Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 408

408. Short Story (5)

Having seen Sejong’s positive reaction, Hyang began to broach some sensitive issues.

“If hot spring bathhouses are built like this, there will be several advantages. But before that, I would like to explain why the development of hot springs has been sluggish so far.”

“Indeed. I, too, thought it was strange.”

As Sejong showed interest, Hyang, after clearing his throat, continued his explanation.

“There are several reasons why people have hesitated to develop hot springs, but the biggest reasons are…”

Hyang explained to Sejong the problems that Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo-in had investigated.

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded with a serious face.

“I see. So that’s why the development of hot springs has been sluggish. Well…. So, is there a solution?”

“Yes.”

Hyang began to talk about solutions to the problems.

“First, the most important thing is to deploy physicians and female physicians to the developed hot spring bathhouses. Depending on the size of the hot spring bathhouse, one to three physicians and female physicians from the Royal Clinic should be assigned. However, those deployed in this way will be gradually replaced as formally trained physicians graduate from the Academy of Medicine.”

“The duties of the physicians and female physicians deployed to the hot spring bathhouses are as follows: They will classify those who visit the hot spring for treatment of diseases such as arthritis or neuralgia into those with joint diseases, those with skin diseases (瘡疾) [skin ailments], and those with leprosy (癩疾) [Hansen’s disease].”

“Those with joint diseases can use the same bathhouse as others.”

“Those with skin diseases can use a private bath under the care of physicians and female physicians, but those with leprosy are prohibited from entering.”

“In addition, additional personnel from the police or military will be deployed to villages with hot spring bathhouses to maintain security.”

“…And, in addition, the efficacy of the hot spring water in the developed hot spring bathhouses should be properly identified and published in the gazette [official government publication].”

“Oh? Why?”

“As I understand it, each hot spring water has different effects. Therefore, if this is clearly identified and made known, it will be more useful for the people to utilize the hot spring bathhouses.”

“The people will travel far to find hot springs that are beneficial to them. And the people’s horizons will be broadened?”

Hyang nodded at Sejong’s point.

“Yes. That is also what I thought. To that extent, the roads will continue to be improved, and the railroads to be installed in the future will be established more quickly.”

“I see. Good idea….”

Even as he nodded, some regret remained on Sejong’s face.

“Father, if there is anything lacking, please tell me. I will think about that part as quickly as possible and give you an answer.”

Hyang, having grasped that there was a problem from Sejong’s expression, quickly added, “Consider it a work in progress!”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong stroked his beard, paused for a moment, and then opened his mouth.

“Crown Prince, your opinion is a very good plan. However, the response to leprosy patients seems a little inadequate. Hasn’t the plight of leprosy patients been widely known since ancient times? I’m a little concerned about blocking those who are desperate enough to overcome such difficulties and seek out hot springs. Of course, I know that leprosy is an incurable disease, but I’m still a little concerned.”

‘You know that, but…!’

Hyang forcibly suppressed the words that were about to come out automatically at Sejong’s words and let out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. As you said, Father, leprosy is an incurable disease. Allowing them to enter the hot spring bathhouses will only give them false hope and deeper despair.”

‘The cure only came out in the mid-to-late 20th century, and I don’t know about that! If I knew that, I would have quit being the Crown Prince and become a medicine peddler and made a fortune!’

Hyang was screaming inwardly.

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong also sighed.

“Hoo~. I know that too. But I can’t hide my pity when I see leprosy patients wandering outside. Isn’t it pitiful that they suffer from such a disease and are subjected to such harsh persecution?”

* * *

Even during this period, regardless of East or West, there was a widespread perception that leprosy patients were ‘sinners who had received divine punishment (天刑) [punishment from heaven]’. Therefore, it was common for them to be banished from their hometowns and wander around, and if they were to enter another village, they would be blocked from the entrance and chased away, or stoned.

The only places where they received better treatment were a few monasteries that offered charity and the Italian cities of the Renaissance period. Leprosy patients were allowed to enter the cities, but anything they touched had to be bought unconditionally. (Note 1)

* * *

‘Well, it’s certain that later historians will make a fuss about human rights and so on, but this is the only way now.’

Hyang opened his mouth, inwardly smacking his lips.

“I was also aware of your concerns to some extent, Father, so I have been thinking about it. How about this plan?”

“Really? What is it?”

Hyang answered immediately to Sejong’s question.

“Select a remote island (落島) [isolated island] in the South Sea that is easily accessible for officials and physicians, relocate the residents to the mainland, and then gather and manage the leprosy patients there. In this way, we can prevent leprosy patients from being unfairly persecuted, while at the same time enabling them to be self-sufficient, and making it easier for physicians and officials to manage them.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong made a slightly embarrassed expression.

“It’s a good plan, but will there be residents who will agree to it, let alone officials and physicians?”

“In the case of the residents, it is not living together, but relocating (徙民) [resettling] to the mainland, so there will be no major problems. Fortunately, there is quite a lot of vacant land (空地) [unused land] in Hamgil-do and its eastern region, isn’t there? If that’s not enough, there’s also Daeseol Island, so there won’t be any major problems.”

“That’s right.”

Not only Sejong but also the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words. This was because they had been able to incorporate a considerable amount of territory into Joseon through the inducement of the Jurchen’s return and exploratory voyages that had been carried out in the meantime.

Hyang, having given an answer to the problem of the residents’ relocation, continued.

“And, since leprosy is not an easily contagious disease, there will be no major problems if the officials or physicians are careful themselves.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong, after pondering for a moment at Hyang’s words, looked back at the royal carriage.

“Go and call the royal physician.”

“Yes.”

After a while, the arrived royal physician listened to the explanations from Sejong and Hyang, and after recalling his memory for a moment, he answered.

“Yes. Although it is impossible to cure leprosy, fortunately, its contagiousness is not high. Also, the parents’ disease is not passed down to their children.”

“I see.”

While Sejong was nodding, Hwang Hee interjected.

“We should also prepare a relocation school (徙民學堂) [school for resettled people].”

Sejong answered immediately to Hwang Hee’s words.

“Perhaps we should. Then, let’s proceed with this agenda as well.”

“I obey your command!”

* * *

In this way, the policy on ‘Hot Spring Development’ was formally decided and published in the gazette.

The people who read the gazette posted on the walls of the government office gathered in groups of three or five and started talking.

“Hot spring development…. Shall we look for a hot spring nearby?”

“Shall we? If we find one, it seems like we can make some money…. And jobs will be created, too.”

According to the contents written in the gazette, when a hot spring bathhouse was built, people from the nearby residents were selected to work.

Of course, they had to be supervised by officials dispatched from the royal family to manage the royal bathhouse (御浴湯) [bathhouse for the royal family] used by the king and royal family members. However, even so, jobs with fixed salaries were being created.

In addition, the fact that physicians and female physicians would be deployed to the hot spring bathhouses was also good news. This was because there were still quite a few villages without doctors (無醫村) [villages without doctors].

“By the way…. His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince are truly virtuous. They even care about lepers like that.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Providing a place to accommodate leprosy patients separately to avoid persecution and at the same time creating an environment where they can be self-sufficient was not a method that an ordinary king could think of.

This was good not only for the leprosy patients themselves, but also for the ordinary people.

The fact that the people were praising Sejong and himself soon reached Hyang’s ears. Hyang smiled bitterly at the story.

“It’s a measure that I did my best with. Future scholars will criticize it as a materialistic policy and a forced relocation policy that ignores human rights….”

Hyang, who was smiling bitterly like that, immediately changed his expression and muttered.

“Why should I care? I care about right now!”

* * *

Hyang didn’t know, but almost the same thing had happened in history before Hyang intervened.

December 3, Sejong 11 (1429).

Park Seo-saeng submitted a memorial to Sejong.

“Looking at the customs of Japan, people of all ages like to bathe and keep their bodies clean. Therefore, large houses have bathrooms installed in each, and bathhouses are installed here and there in every neighborhood. The system is well-established and very convenient. When the person who boils the water blows a trumpet, people compete to pay money and bathe, so it is right for our Joseon to install bathhouses in places with many people and allow them to use money.”

At the time, Sejong was trying to circulate currency, so this was a memorial for that purpose.

And in the 1st year of Munjong (1451), Munjong ordered the military officer of Baechon County (白川郡事) as follows.

“Do not block the Onjeong Royal Bathhouse (溫井御浴室) [royal bathhouse at Onjeong] and allow people to bathe.”

Of course, it was not opening all the bathhouses, but excluding the bathhouses that only the king and queen could use. However, there were several other bathhouses besides that, so he issued such an order. (Note 2)

As an aside, even in the history after Hyang’s intervention, Park Seo-saeng suggested various policies to expand national finances, and thanks to this, he immediately moved from the Ministry of Public Works to the Ministry of Taxation, and was later being separated from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The same was true for leprosy patients.

In the 1st year of Munjong, there was a record that about 100 leprosy patients were collectively accommodated and treated by the king’s order. (Note 3)

In other words, even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Munjong was trying various efforts to change Joseon.

However, the biggest reason why this fact is not well known is Munjong’s short life. The policies that he tried lost momentum and disappeared without achieving results before Munjong’s death.

And the tragedy that occurred between Danjong and Sejo, who succeeded him, obscured Munjong’s existence.

* * *

As he visited the hot springs, Sejong’s health improved a lot. However, his eye disease still did not show much improvement, so the physicians of the Royal Clinic had to search through medical books.

Thanks to constantly examining Sejong’s condition and searching through medical books, the royal physician reported to Sejong.

“According to medical books and old records, there is mineral water in the Chojaeunso (椒子銀所) [Chojaeun mine] of Cheongju-mok (淸州牧) [Cheongju County], and the water is good for skin diseases and eyes. It would be good for you to stay there for a while and receive treatment.”

Sejong immediately expressed his refusal to the royal physician’s suggestion.

“I have already been out of the palace in Onsu-hyeon for a month. It is not a good example for the people to leave the palace again. Think of another way.”

Hyang’s head started spinning as he listened to Sejong’s words from the side.

‘Chojaeunso in Cheongju? Cheongju? Mineral water? Cho is the Chinese pepper tree, so is that it? That’s it! Chojung Mineral Water!’

Hyang, realizing what the royal physician was talking about, immediately joined the conversation.

* * *

Note 1) Life Human World History. Renaissance Edition. Korea Time Life. 1978.

Note 2) History Interest’s ‘Crow’s Nest’ Eglos.

http://luckcrow.egloos.com/2534809

Note 3) Health Information of Seocho-gu Public Health Center. Leprosy item.

https://www.seocho.go.kr/site/sh/07/10702050900002015072310.jsp