There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 320

321. < Weeding Out (1) >

The photograph of the royal family hung in His Majesty’s chambers.

As it was a photograph owned by the King, no one could carelessly view it. However, rumors about the photograph spread by word of mouth, even beyond the palace walls, and there was no way to stop them.

In fact, there was no reason to stop them.

“They say that if you take a picture with that thing called a ‘camera,’ you get a painting that’s better than any artist could draw.”

“I’ve heard that too. They say if you wait just a moment, a picture pops right out?”

“I heard there was some kind of figure in the photograph taken at the royal palace…”

Since the days of the old ‘Eastern Palace Items’ [referring to novelties and curiosities associated with the Crown Prince’s residence], newly invented objects have been the subject of intense interest among pleasure-seekers.

Even if it sounded expensive, a photograph or two was not a bad way for the rich and curious to flaunt their wealth.

As the photograph suddenly gained attention, some people felt the heat.

“Haven’t we stirred up trouble ourselves?”

“Damn it, it’s only natural that Their Majesties would complain when painting portraits, but what’s the big deal…”

The invention of the photograph was shocking news to the officials working in the Bureau of Painting [a government office responsible for producing art for the royal court].

Their only skill learned throughout their lives was painting, but what would they do if this thing called a photograph suddenly appeared?

They say that if you take a picture, it’s copied exactly like a mirror.

The painters of the Bureau of Painting were worried that their livelihoods would be cut off immediately.

“Do not worry.”

However, Ahn Gyeon said calmly.

“Although this thing called a photograph has just been made, its price is still so high that only wealthy officials with money to burn will use it for entertainment. Ordinary people won’t even dare to think about it.”

“Doesn’t ‘yet’ mean that the price will eventually become cheaper!”

However, that did not soothe the painters’ anxiety.

The world these days was truly bizarre.

When they first appeared, the prices of items soared to the sky, and people longed to get them, but as time passed, they gradually became easier to obtain.

Not to mention sugar, which even the King had difficulty tasting properly, or salt, which was directly related to the price of food on the table.

Even the various devices invented by His Majesty became cheaper over time as more people made them and sold them.

Usually, these painters welcomed such changes, but when they felt a serious threat to their livelihoods, they could only resent the birth of the photograph.

The photograph may be expensive now, but there was no knowing what would happen in the future.

No, surely a world would come someday where anyone could take pictures.

The painters living in the world opened up by King Yi Je did not doubt it.

“So, we must find another way in the meantime.”

Ahn Gyeon said.

“Are you saying we should stop painting?”

When the senior painters looked at him with eyes that said, ‘How can you say such a thing when you’re also a painter?’ Ahn Gyeon hurriedly waved his hands.

“How could this humble servant say such a thing? I have only realized something from painting various kinds of pictures.”

Then, Ahn Gyeon held up a painting that he had just finished sketching with a pencil.

The painting he held up was an illustration for the memoirs commissioned by the Retired King from the Bureau of Painting.

“Can you take a picture of this kind of painting?”

It was a scene of the Retired King in his youth, surrounded by thirty Japanese pirates, with the energy around him swirling like a storm as he awakened.

Around the Retired King, whose exaggerated muscles were twitching, dozens of lines were drawn, naturally focusing the viewer’s attention on the center.

“······!”

Ahn Gyeon’s talent was, without a doubt, exceptional.

Even the painters who had been grumbling until just now paid attention in an instant.

“This is the path we must take.”

“Are you talking about the Retired King’s illustrations?”

“It doesn’t have to be this kind of painting. Anyway, there will be people who like portraits more than photographs, and landscapes drawn in ink may be better than photographs.

Perhaps people will value paintings that fully capture the essence of a person’s heart more highly than that thing called a photograph.”

No matter how developed photography becomes, can it capture the Retired King in his youth, or a dragon soaring ten thousand miles?

Of course, just as they could not imagine the photograph, similar things may come out in the future…

But at that time, wouldn’t there be new paths in their own way?

===

I glared at the photograph.

‘Why do I have such restless dreams ever since I hung that thing up?’

It must be just my imagination.

I shook my head.

I should replace it with a portrait when it’s drawn later.

Even though I invented the photograph, I have no intention of getting rid of the tradition of drawing portraits.

It will be a cultural heritage in its own way if I make it so.

The Bureau of Painting was delighted when they received a definite answer that they would continue to produce portraits.

‘I’m not planning to draw it right away, though.’

Portraits take too long.

After taking family photos and individual photos of our kings, the stone construction began in earnest.

It seemed that many stonemasons, who had greatly improved their skills by taking charge of the work commissioned by Grand Prince Hyoryeong and the Buddhist community, were dedicated to the task.

It might be completed sooner than I thought.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t Joseon now experiencing a golden age of art?’

I hadn’t paid much attention to it until now, so I hadn’t taken care of it separately, but it seems that it’s developing on its own because people are getting better off and various tools and materials are being developed.

The field is also diverse, ranging from literature such as poetry and novels to painting, sculpture, and architecture, and an overall qualitative improvement is felt.

In the future, historians may evaluate this era as the ‘Renaissance led by the artistic monarch Yi Je.’

If that happens, the public housing complex I’m putting my heart and soul into may be re-evaluated in terms of its artistic aspects someday.

‘Yes, I need to show that our King has unexpectedly artistic qualities.’

The kings of Joseon before me were people who would catch people if they didn’t like them, so that image was unfairly passed on to me.

‘My children might misunderstand their father when they grow up.’

I should try to solidify my image as an artistic monarch from now on.

As I became aware of it, my actions automatically became refined.

“What are you doing?”

“I am establishing the dignity of an artistic monarch.”

“Speaking of art, our Yong grabbed a brush during his first birthday celebration [a traditional Korean milestone]. It may be a sign that he will become a great literati painter in the future.”

“······.”

I was speechless at my younger brother’s boast, which was even more out of the blue.

“Stop talking nonsense. Recite the news from Liaodong.”

My younger brothers sent to Liaodong must be searching for the mines of Liaodong.

“They say that a lot of coal is produced in Fushun, as you said, brother. They say they will start developing from here.”

Do nodded and said.

The improved stove I made when I was a prince is now widely spread even in remote valleys.

Even with a simple structural change, the thermal efficiency can be greatly improved, so everyone is trying to change it.

In addition, as the country stabilized and the fire field people [people who practice controlled burning for agriculture] who had been hiding came out to cultivate the remaining land, indiscriminate logging was greatly reduced.

‘I’ve at least reduced my worries about the mountains being cut down.’

Coal will drive a wedge here.

Because it is one of the relatively easily obtainable energy sources.

“Is it easy to find workers?”

“There are so many people flowing into Liaodong these days that they are worried that there will be too many.”

Having too many workers is not a real concern.

If there is no place to absorb them, I can send them to East Manchuria as originally planned.

Unexpectedly, the part that needed attention was on the other side.

‘The White Lotus Rebellion has been completely suppressed.’

I recalled Wang Ho’s report.

Along with that, the number of refugees coming from Shandong has also increased significantly recently.

‘The White Lotus Sect.’

I have no intention of letting such cults run rampant.

===

A mining boom was taking place all over Liaodong.

It was a resource that was easy to extract from Liaodong right away, and it was also convenient to put in the increased number of refugees.

The refugees were now somewhat accustomed to the work.

The same was true of those from Shandong.

After finishing work, they were eating a snack in the corner, and when people disappeared around them, they whispered secretly.

“How is the situation of the sect these days?”

“Are you talking about the homeland? Or here?”

“There is no way to know about the homeland, and the situation was not very good when we crossed the sea. I am talking about the sect members in Liaodong.”

“It’s difficult. There are already countless people who have left the sect.”

“To betray after struggling through death.”

“Now that they have escaped death, there is no reason to remain in the sect.”

The rebellion led by Dang Sae-ah failed miserably in half a year.

In the beginning, it gained considerable momentum thanks to the chaotic situation in the Central Plains, but in the end, when the imperial court reorganized and launched a large-scale suppression, it could no longer hold out.

‘So I had to flee to Joseon.’

Those who had their last hope crushed because the rebellion failed had no choice but to find a new way to survive.

Joseon was close, and since Liaodong had just been acquired, the inside was still chaotic.

Dang Sae-ah, judging that it would be a good place to hide for a while, ordered them to head to Joseon to revive the sect in the East and build a Pure Land.

‘But far from increasing the sect’s power, even the existing sect members are gradually decreasing.’

At first, it was because they had no strength left to do anything due to the hard work.

However, as they became accustomed to the mining work, they realized that living in the mine was hard on their bodies, but they could make a decent living.

In particular, the workers in Liaodong eagerly awaited the store that opened after work.

“Come on, this is a drink called Hyeonju [a type of traditional Korean liquor]. We are giving it to the newcomers as a sign of encouragement.”

It was only served in a small water cup, but those who had been suffering from labor all day had their eyes wide open when they tasted it.

‘This is the Pure Land!’

“Don’t you want to have a cool Hyeonju and a chicken skewer after work?”

“O-Of course!”

“That’s good. You can eat as much as you want if you have money. We accept vouchers and money.”

The believers who had followed the White Lotus Sect even to the point of risking death lost their minds when they got even a small amount of money.

They joined the rebellion because they had nowhere else to retreat.

Although the work is hard and dangerous, they have a means of livelihood and a place to lie down, and when they can enjoy the small pleasures of life, they completely forget about the Pure Land.

The only part that could be exploited was religious comfort for the hard work, but even that was not easy.

“I’ve been to the construction site built by Yeongrak [referring to Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty] several times, but you’re the first to bring monks while making people work.”

Moreover, they even brought a high-ranking monk who was famous in the land of those barbarians.

“That guy called Bulno is the problem. He says he’s a high-ranking monk with great Dharma power, but he seems to have only learned how to seduce people!”

Bulno’s Dharma assembly was more like a festival than a Dharma assembly.

Instead of boring sermons, he had the accompanying musicians play exciting music, and those who came first danced, so even the people who were initially hesitant and cautious soon mingled without hesitation.

“I don’t know where that hermitage called Siruam is, but it must not be a proper dojo!”

“That’s what works well for proselytizing the barbarians.”

“The problem is that the same is true of our sect members.”

The White Lotus Sect members are secretly praying to avoid being exposed, but the Joseon people are openly holding Dharma assemblies under the protection of the princes.

If you ask which one to participate in, the latter will naturally be overwhelmingly dominant.

To counter this, even Dang Sae-ah, who led the White Lotus Sect, would have to step forward in person, but,

“The Buddha Mother cannot reveal herself directly…”

“Are you saying that the Buddha Mother is here?”

Of course, Dang Sae-ah, the leader of the rebellion, could not reveal her identity, even though she was in Joseon.

“You may not know because you are participating in this meeting for the first time. She came to Liaodong with the help of Shandong sect members some time ago.”

However, that level of information was enough for Joseon’s reach.

< Weeding Out (1) > End

ⓒ Pitkong