There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 194

My thoughts drifted to the library.

‘Now that I think about it, a facility like this is essential.’

Often overlooked, a library’s role extends beyond simply providing reading material to the public.

‘It’s about collecting and preserving a wide range of books and informational resources.’

Materials that might be lost or destroyed due to the world’s troubles, if kept privately, can be preserved for generations under the systematic management of a library—unless the whole place burns down, of course.

Even books from the Three Kingdoms or Goryeo Dynasty are not properly preserved today because of constant wars and the ravages of time.

So, collecting and storing private materials is a necessary task for the benefit of future generations.

The question is: where will the staff to run this come from?

‘Hmm…’

I didn’t think it was necessary to train professional librarians at this stage, so I briefly considered alternative approaches.

‘It would be ideal to utilize existing personnel on a rotational basis from somewhere…’

To do that, I’d need to tap into individuals with extensive knowledge of or experience with books.

The conclusion came quickly.

“Then it has to be a school.”

I muttered, clapping my hands.

After all, schools have plenty of students who would use it, and a high demand for books.

===

While professional public libraries didn’t exist in this era, there were places that served a similar function.

Scholars at Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution] would often borrow books from the attached library for their studies, and government officials would consult old documents in the libraries attached to their offices.

Since the user base was limited, it was a stretch to call them public libraries in the way I envisioned.

The latter case was quite familiar to me.

‘Should I think of it as a kind of law school library?’

I remember accidentally wandering into that area while searching for the bathroom during a university festival.

‘When I came to my senses, it was a study room from hell, filled with the walking dead…!’

I recall seeing the oppressive darkness and the fierce glares of the upperclassmen, and I quickly turned tail and ran.

Anyway, even though what I was building wasn’t a reading room for scholars, but a full-fledged public library, it wasn’t a completely absurd concept for Joseon people.

“What if we send books to each school and *hyanggyo* [local Confucian academies] to manage?”

Initially, everyone welcomed my suggestion with open arms.

“Who could possibly oppose His Highness’s noble desire to promote education?”

Everyone was beaming at the prospect of free books flooding the country.

However, their faces soon fell when I presented my requirements for library management.

“I will provide support, provided you can manage it according to these guidelines.”

“Your… Your Highness?”

Their faces stiffened.

The [Library Management Guidelines] I had written were as follows:

– When buying or receiving books as donations, be sure to record the date and purchase history.

– Classify each book by subject and assign a number to facilitate access and management.

– The current official is in charge of the library, responsible for tracking books entering and leaving, and must verify the record during handovers, and be responsible for its management.

– The current official regularly checks the storage conditions of the books and arranges them to prevent moisture or moths.

…

“W-Wouldn’t this greatly increase the burden on the current official?”

Did they think they could just receive expensive books for free?

Books are also property, so we must thoroughly prevent them from being lost carelessly or from collusion to embezzle them.

“However, the current official is only one person, so how can he handle all these tasks?”

In short, they felt the workload was too heavy to easily comply with all these regulations.

The solution I proposed was simple.

“Then select students with good conduct and pay them to assist the current official.”

That’s right, work-study students.

Isn’t the library the most common place to find work-study students in modern times?

“Then those from poor families will be able to solve their financial difficulties while accessing books—wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?”

“…”

The second issue concerned lending.

I tried to push for the introduction of identity verification and lending cards, but this was blocked by the concerns of government officials.

“Your Highness, how can precious books be allowed to be taken out carelessly?”

“Thieves targeting books will be rampant everywhere!”

It’s said that book thieves aren’t really thieves, but that’s nonsense.

Especially since I’m working hard to lower the price of books through printing, but the supply is still insufficient, there was some truth to their words.

I thought it would be acceptable to only allow people with confirmed identities to enter by checking their *hopae* [identification tags], but even so, it was difficult to allay the officials’ concerns.

“Furthermore, the current officials have to track the return dates of the books they lent out, which increases their burden too much.”

In the end, only the reading-in-place system could be allowed for now.

And finally, the most important issue: the user base.

“How can a scholar use the library alongside vulgar commoners?”

“Furthermore, men and women are different, so allowing women to read books together is…”

I felt a throbbing in the back of my head when I heard that.

‘Well, it’s a natural thing to say in this era.’

But what was my reason for establishing a library in the first place?

Wasn’t the purpose to allow various kinds of people to use various kinds of books?

“Schools and *hyanggyo* are run by the country, so why are you arguing? I will exclude any places that do not adhere to this principle from the project!”

To avoid being criticized—like, ‘There’s a *hyanggyo* where students share books because they don’t even have the Four Books and Three Classics? *Ppusyungppasyung* [onomatopoeia for grumbling],’—they would have to listen to me.

‘Is separating the zones and allowing them to use them the limit?’

Well, some reading rooms in modern times separate men and women, so this is acceptable.

In particular, there was also the goal of not interfering with students preparing for the civil service exam.

‘Whether it’s the past or now, the fact that they pour all their energy into studying for exams doesn’t change.’

The purpose of Confucian studies is to cultivate the mind and govern the country, but how many people actually pursue such values?

There was no choice but to accept the fact that the idea that the sole purpose of studying was to pass the civil service exam and make a name for oneself was deeply rooted in the literati.

“For these people, Confucian scriptures may be ‘practical’ books.”

Looking at the books I’m trying to distribute, they might scoff at the idea of learning various techniques from miscellaneous books that don’t even appear on the civil service exam, asking what they would use them for.

However, contrary to their thoughts, isn’t studying something that covers a truly limitless area?

There will be plenty of people who are interested in books on ginseng and shiitake mushroom cultivation, or books on seaweed or pearl farming, and technical books that people interested in commerce or industry are looking for will gradually be distributed around the library.

Then the country will develop even further.

To do that, the literate population must first increase.

In the end, it’s that damn Chinese character; Chinese characters are the problem.

===

Juso-hwa, who had mainly stayed in the palace until now, was very excited to see the bustling scenery of Hanyang [old name for Seoul].

“Look, it’s the market!”

There must be markets like this in Nanjing [old capital of China].

On a much larger scale.

“Of course, the market in Nanjing is bigger, but… I’ve never seen it.”

She muttered gloomily.

Growing up in the palace, she didn’t have many opportunities to visit the markets where commoners set up stalls.

Well, since they bind women’s feet, it wouldn’t be surprising if they kept the palace gates tightly locked.

“So, everything I do with you is for the first time. Remember that.”

Juso-hwa poked my stomach.

“Actually, even if you had seen it, it wouldn’t have been much different. I’ve seen both, and Hanyang is better than Nanjing.”

I revealed my pride as the builder of Hanyang.

It was the best masterpiece I had created after falling into Joseon, so it was only natural.

Then Juso-hwa suddenly said with a sulky face.

“But Nanjing is more splendid!”

I was dumbfounded when the girl who had been admiring the Hanyang market just now changed her tune.

“You haven’t even seen it, have you?”

“Even if I haven’t seen it, I’ve heard a lot about it, so I know everything!”

“Okay, okay, let’s both respect each other’s opinions. Of course, I’m right and you’re wrong.”

“Even just looking at the imperial palace, it can’t be compared to Joseon… Ah, it’s annoying!”

Juso-hwa pounded on my chest.

After bickering for a while, Juso-hwa, who had calmed down, asked.

“But why did you suddenly ask me to go out?”

“To show you this place.”

We arrived near the Dongbu School, at a dark gray cement and concrete building.

Clearly, the pillars and walls were made of concrete using bamboo, but the roof was tiled, giving it a rather bizarre *chimera hanok* [traditional Korean house] feel.

Juso-hwa’s expression soured when she saw it.

“It’s not a building I want to go into.”

“…”

I felt like a dagger had been stabbed into my heart.

My masterpiece is being treated like this.

‘Gray buildings are like a symbol of civilization invented by mankind.’

Above all, there was a practical reason.

If a fire broke out in a library storing books, it would all burn down.

So, in order to prevent the books that had been collected with such difficulty from being lost due to an absurd fire, the library had to be built with concrete.

We were already manufacturing lime and concrete for the New Village Movement [a modernization project], so building a building of this size was an easy task.

Indeed, there were quite a few people gathered inside the building. Most of them were handsome scholars, but surprisingly, there were quite a few commoners who looked well-off.

‘I was worried that there would be a protest saying that all the lowly people should leave.’

In fact, today’s outing was also a way to confirm that.

However, the lines of movement between men and women and between the upper and lower classes were separated, and no disturbances occurred, knowing that the country would not stand still.

“Which books do the guests look for the most?”

When I grabbed the current official and asked, he answered in embarrassment.

“The *Samganghaengsildo* [an illustrated book on moral conduct].”

“It always turns out like this.”

Even in modern times, when you go to the library, kids are always grabbing books like *The Very Hungry Caterpillar* and won’t let go.

“Then what about the scholars who are studying? Is it still the Four Books and Three Classics?”

I asked if I should keep a few more copies if there was a lot of demand, and the current official answered in embarrassment.

“Ah, no.”

“Then?”

If they don’t read the Four Books and Three Classics, which are the math textbooks of this era, what on earth are they reading?

“S-Scholars also look for the *Samganghaengsildo* the most.”

“…”

Then, a scholar who was reading the *Samganghaengsildo* while holding the Analects next to him and trying not to laugh came into my view.

‘You guys should study a little.’

Don’t cry later saying, ‘Sorry, Mom.’

===

The establishment of the library and the distribution of various books that I carried out this time was also important for the dignity of the royal family.

The king of this country was also a Confucian scholar.

Of course, the kings around me were closer to butchers than scholars, but nominally that’s the story.

The same was true of Yi Bang-won making Gyemija [bronze movable type], so this cause also stood to gain quite a bit from this project.

So Yi Bang-won’s expression was very bright.

“I thought you were following in the footsteps of the Grand King and the Former King, but I am relieved that you are paying attention to such things.”

“Yes? No, why did you think I was following in their footsteps?”

I jumped up and protested.

I swear I have never tried to resemble those human weapons.

But Yi Bang-won looked at me and said.

“…Wouldn’t you know that better than anyone else?”

It’s unfair, sigh.

“Do you know that the civil service exam is being held in Hanyang this time?”

“Yes, how could I not know.”

I answered casually.

Phew, it’s a good thing I usually wander around Hanyang.

That’s why Hanyang is so noisy, saying they’re holding the civil service exam.

“Do you know whether it’s the preliminary exam or the main exam?”

“…”

Yi Bang-won sighed and said.

“It is good to train strong soldiers and make instruments, but the king of this country must pay great attention to literature and reason.”

Indeed, it’s a statement worthy of someone who passed the civil service exam.

“I’ll never take the civil service exam in my life, so I might not know, hehe.”

In the first place, both the preliminary exam and the main exam are held in Hanyang, so it’s confusing.

“How can the guy who has to govern the officials who passed the civil service exam not be interested?”

But once you enter college, people forget when the SAT is.

Yi Bang-won looked at me with a reproachful look and said.

“Make the exhibition problem this time.”

End

ⓒ Pitkong