusting it to?”

“Everyone is busy these days….”

At the ministers’ reaction, which strongly implied that they did not want to take on the task, Hwang Hee got up from his seat and went outside.

“Jong-seo! You son of a…! Come here right now!”

* * *

Five days later, Hwang Hee submitted a plan to Sejong.

“Hmm…. A research institution rather than an educational institution…. It seems rather appropriate.”

“That’s right. Since it is to study the principles of the sages and research new principles tailored to the changes of the times, a research institution is more suitable than an educational institution.”

“The establishment of the research institute is in three years….”

“In order to find good talent, at least that much time is needed.”

Sejong, reviewing the plan while listening to Hwang Hee’s explanation, soon came to a conclusion.

“I approve. Implement it as is.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, and there is something to add to it. Add research on the science of Rome and Greece, Christianity, and Islam, which existed in the land of the Westerners called Europe.”

“The science and religion of the Westerners, you mean?”

“Now that the footsteps of our Joseon have reached there, shouldn’t we know the differences? No, shouldn’t we not only know the differences but also take what is good? If necessary, I will even bring in scholars.”

Hwang Hee cautiously asked at Sejong’s words that he would even bring in scholars.

“Is it ‘using barbarians to control barbarians’ [a strategy of employing foreign powers to manage other foreign entities]?”

Sejong nodded silently at Hwang Hee’s question. Hwang Hee quietly bowed his head at Sejong’s answer.

This is how the ‘Institute for the Study of Principles’ was born.

The Institute for the Study of Principles, which was born in this way – later renamed the Institute for Social Studies – boasted the most intense academic atmosphere along with the Department of Military Medicine and the Medical Academy. The debates between idealists and realists were literally wars. However, as a result, Joseon was able to guide society in the healthiest direction possible.

As a side note, Hyang was most responsible for the Department of Military Medicine and the Medical Academy having an academic atmosphere as intense as the Institute for the Study of Principles.

“Read, examine, and contemplate.”

Because he only threw them translated medical books with a short command, the faculty of the Medical Academy and the Department of Military Medicine had no choice but to start research based on the knowledge of Korean medicine they knew.

In the process of that research, all sorts of theories emerged to resolve the differences between Eastern and Western medicine – typically the differences between the yin-yang and five elements-based mutual generation and mutual restraint and the four humors theory [ancient Greek medical theory] – and fierce debates took place over whose theory was correct.

And Hyang was watching with great interest and occasionally offering advice.