There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 84

< The Buddhist Persecution >

“A favor?”

I had heard that Muhak, befitting a high-ranking monk with great Dharma [Buddhist law or teachings] power, was a genuinely good person.

That’s why I was able to maintain my composure even at his sudden request.

‘A favor from him, to me?’

I wondered if it would be something difficult.

I decided to take the initiative and spoke first.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I also had something to discuss with the Great Master.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“Please take the lead in rectifying the corruption within Buddhism.”

I didn’t expect Muhak to readily accept such a sudden request, so I was about to elaborate, but he simply smiled and replied.

“Indeed. So you have been harboring such intentions, as you mentioned before.”

Muhak said, clasping his hands together in respect.

“?”

Huh?

I had no recollection of ever saying such a thing.

Could it be that Great Master Muhak had mastered the mind-reading art and was reading my thoughts?

“The only way for Buddhism to survive is through such reform. I will actively cooperate with the Crown Prince’s plans.”

His refreshing answer left me dumbfounded.

“His Majesty even considered abolishing all temples not protected by the royal family or driving them into the mountains. However, if Buddhism actively cooperates with the court’s policies, such a thing will never happen.”

“I will keep His Highness’s words in mind, again and again.”

Alright, then my piece is said.

Let’s hear what Muhak has to say.

Great Master Muhak glanced at me and said,

“I heard that Your Highness is leading the construction of Hanyang [present-day Seoul]. Please help us build a large temple in Hanyang.”

Gaeseong [former capital of Goryeo] had 300 temples that had been passed down since the Goryeo Dynasty.

However, the new capital, Hanyang, had very few.

Naturally, proselytizing within the capital would be difficult, and the influence of Buddhism would inevitably weaken.

However, the monks couldn’t just build temples without the court’s permission.

I nodded.

“Yes, I can certainly help with that.”

If I were to allocate land for a temple within the capital, there would be an uproar from all sides, but when have I ever cared about such things?

‘Or I could always invoke my grandfather’s name.’

Emphasizing the Supreme King’s devotion to Buddhism would reduce the number of people who dared to object.

“Furthermore…”

I decided to bestow a few more gifts as a reward for their active cooperation with the court’s policies.

“And when we establish new schools, I plan to invite high-ranking monks with great knowledge to give lectures.”

Muhak’s eyes widened at that.

“Really?”

‘I don’t particularly want to encourage chapel attendance, though.’

I thought to myself.

However, it was also true that many high-ranking monks were well-versed in history, poetry, and tea ceremony.

‘Besides, if we only become influenced by one side, we might develop biases.’

I was thinking of applying understanding and tolerance towards other religions.

At least it would be better than suppressing them for spouting empty words about the seeds of illusion.

“There is no reason not to accept monks as teachers simply because they are monks.”

I said resolutely.

Well, this is something I can only bring up because Buddhism still has some influence and the Joseon Dynasty is in its early stages, with the monarchy on the rise.

“You are truly a Dharma-protecting monarch. Buddha must be watching over this land of Joseon.”

‘That Dharma-protecting monarch again.’

I felt like there was a growing misunderstanding, but from my perspective, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing if the Buddhist community was mistaken.

“In addition to assisting with the census and land surveys, also gather and raise orphans, and help the poor achieve their academic goals.”

I said.

‘There are many scholars who openly cause trouble under the court’s neglect.’

Only by actively engaging in social activities like this can Buddhism gain public support and survive.

If someone were to enter government service with the support of a temple, they could also serve as a shield for Buddhism.

Muhak was impressed by my proposal and said,

“That is the right thing to do. I will follow the Crown Prince’s words.”

===

When I conveyed these intentions through Muhak, it caused a stir not only in the Seon [Zen] sect but also in the Gyo [Scholastic] sect.

I secretly sent people to high-ranking monks of each sect besides Muhak to request their cooperation, but not everyone agreed.

“Do you think monks live by digging up the ground!”

“Are you telling us to give up our assets that have been passed down for hundreds of years!”

“Without money, what will we use to make offerings to the Buddha!”

These were mainly those who were unwilling to give up their vested interests.

However, the reformists, including Muhak, did not back down and stood their ground.

“Aren’t you ashamed, you scoundrels!”

“Then was it the right thing for Buddhists to collude with powerful families to increase land and slaves!”

“The Buddhist tradition of the Three Han [ancient Korean kingdoms], which has been passed down since King Beopheung of Silla, is wavering, and you don’t even realize it, pursuing only your own comfort!”

However, just because a few people called for reform did not mean that people’s thoughts would easily change.

Such a large group is always reluctant to change and unwilling to give up its vested interests.

Despite Jeong Do-jeon’s temple reforms several years ago and Joseon’s policy of suppressing Buddhism, there was still a general lack of a sense of crisis.

‘Whatever happens after I die, I’m going to enjoy all the land and slaves while I’m alive!’

‘The Supreme King even went on a hunger strike to prevent the King’s temple reforms, so how could he 추진 [push] such a thing again?’

The complacent ones would be thinking like this.

In that case, I would have to shatter their rotten illusions.

While the Buddhist community was exchanging sharp words with each other, I sought out Yi Bang-won.

“Don’t you think the atmosphere has heated up quite a bit?”

“Hmm, it seems so.”

Yi Bang-won nodded.

He slammed his desk and said,

“In the meantime, Buddhist monks have been spreading false rumors, recklessly inciting the people, and severely extorting wealth. Not all monks and temples have participated in this, but how can our court, which cares for the people with a benevolent heart, overlook this?”

“The Uigeumbu (Justice Department) should investigate the temples in Gaeseong and reveal their heinous crimes in detail!”

Such a move would normally have provoked opposition from the court, but the officials were people who frequently suppressed Buddhism, so they welcomed it with open arms.

Of course, the Uigeumbu’s blade was aimed at all the temples that did not cooperate with Muhak’s ‘reforms.’

Soon, monks were being rounded up on charges of neglecting their ascetic practices, deceiving the people, molesting women, and embezzling wealth.

Yi Bang-won ordered these monks to be publicly shamed in the streets of Gaeseong.

The land confiscated from the temples was distributed to the people, and the slaves were emancipated, drawing praise even from the deeply Buddhist city of Gaeseong.

“As you said, even the Buddhists are praising my wise decision.”

“Most of the popular monks are on our side, so the opposition must have seemed like devils in monks’ robes. How could they oppose Your Majesty’s actions?”

Yi Bang-won easily satisfied the officials who wanted to suppress Buddhism by making a gesture of cracking down on Buddhism, and he was also able to reorganize the Buddhist community’s power as he wished.

And then, all the monks who had forcibly lost everything and been expelled were thrown into the mines, killing two birds with one stone.

When I reported the whole story, Yi Seong-gye’s expression was not as good as I had expected.

‘We’ve weeded out all the reactionary forces opposing the reforms, so it’s also beneficial to Muhak, who 할바마마 [Grandfather] likes.’

“Even if we 解除 [remove] the positions held by the monks, sending them to the mines seems too harsh. The world is even calling it a Buddhist persecution.”

“Oh, a Buddhist persecution? Those who are making such claims are not ordinary people but monks who are colluding with them.”

“The country is merely punishing thieves who were wearing monks’ robes under the national law.”

I said nonchalantly.

I could roughly guess why Yi Seong-gye was acting like this.

In order for Buddhism to survive, it had to accept the reform plan I had presented, but he believed that the conclusion should have been reached through internal debate and with the consent of the entire Buddhist community.

However, before that could happen, the court stepped in and cracked down on the opposition, throwing them all into the mines, so while the reform of the Buddhist community was easily achieved, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the monks who had suffered.

“If we hadn’t arrested all the reactionaries and thrown them into the mines, how could Great Master Muhak have achieved his goals in such a short period of time? Thanks to that, those who were united and making noise have disappeared, and even local temples that felt a sense of crisis are actively engaging in public service projects.”

So please don’t pay any more attention to the vicious reactionary monks who exploited the people.

“Either way, isn’t it a good thing? With this, they will have realized what happens if they don’t please the court, and they will be able to strengthen their will for reform.”

“Sigh. You really are something.”

Yi Seong-gye sighed.

I asked seriously,

“Do you think that what I and Father did was wrong?”

“Not at all.”

Yi Seong-gye looked at me and said,

“If you and Bang-won judged it that way, then it must be right. I have always respected the monks, so I don’t feel good about it, but it can’t be helped for the sake of the country.”

“This incident was actually to save Buddhism. I will do my best to handle the aftermath so as not to tarnish my reputation as a Dharma-protecting monarch.”

I replied.

“Sigh, the monks should know all your dark intentions.”

Yi Seong-gye shook his head.

Then he asked me with a worried tone,

“There are quite a few old and well-known monks among those who were arrested. Please don’t treat them 함부로 [carelessly].”

“Um…”

I trailed off.

‘I’ve already treated them 함부로 [carelessly].’

They all had their heads shaved bald… no, they were already shaved, so I wouldn’t have touched them separately.

Anyway, they were all thrown into the mines and made to do hard labor.

Those who were energetic and of low status were probably busy digging in the mines with pickaxes.

‘Well, the old and weak ones would be assigned to manage supplies or something, so I guess I listened to 할아버지 [Grandfather]’s words?’

I nodded and thought to myself.

===

Thanks to my intervention, Buddhism was able to show rapid changes before a major national crackdown was imposed.

It was a great shock that the Uigeumbu was even mobilized to find fault and 조져버린 [beat up] the monks, but it would have 오히려 [rather] become a driving force for change.

‘I’ve only led the industry in a more progressive direction.’

I was proud of myself.

In the long run, it was something I did to save the Buddhist community, but it also received a positive response from the court.

Apparently, the performance of publicly shaming the monks in the Gaeseong marketplace and then sending them all to the mines was impressive.

“The officials said that Your Highness was influenced by the Supreme King and had fallen into Buddhism, but those were truly foolish words.”

“After all, there’s no way the Crown Prince would be 심취하실 [be absorbed] in 석가’s [Buddha’s] 허황된 [empty] words.”

“The monks are always 떠드는 [making noise] about 자비 [compassion], but Your Highness has no 별 연이 [connection] with it.”

There were some unnecessary words mixed in, but it wasn’t a bad thing to receive such an evaluation from Confucian scholars.

‘I don’t know what kind of 소리를 [words] I’ll hear when building a temple in Hanyang is revealed.’

“After all, the fact that you often 어울리신 [associated] with monks was only out of 지극한 [extreme] 효심 [filial piety] for the Supreme King.”

“허허허 [Heoheoheo – laughter].”

‘It’s true that I’m a 효손 [filial grandson].’