Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 358

358. The Problem is People, in Many Ways. (4)

With the decision to educate Japanese students and use them as apprentice officials, Sejong, who had been observing the situation, proposed a bold plan.

“What if we employed women as officials?”

At Sejong’s suggestion, Lee Jik responded with a look of disbelief.

“Are you suggesting formal officials, not just teachers?”

“That’s right.”

Sejong’s answer caused the ministers’ faces to pale.

The early Joseon Dynasty provided women with relatively stronger rights compared to the mid and late Joseon periods. However, these rights were still less extensive than those in the preceding Goryeo Dynasty and significantly weaker than in the ancient Three Kingdoms period.

Therefore, the ministers immediately voiced their objections.

“Women possess limited knowledge…”

“Yet, these women with limited knowledge are teaching children at the Samin Schools [private schools established to promote education among commoners].”

“Women are inherently trivial and lack the fortitude to discuss matters of state, wouldn’t you agree?”

“There are arguments for and against, but there was also Empress Wu Zetian, who ruled the country during the ‘Wu Zhou’ period [a brief interregnum in the Tang Dynasty].”

“Wu Zetian is an extreme case…”

“Alright. Let’s say Wu Zetian is too much. Consider this: no matter how good the seed, if the soil is poor, the harvest will be meager. If the mother’s inherent qualities are lacking, can talented individuals be born?”

“That is true, but…”

“Women make up half the world’s population. Do you believe it’s reasonable to assume that talent only originates from men?”

“…”

Because Sejong’s reasoning was sound, the ministers shifted their objections to other concerns.

“Even now, court officials routinely work overtime and night shifts. No father would want his wife or daughter wandering the streets late at night or spending the night away from home.”

“Even now, women are legally permitted to walk the streets of Hanseong [old name for Seoul] at night.”

“…”

Sejong’s point silenced the ministers.

* * *

Joseon had a legally mandated curfew.

The Annals of King Taejong, in May of the first year of his reign, recorded:

-Those who violate the patrol regulations after the third point of the first watch (初更三點) and before the third point of the fifth watch (五更三點) shall be arrested.

Simply put, passage was restricted from 8 PM to 4:30 AM.

However, this caused significant disruption to people’s lives, so the curfew hours were gradually reduced.

Before Hyang’s intervention, during King Sejo’s reign, the night curfew was relaxed from the second watch to the fourth watch—from 10 PM to 3 AM—and this was codified in the Gyeongguk Daejeon [the Joseon Dynasty’s legal code] as from the second watch after to the fifth watch before.

Interestingly, this night curfew applied only to men—a differential curfew system.

Joseon, having adopted Neo-Confucianism as its national policy, enforced strict codes of conduct for men and women (內外法) [separation of spheres].

According to these codes, women of the noble and merchant classes were generally expected to remain at home during the day and go out at night, while men were restricted from leaving the house at night. (Note 1)

Therefore, the ministers were left speechless by Sejong’s words.

* * *

Sejong, having refuted the ministers’ objections, offered a tempting incentive.

“And let’s consider the opposite perspective. Isn’t the reason officials are routinely working overtime and night shifts because we are understaffed? If we had sufficient personnel, wouldn’t the need for overtime and night shifts disappear? Then women wouldn’t have to work late or spend the night away from home, would they?”

“That is true, but…”

Despite being logically defeated by Sejong’s arguments, the ministers continued to object.

“Your Majesty’s intentions are noble, but there will be strong opposition.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s remark, Sejong scoffed.

“Humph! If they disapprove of women serving as officials, tell them to stay home and study Confucius and Mencius instead of taking the civil service exam! Instead of being cooped up in a room with buttocks heavier than a stone Buddha in a mountain temple! We can’t even perform our duties properly due to a lack of personnel. What nonsense are you spouting! You are all aware of the current situation in the court! I’m tempted to drag even the monks who worship Buddha (佛氏, a derogatory term for Buddha) from their temples! But I’m refraining because I fear another wicked monk like Shin Don [a controversial monk who held great power during the late Goryeo Dynasty] from the end of the previous dynasty might emerge!”

Sejong’s final words served as a stern warning.

‘Should I open the path for women? Or should I restore power to the monks? Choose.’

Ultimately, the ministers had to make a decision.

“We will follow Your Majesty’s wishes and formulate a plan.”

“I anticipate it. Now is a crucial time to prepare for the next decade. Although it is not our preferred choice, consider it a chance to catch your breath. While you rest, you must strengthen your inner selves and remember that you must strive even further ten years from now.”

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

“We will engrave it in our hearts.”

The historian, who had been recording everything, added the following:

-…So, when the King inquired, the ministers replied that they would engrave it in their hearts.

The historian comments.

It is undeniable that the court is currently understaffed. However, employing women in official positions is a matter that requires careful consideration.

The reason for this situation is those who are confined to their rooms, wasting their time, as the King mentioned.

If they possess such knowledge, it is only natural that they should take office, but they are petty men who remain holed up in their rooms, merely moving their mouths.

I am tempted to throw them all into the records office right now….

“What is the historian writing so diligently? I finished speaking some time ago?”

The historian, who had been dwelling on ‘the literati who are cooped up in their rooms and only talk,’ immediately bowed his head at Sejong’s words.

“I, I apologize.”

“The historian’s role is to record the affairs of the court, not to record personal feelings (私感, private emotions). It seems the historians have become too relaxed lately. It might be beneficial to adjust the personnel allocation.”

“Please have mercy!”

The historian, tearful at Sejong’s words, immediately bowed his head.

Seeing this, another historian diligently moved his golden pen.

-So, when the King mentioned personnel adjustments, the historian in question hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

The historian comments.

It is unbecoming of a great man to threaten with weaknesses.

How could the King engage in such a petty act….

“Are you also doing something else now? It seems that personnel adjustments are…”

“Please save me!”

The two tearful historians had to continue bowing their heads.

Hyang, who had been observing the scene from the side, smiled wryly and muttered to himself.

‘It’s impossible for Father to receive favorable reviews from the historians. Even with cross-validation, it will be filled with negative comments.’

* * *

During the Joseon Dynasty, two historians were always present during discussions between the king and his ministers.

This was not only to prevent interruptions in the records due to restroom breaks or other urgent matters but also to prevent malicious manipulation.

Because two historians recorded the same events, their accounts could be cross-validated when compiling the Annals later.

* * *

That’s how the turbulent meeting concluded, and the ministers and Hyang exited the Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

Hyang, heading towards the Donggungjeon [the Crown Prince’s residence], paused and looked back at the Geunjeongjeon.

“Leaving aside the advancement of women, how will you address the issues of childcare leave and career breaks…”

Hyang, concerned about a problem that remained a significant controversy even in the 21st century, chuckled.

“Hoo! This, this…”

‘I forgot! What kind of person is he…’

It was Sejong who first institutionalized guaranteed maternity leave for government slaves and childcare leave for their husbands.

Hyang, still chuckling, suddenly turned around and looked at the Geunjeongjeon again.

“Wait, something’s not right?”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Hyang, waving his hand dismissively at the eunuch escorting him, wore a face devoid of laughter.

‘Why? You opened the doors even to women? Why? If you were so concerned about the lack of talent, wouldn’t it have been easier to abolish the slave system? There would have been less resistance than opening it to women, wouldn’t there? Why?’

Hyang, tilting his head in confusion, continued towards the Donggungjeon.

* * *

The next day, Lee Jik visited Maeng Sa-seong’s house.

Thanks to the official holiday, Lee Jik’s face reflected long-awaited leisure.

Maeng Sa-seong, having heard of Lee Jik’s arrival, came out to the yard to greet him.

“What brings you to this humble abode on this precious holiday (千金)?”

“I was at home, and I began to feel like I needed to pay for medicine…” [a humorous way of saying he was bored and needed company].

Maeng Sa-seong burst into laughter at Lee Jik’s joke.

“Hahahaha! You haven’t lost your wit! Come in!”

As soon as they were seated in the Sarangbang [a detached building in a traditional Korean house], a simple table with mountain vegetables and alcohol was brought in.

“Let’s play a game of Go (手談, Baduk) after all this time.”

“That’s good!”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong was delighted and retrieved the Go board from the side of the room.

The two shared a drink and played Go.

Carefully placing a Go stone, Lee Jik spoke to Maeng Sa-seong.

“What are your thoughts?”

“About what?”

“About His Majesty’s intention to open employment opportunities to women.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong put down his Go stone and pondered with his arms crossed. As Maeng Sa-seong was lost in thought, Lee Jik continued.

“His Majesty must have anticipated that those noisy fellows wouldn’t remain silent. Isn’t that so?”

“Perhaps he did.”

“Even though the number of those who are unspeakable has decreased significantly due to the incident that happened in the year of Gi-yu [a year of political upheaval], there are still those who are talking. I don’t know why he created something for those guys to talk about.”

Lee Jik, frustrated, filled the glass next to him with alcohol and emptied it in one gulp, continuing.

“There was an easier path to take. That is the abolition of slavery.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong nodded silently.

Maeng Sa-seong remained silent for a while. After pondering for a long time, Maeng Sa-seong slowly spoke.

“Sir, are you aware of the current situation of slaves in Joseon?”

“I know roughly. The number of slaves is gradually decreasing after they were treated as property and taxed.”

“That is the case for private slaves, but the number of government slaves is not decreasing significantly. To be precise, the number of those who were government slaves in the past has decreased, but the number of those who have newly become government slaves has exploded.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Lee Jik’s eyes widened as he searched his memory.

“Could it be! The year of Gi-yu?”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong nodded.

“Those who were implicated in the rebellion of the year of Gi-yu. As long as they are alive, His Majesty will never mention the abolition of slavery.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s assertion, Lee Jik wore a bitter expression.

“That’s right.”

Looking at Lee Jik’s expression, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“I still remember the words the late king used to evaluate His Majesty. ‘Chungnyeong [Sejong’s given name] appears weak, but when he makes a decision, he is more resolute than anyone else.’ When I consider how His Majesty regards the Jongmyo Shrine [royal ancestral shrine] and the people, it would be insufficient to describe him merely as a wise king (賢君); he is a sage king (聖君). But there is something we must not forget.”

“He is an absolute monarch and a dictator.”

“That’s right. If you consider the cases of Lord Ryu Jeong-hyeon and other lords in the past, it is evident. As long as there is a force that threatens the stability of the royal authority, His Majesty will never abolish the slavery system. The same applies to the system of guilt by association.”

Lee Jik, with a bitter taste in his mouth at Maeng Sa-seong’s words, filled his glass with alcohol and emptied it in one gulp. However, the bitter taste lingered.

* * *

At the same time, Hyang, sitting alone in the Donggungjeon and organizing his thoughts, also wore a bitter expression.

“Unless it is a constitutional monarchy, the essence is an absolute monarchy…”

Those who led and carried out the Gi-yu Rebellion were all executed.

Those currently working in the mines as government slaves were their children or relatives, sentenced through guilt by association.

In some ways, they were victims of the inhumane system of guilt by association, but in the context of this era, they were potential traitors who had inherited the rebellious ideologies of their predecessors.

As long as there were those who plotted national rebellion and harbored such thoughts, the abolition of slavery would never be realized.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Night curfew item.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0035247