Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 402

402. Higher Education Institutions (4)

To secure talent from the Academy of Engineering, merchant guilds initiated scholarship programs.

* * *

As reforms progressed, Joseon’s educational institutions were ranked, starting with the Samin Schools [basic village schools], followed by the Middle Schools and various academies.

All children admitted to the Samin Schools received free education.

This was Sejong’s decree.

“All people in Joseon, except slaves, should possess a minimum of learning and morality. That’s why I established the Samin Schools; it’s inappropriate to charge tuition.”

Thus, Samin Schools were tuition-free, and students received one free meal.

However, Middle Schools required tuition.

“Those seeking advanced knowledge should bear the cost. This isn’t about profiting from teaching, but instilling responsibility for their choices.”

Sejong wanted people to learn ‘responsibility for their choices’ early.

Middle School students paid two silver coins per semester (half a year).

Hyang worried about Sejong’s decision.

“In the past, they learned at home. Won’t they resist paying for education?”

This was Hyang’s concern, a misunderstanding based on incomplete knowledge.

* * *

Historically, private institutions like Goguryeo’s Gyeongdang [private schools in Goguryeo] existed.

Seo Geung’s ‘Goryeo Dogyeong’ [Song Dynasty account of Goryeo] recorded this tradition:

– In commoners’ neighborhoods, officials and scribes face each other. Children gather to learn books [classics] from teachers. As they mature, they choose friends and study in temples. Even young children learn from village teachers (Note 1).

Thus, village schools existed in early Joseon.

Scholar families or nobles hired retired officials or scholars who failed the civil service exam to run private schools or reading rooms.

Influential families operated separate school fields to educate their children and clansmen.

Scholars also established self-operated village schools for livelihood and leisure.

Besides these, various village schools existed, but in late Joseon, they became power bases for the local yangban [aristocratic class].

Sejong’s reforms replaced village schools dominated by local Sarim [faction of scholars] with Samin and Middle Schools.

The central government’s influence grew, diminishing the power of villages controlled by local Sarim.

* * *

Hyang, still worried, suggested to Sejong:

“Some with talent and will may be unable to learn due to poverty. We need measures for them.”

“Hmm…”

“If they can’t achieve their goals, where will their resentment go?”

Sejong, understanding Hyang’s point, nodded.

“True. History shows many succeeded through diligence, studying by firefly and snow light. I forgot that.”

Thus, Sejong created the scholarship law.

-Top 20% of students in grades and bottom 30% in wealth receive tuition waivers.

-Applicants must submit official household and tax payment records.

Joseon officially operated a scholarship system.

Ministers reported positive results to Sejong.

“Scholarship recipients are more actively promoting state affairs and supporting the court.”

Loyalty to the country and king was natural, but the royalist faction grew.

* * *

Seeing the increase in royalists due to scholarships, merchants targeted Academy of Engineering and Academy of Industry students.

They offered tuition to talented but poor students.

Simple tuition offers were similar to the court’s policies, but merchants’ scholarships differed.

Eligibility was broader, and they provided tuition and living expenses.

Merchants demanded the following:

-Maintain grades while attending the academy.

-Work for the merchant guild for at least 10 years after graduation.

After 10 years, they could stay with the guild or start their own business.

The merchant guilds had their reasons.

“They’ll be in high positions after 10 years. Will they leave? Unlikely.”

Amid government and private competition, a rumor spread among academy applicants:

‘Get into the academy, and your life will change.’

* * *

The reformed educational institutions focused on economics, technology, and practical affairs, like the Academy of Industry, Academy of Engineering, Academy of Medicine, and the Military Academy.

Petitions flooded Sejong.

– To live as a person, one must follow morality from the ancient sages! Learning’s basis is contemplating this morality!

But the current institutions only teach reason (理) for profit (利)!

This is wrong!

We must create institutions to study the sages’ morality!

Sejong scoffed at these petitions.

“Humph! What is morality? Didn’t the ancient sages, Buddha, and the Western Christ say the same thing? How does it differ from Hwanung’s ‘Benefit all mankind (弘益人間)’ [founding principle of Korea]? Isn’t that morality taught in Samin Schools? You need to study morality? What did those who only contemplated morality do? Wasn’t it rebellion?”

Sejong’s chilling words made ministers and historians sweat.

Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘That damn rebellion traumatized you. You were moderate before I intervened, but now you react strongly… is this a butterfly effect?’

Hyang’s thoughts drifted.

‘Wait, Father’s words remind me of a book title? ‘Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,’ right?’

“However, their opinions aren’t entirely wrong.”

Hwang Hee contradicted Sejong, despite his cynicism.

Sejong, angered, forcibly calmed himself and asked Hwang Hee.

“For what reason?”

A short, threatening question, but Hwang Hee didn’t back down.

“Samin Schools teach the minimum morality. But compare before and after the reforms. It’s a sea change. In 10 years, it’s changed so much; how much more in the future? To establish morality in this changing world, we must contemplate it. We must refine the law accordingly. Also, consider the defecting barbarians. To civilize them, we must establish proper morality.”

“Hmm…….”

Sejong calmed down and thought seriously.

“The Prime Minister is right. The world is changing faster. If we don’t establish morality, it will become outdated and immoral. Hmm…….”

Sejong turned to Hyang, who began to sweat under his gaze.

‘Why me? What did I do? Why?’

Hyang panicked.

“Come to think of it, did the Crown Prince say that?”

“Did I?”

“Yes. You told those Western monks, ‘God’s words may be infallible, but can you be sure that what you wrote down is also infallible?’ A refreshing statement.”

Hyang bowed his head.

“Just a childish remark.”

‘Where is this leaking from?’

Hyang grumbled, then gave up.

‘Damn it! Too many leaks!’

Officials and eunuchs were present.

“It’s not wrong; no need for excuses. It was a good statement.”

Sejong praised Hyang and turned to the ministers.

“Many in Joseon need to hear those words. Isn’t that so?”

“Some have narrow views.”

Hwang Hee answered, and Sejong revealed his true feelings.

“Didn’t you rewrite it after the burning of books and burying of scholars [Qin Dynasty]? Rewriting, discussing, translating back into Joseon language… can you be sure there wasn’t a single error? What do you think, Prime Minister?”

The hall froze. Sejong’s words shook Neo-Confucianism, Joseon’s national policy.

Ministers and Hyang were shocked.

‘Wow! Father, you’ve crossed the line! In late Joseon, this would be heresy!’

Sejong continued, seeing their pale faces.

“Even if Zhu Xi’s [Neo-Confucian philosopher] words aren’t wrong, can you be sure there were no errors in the process of those words becoming sentences, being translated into books, and those books coming to our Haedong [Korea] and discussing them in words? What do you think?”

Hwang Hee chose his words carefully.

“Of course, there will be errors. But our Haedong has excellent scholars, so such errors will be rare.”

“That’s right… Hmm…….”

Sejong trailed off, and the ministers swallowed dry saliva, watching him.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Village School entry.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0027680