There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 318

319. The Great Stone Face

Hyoryeong said it was a project he was undertaking at the request of Jingwansa Temple in Bukhansan [a prominent mountain in Seoul], which he frequented.

‘If my maternal uncle hadn’t told me, I would have been helpless.’

I understand that he’s excited about the abolition of the anti-Buddhist policy and the revival of Buddhism, but this country is still a Confucian state.

Jingwansa Temple seemed to want to erect a Buddhist relic with Grand Prince Hyoryeong as its backer, but if it becomes public and the matter grows, even Hyoryeong can’t do anything about it.

I appreciate the stone statue bribe, though.

“I cannot allow the carving of a Buddha image on Samgaksan [another name for Bukhansan], the central mountain.”

‘I could push it through, but why bother?’

I don’t particularly want to be known as a Buddhist monarch.

Love and peace, religious harmony, maybe.

My brother’s face quickly filled with disappointment at these words, but there was nothing I could do.

“I’ll allow you to carve it somewhere else that’s not noticeable, other than Baegundae Peak [the highest peak of Bukhansan].”

I need to have something to say when I go to Jingwansa Temple.

‘But the idea is too good to waste.’

Baegundae Peak is entirely made of granite and has an open view.

You could say it’s the perfect place to carve a stone statue.

So, that’s where they were going to put the Maae Buddha [a Buddha image carved into a rock face].

“How far has the construction progressed?”

“We are creating a path with ropes and railings because the approach is difficult.”

“Good, continue with that construction.”

“?”

Hyoryeong, who had been contemplating withdrawing from Baegundae Peak until just now, widened his eyes.

“Didn’t you say to withdraw from Baegundae Peak?”

“I said not to carve a Buddha, but there’s no law saying you can’t carve other people.”

I said, looking at Grand Prince Hyoryeong.

“How about carving the face of our dynasty’s founder on Baegundae Peak?”

Grand Prince Hyoryeong blinked at my words.

“…Are you out of your mind?”

I immediately looked around and smacked my brother on the head.

– Thwack!

“There’s no limit to what you can’t say to your older brother.”

A thoughtless word can ruin a person.

Your brother is even giving you a warning, always telling you to be careful like this.

Where else would you find a brother as kind as me?

“Anyway, if they’re carving a Buddha, why can’t they carve an emperor?”

The moment I heard that they were carving a stone statue on the top of Bukhansan’s Baegundae Peak, only one thing came to my mind.

‘Isn’t that…?’

The Mount Rushmore presidential sculptures.

‘Isn’t this also a kind of Maae Buddha?’

Since carving the image of Buddha on a rock is called Maae Buddha.

If I had to name it, it would be Maae President.

If America has four presidents who led the country’s revival, this Joseon also has three kings… four kings.

“But isn’t this unprecedented?”

“Listen.”

I slowly explained to my stiff-headed brother.

“Since ancient times, our country has carved the image of Buddha on rocks. Is that to insult Buddha? Or to venerate Buddha?”

“Of course, it’s to venerate him.”

“Then, what about carving an emperor?”

“To venerate him… is it?”

Hyoryeong’s face showed a ‘Is that so?’ expression.

‘This is all tourism resources.’

Future generations will be truly amazed at how we came up with this idea.

‘Since it’s a project that would have been scuttled by opposition anyway, it’s no problem for me to take it over.’

I protected my brother and didn’t make his previous construction efforts go to waste.

On top of that, I’m creating a fantastic tourist attraction, so it’s a win-win situation.

‘This is the strategy of an emperor.’

I’ll take the idea, brother.

===

After the Lord Superior Yi Je won the victory, Joseon officially designated the Five Sacred Mountains and held rituals.

The Five Sacred Mountains were selected from historically significant and famous mountains: Baekdusan in the north, Jirisan in the south, Myohyangsan in the west, Geumgangsan in the east, and Samgaksan in the center.

Bukhansan, or Samgaksan, is the Jungak (Central Peak) and the Jinsan (Guardian Mountain) of Seoul, so the country values it as a sacred mountain.

‘To carve a Maae Buddha here!’

No matter how great Grand Prince Hyoryeong Yi Bo’s power is as a member of the royal family, he cannot dare to touch this place.

Strictly speaking, there are Maae Buddhas carved on every mountain, but it’s a different story when the Grand Prince directly sponsors it.

You might say, what is this nonsense when Taejo Yi Seong-gye [the first king of Joseon] was a devout Buddhist? But originally, the royal family had to set an example for all the scholars.

Even now, the Sarons [public opinion or scholarly factions] did not look kindly on Grand Prince Hyoryeong, who was protecting the heretics who were enemies of the scholars.

Moreover, this is not simply publishing Buddhist scriptures in Hangeul [the Korean alphabet], rebuilding temples, or sponsoring Buddhist social projects.

He is going to mobilize several stonemasons to carve the image of Buddha on the summit of Bukhansan.

Min In-saeng was still busy preparing for the founding of Sunbosa, but the scholars’ opinions were heatedly rising due to the rumors that had spread by word of mouth.

As the appearance of the summit, where something was being carved, was clearly visible from below, the news could not help but spread.

“I heard that Jingwansa Temple urged Grand Prince Hyoryeong to carve a Maae Buddha!”

“How can the Grand Prince, even though he is a member of the royal family, carve the image of Buddha on the mountains and rivers at will?”

“The Grand Prince’s actions have gone too far!”

Originally, Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s presence was not very significant compared to the Lord Superior and Grand Prince Chungnyeong’s recognition among the royal family.

However, it was different in the eyes of the scholars.

The Lord Superior is originally the Lord Superior, and Grand Prince Chungnyeong is the pride of the royal family with his deep knowledge.

Moreover, he was the head of Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute], a gathering place for elite scholars, so attacking him would only make each other blush.

However, there was not much to be wary of with Grand Prince Hyoryeong.

A crossfire of appeals and impeachments was about to pour down on this heretic of the royal family.

A strange announcement flowed out from the court.

===

The vassals now know.

That I never give up on a project once I’m hooked on it.

“If the construction managed by Grand Prince Hyoryeong is to carve the faces of the successive founders, it does not seem to be a big problem.”

‘These people, they don’t even care because it’s not a Buddha statue.’

Originally, there would have been at least a word about the necessity, but thanks to Hyoryeong giving them a vaccine in advance, they have become in ‘Well, anything is fine as long as it’s not Buddha’ mode.

The same goes for public opinion in the wilderness.

The scholars, who seemed like they would establish a Bukhansan Rock Protection Struggle Headquarters, were all convinced by the edict to carve the face of the emperor instead of Buddha. It couldn’t be easier.

Overall, the public opinion cooled down, saying, ‘Do whatever you want.’

However, there was one person who became even more heated by this announcement.

“This time,,, you’ll include me,,, right,,,?”

“Hmm, I’m considering it.”

“You son of a,,, if you’re not going to include me,,, you might as well strip me of my title as Retired King [Sangwang, a king who abdicated the throne],,,”

‘Ugh.’

It would be a mess if my great-uncle even threatened to abdicate.

I was planning to include you from the beginning.

“Re,,, really,,,!”

“Of course.”

Originally, I was thinking of carving the Six Dragons of Haedong [a Korean epic poem praising the ancestors of the Joseon Dynasty], but it seems like there won’t be enough space.

‘And then I can’t get in either.’

If I, who came up with the idea, can’t get in, what kind of blunder is this?

The design of banknotes can be changed over time, but you can’t enter this Joseon Rushmore belatedly.

So, carving the four emperors who actually reigned is a rational choice.

“How can I leave out my great-uncle?”

“Is that so,,,?”

Yi Bang-gwa’s face lit up.

“I thought,,, I didn’t know if I would even receive a proper posthumous title when I die,,,”

“Hey, surely that won’t happen?”

Even if my great-uncle is a figurehead, there’s no way I wouldn’t give him a posthumous title.

===

In this era, there is no proper path to the summit, so it takes quite a while to get into full-scale construction.

‘And I don’t know how long it will take to sculpt.’

Maybe it will take several years.

‘It would be good to have the design ready in advance.’

Of course, we can’t go there in person to show our faces.

“Shouldn’t Your Majesty also draw a picture?”

Yi Seong-gye, who died, already has a portrait that he had drawn during his lifetime.

The Retired King and the Former King also had portraits drawn in the past.

But the problem was me.

Other kings can copy the portraits they drew in advance when designing the stone statues, but I have to draw a new portrait from scratch.

‘I didn’t think I needed to draw a portrait because I’m still young.’

It is common to draw a picture after reaching a certain level of maturity.

Moreover, drawing a picture itself is not an easy task.

You have to sit still for hours until the picture is finished.

‘I could just tell them to draw it roughly since it’s for reference.’

Still, it’s not easy to give up on a face that will remain on the rock for hundreds of years…!

The Retired King and the Former King seemed to think the same way.

“The Former Kings have already drawn portraits, haven’t they?”

“Ahem,,, that’s that,,,”

“How can I tell you to draw a picture carelessly when it’s a face that will remain for a long time? The portraits were drawn too long ago and lack mature charm.”

The portraits are not displayed in an open place, and there are not many people who will see them, but the face to be carved on Baegundae Peak is different.

‘How much better should I draw…’

I don’t have a portrait, so I’m getting a new one, but the two of you should be satisfied and step back.

As the Former Kings’ demands were high, it was natural that the painters had a hard time.

An Gyeon [a famous Joseon painter] and other skilled painters were all called out and put into the painting.

Of course, it was really difficult to handle the nagging of the two Retired Kings who had retired and had nothing to do.

“I have drawn many pictures so far, but this is the first time I have had such a difficult task.”

An Gyeon clicked his tongue.

The painters rushed to me.

“Your Majesty, please stop the two Former Majesties. At this rate, even if all the painters of the Dohwaseo [Royal Painting Academy] are attached, they will not be able to finish the work.”

‘Actually, that’s right.’

At this rate, my portrait schedule may be delayed.

I’m already calling the painters from time to time to draw portraits because of the accumulated workload.

‘This is not something to do.’

From my point of view, portraits are also frustrating.

I can’t draw portraits quickly, and as someone who has internalized the principle of ‘quickly, quickly’, I can’t stand it.

Of course, just as modern presidents don’t draw portraits because they don’t have cameras, portraits have their own value…

‘Wait.’

Photography.

I think I’ve heard about the basic principles somewhere.

The problem is always realization.

Fortunately, there are plenty of talented people in this country, Joseon, who can take care of it from there.

As expected, there are many wise ministers under a wise king.

===

“So, you’re saying that the image seen through this gap is printed out as a picture as it is?”

Jang Yeong-sil [a famous Joseon inventor], who was looking at the light coming through the hole in the box, opened his mouth falteringly.

“That’s right!”

Yi Je exclaimed, saying that he understood it at once, as expected of Jang Yeong-sil.

Jang Yeong-sil also exclaimed.

If it is as the Lord Superior said, even those who do not have the talent of a painter can leave a vivid picture.

Above all, the gap between the real thing and the picture will be greatly reduced.

Jang Yeong-sil, as an inventor, opened his mouth with tremendous excitement and curiosity.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Does such a thing exist in the world?”

“You have to make it from now on.”

“……”

I got caught again.

Jang Yeong-sil shut his mouth.

The Great Stone Face End

ⓒ Pitkong