Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 315

315. Battle (1)

Starting with Gyeongjang, all of Joseon was changing, and for the most part, the process seemed to be progressing smoothly.

However, there were many areas where progress was slow due to various intertwined problems.

The reorganization of music that Park Yeon and Anpyeong were working on was one such area.

* * *

Sejong was keenly aware of the need to reorganize music.

In Confucianism, which Joseon had adopted as its national ideology, observing etiquette was paramount. Therefore, observing the Five Rites (Gillye [auspicious rites], Binnerye [state guest rites], Garye [wedding rites], Hyungrye [funeral rites], Gunrye [military rites]) was very important.

And music was almost always present at events observing these Five Rites.

That is why Sejong felt the need to reorganize music.

“Do you know anyone who is well-versed not only in Confucianism but also in Yeak [ceremonial music], knowledgeable about music theory, and skilled at playing musical instruments?”

In response to Sejong’s request, the officials immediately recommended Park Yeon, and Sejong assigned the task to Park Yeon.

And Anpyeong became involved midway through the project.

* * *

Although Anpyeong joined later, he was also a man of considerable talent.

Therefore, it seemed like progress was being made, but before long, conflicts began to arise between Park Yeon and Anpyeong.

This was due to differences in their values regarding music.

Unlike Park Yeon, who valued only Aak [ancient Chinese court music], Anpyeong clashed with him, arguing that Hyangak [Korean folk music] and Dangak [Tang-dynasty-derived Korean music] also had value.

The conflict caused by this difference in values was quite serious, and eventually, Anpyeong even went to Hyang to complain.

“Abama [father] will solve it.”

“Yes? How will Abama do it?”

“Believe it. Blessed are those who believe.”

“Yes?”

Anpyeong tilted his head at Hyang’s words but ultimately waited for Sejong’s decision.

And Sejong did not deviate from Hyang’s expectations.

Sejong rejected Park Yeon’s opinion that only Aak should be used for royal and national ancestral rites.

“Aak is not originally the sound of our country but the sound of China. It would be normal for Chinese people to play Aak at ancestral rites because they would be familiar with it daily. However, Korean people always listen to Hyangak while alive, so wouldn’t it be strange to listen to Aak after death?” (Note 1)

According to Sejong’s decision, Park Yeon was put in charge of organizing not only Aak but also Hyangak and Dangak.

And Anpyeong shouted with a happy face as he found Hyang.

“It is as you said, Your Highness! Abama solved it for me!”

“Right? Then work hard.”

“Yes!”

* * *

Park Yeon, who agreed with Sejong’s criticism, devoted himself to the work again. Anpyeong also did his best to carry out the work.

However, the two soon encountered a reef: the problem of musical notation.

Eastern music was composed of a scale of 12 Yulmyeong [tones]. In Western music, it was divided into 12 scales in one octave.

The problem with musical notation that Park Yeon and Anpyeong faced was that the pitch of the notes was recorded in the existing musical notation, but the exact rhythm was not recorded.

Rhythm problems and embellishments used to make the music stand out were passed down through rigorous oral transmission between teacher and disciple.

“We cannot say that it is a proper arrangement unless we solve this problem.”

Park Yeon nodded in agreement with Anpyeong’s words.

“I agree.”

At this time, there was something similar to musical notation, but it only recorded the scales of the music. Rhythms and embellishments were passed down orally or marked with their own unique symbols, which posed a problem that third parties could not understand.

What Park Yeon and Anpyeong were aiming for now was to create a standard musical score that anyone who could play an instrument could understand immediately.

* * *

After worrying and searching for a solution, Anpyeong visited Hyang again when satisfactory results did not emerge.

“…So, we need a way to solve this. All the people of Joseon know that Your Highness’s talent is outstanding, so I expect you to give us a good answer.”

“Oh dear….”

Hyang looked embarrassed at Anpyeong’s words.

Hyang also liked music and enjoyed going to karaoke, but it wasn’t at the level of being a *deokjil* [obsessive fandom]. No, to be precise, music was missing from Hyang’s *deokjil*.

‘What should I do with this….’

Hyang, who was rummaging through his memories with an embarrassed face, recalled one memory and his face brightened.

“Let’s go to Abama!”

“Yes?”

“Abama will know the answer! Didn’t he give us the answer last time too!”

“That’s true, but….”

Hyang, dragging Anpyeong, who was half-doubtful, to Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace], shouted inwardly.

‘I’m a cheat key, but Abama is out of the ordinary! He’s a real genius!’

* * *

“Hmm…. Is that so?”

Sejong, who heard Hyang and Anpyeong’s words, had an interesting expression on his face.

After thinking for a while, Sejong got up from his seat.

“I think the answer will come out if you watch the actual music being played…. You may listen. Let’s take a break for a while.”

“However, Your Majesty….”

Lee Jik, who was about to step forward and stop Sejong from declaring a recess, froze as Sejong’s expression turned fierce.

“I know your thoughts well, but organizing music is also an important task. And, I’ve been in meetings since this morning, so I’m a little tired. I don’t think good ideas will come out like this, so I think it would be better to take a break and resume.”

At Sejong’s words, the officials immediately bowed their heads.

“We obey your command!”

* * *

Sejong, who came out of Geunjeongjeon with Hyang and Anpyeong, looked back at Hyang and Anpyeong.

“Which one would be better, Jeonakseo [the royal music institute] or Akak [another music organization]?”

Anpyeong, who was thinking for a moment at Sejong’s question, stepped forward and answered.

“If you want to see the musical score that is being organized now, Akak is the right place, and if you want to see the performance of the musicians, Jeonakseo is the right place.”

At Anpyeong’s answer, Sejong decided on the destination.

“Then let’s go to Jeonakseo.”

“Yes, Abama.”

* * *

When Sejong arrived at Jeonakseo, Park Yeon, who had received the message, also rushed into Jeonakseo.

“I see Your Majesty!”

“Yes, you’ve been working hard. I heard you’re having a hard time making the score?”

“I am sorry for causing concern to your heart.”

“Well, it can happen.”

Park Yeon breathed a small sigh of relief at Sejong’s reaction. If Sejong didn’t like it, he would have immediately heard the following rebuke.

“If you’re sorry, you shouldn’t do things that make you sorry!”

Sejong, who had gathered the musicians, ordered the musicians.

“Where… play some Jeongak [Korean court music].”

At Sejong’s command, the musicians played Jeongak to the best of their ability.

Sejong, who had been listening to the musicians’ performance for a long time, nodded slightly and gave a small order to Sangseon [a court attendant], who had followed him.

After a while, Sangseon brought a long cane and handed it to Sejong politely. Sejong, who received the cane, said to the musicians.

“One beat when I hit the ground once is one syllable of Onbak [whole beat]. Remember this well and match the beat, and when I gesture, play again….”

“Yes.”

“Then….”

Sejong raised his cane and hit the ground regularly.

The musicians, who nodded and estimated the beat, immediately started playing when Sejong gestured.

The faces of Park Yeon and Anpyeong, who were listening to the performance around Sejong, changed drastically.

‘The performance has changed!’

‘The discrepancies have decreased!’

“Hmm….”

Sejong, who checked the results, got up from his seat.

“You have worked hard. I hope you will work harder.”

“We obey your command!”

Sejong, who finished his business with the musicians, entered the building of Akak with Park Yeon, Anpyeong, and Hyang.

Sejong, who entered the conference room, spread out the paper and continued to speak.

“If you divide one space into a well (井) shape and write the Yulmyeong, wouldn’t you be able to see the rhythm with your eyes? If you write one letter in one space, it’s Onbak, and if you write two letters, it’s half beat. Like this.”

“Ah!”

Hyang, Park Yeon, and Anpyeong all exclaimed at Sejong’s explanation.

Park Yeon shouted in a trembling voice.

“That’s right! You can tell right away if you do this!”

“Then is it a good answer?”

Park Yeon and Anpyeong answered at the same time to Sejong’s question.

“It’s a sufficient answer! Thank you for your grace!”

“Really? That’s a relief. Then work hard. Anpyeong, you too.”

“Yes, Abama!”

Sejong’s face was full of energy as he came out of Akak.

“As expected, I feel energized after taking a break. Things will go well today.”

“That’s really fortunate.”

Hyang’s face, who was agreeing with Sejong’s words, was slightly pale.

‘It wasn’t a lie, it was true! He’s really out of the ordinary!’

It was Hyang’s attempt to remember the part of the unofficial history that Samcheopo teacher said that Sejong made Jeongganbo [traditional Korean musical notation] in one evening, but an unbelievable result came out. (Note 1)

* * *

Sejong set the framework, but that wasn’t the end. There was continued deliberation on how to structure the score.

“Should I try that part?”

When Hyang stepped forward, Anpyeong and Park Yeon were delighted.

“Are you really going to help us?”

“I’ll make a draft first and bring it to you.”

Hyang, who had guaranteed in front of the two, made a draft of Jeongganbo after various considerations.

Whether it was by chance or on purpose, the Jeongganbo that Hyang made was closer to the improved Jeongganbo made in the late 20th century than the traditional Jeongganbo used by Joseon in history before Hyang intervened.

“The measure is divided into 6 intervals and 1 section, and each interval is divided into 9 *kan* [spaces]. And to avoid confusion, the outer intervals are made of thick black, and the inner *kan* dividing lines are made of thin blue lines. And the sections are spaced apart so that lyrics or other markings can be written. What do you think, Anpyeong? What do you think, Producer Park?”

Anpyeong, who was examining Jeongganbo at Hyang’s question, smiled broadly and answered.

“It’s the best!”

However, Park Yeon answered in a slightly worried voice.

“It’s easy to see and easy to record, but wouldn’t it be difficult to print?”

Hyang laughed loudly at Park Yeon’s concern and answered.

“Hahaha! This is a piece of cake for the artisans in Area 51 and Jojaso [the royal printing office]!”

* * *

While mass-printing textbooks and currency for Samin Hakdang [private schools], the artisans in Area 51 and Jojaso had become masters of type and plate making, and printing.

Engraving technology using etching technology learned from Pietro and Raphael, as well as multi-color printing introduced while printing currency, were no longer a problem.

Printing Jeongganbo was easy for such artisans.

And with the use of Hwangji [yellow paper], mass printing was possible at a low cost.

Until the scores of Aak and Hyangak were organized and officially published, Jeongganbo printed on Hwangji was sufficient.

* * *

As Jeongganbo paper was supplied in large quantities, the organization of musical scores accelerated further.

The most experienced and skilled musicians were selected and participated in the work, and the production of symbols indicating embellishments and performance techniques proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to this, the organization of Aak, Hyangak, and Dangak was about to bear fruit.

In that situation, Park Yeon and Anpyeong clashed again.

The Japga [folk songs] called among the people caused the conflict.

“The voices of the people are also music. It must also be collected and recorded!”

“The Japga that the people sing is just a sound! It’s not music!”

The two clashed fiercely once again.

* * *

Note 1) Sejong the Great Sillok read in one volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.