Black Corporation: Joseon

After deciding on the plan to educate Japanese exchange students and use them as apprentice officials, Sejong, who had been observing the situation, proposed a radical measure.

“What about appointing women as officials?”

At Sejong’s proposal, Lee Jik asked Sejong with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Surely not?’

“Are you talking about formal officials, not teachers?”

“That’s right.”

At Sejong’s answer, the ministers’ faces turned pale.5

It was the early Joseon period, which guaranteed stronger women’s rights both absolutely and relatively compared to the mid and late Joseon periods. However, it fell short compared to the previous Goryeo dynasty, and women’s rights had weakened enormously compared to the ancient Three Kingdoms period.

Therefore, the ministers immediately expressed negative opinions.

“Women’s learning is shallow…”

“Those women with shallow learning are teaching children in the Commoner’s School.”

“Aren’t women inherently petty and lack the capacity to discuss state affairs?”

“There was Wu Zetian who led the country during the period called ‘Wu Zhou’s Rule,’ though opinions are divided on her.”

“Wu Zetian is a bit…”

“Fine. Let’s say Wu Zetian was extreme and think about this. No matter how good the seed, if the field is bad, you can’t get a good harvest. Can talented individuals be born if the mother’s innate qualities are poor?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Half the world is women, do you think it’s right that talent only comes from men?”

“…”

As Sejong’s words were reasonable, the ministers raised objections in a different direction.

“Even now, government officials work overtime and night duties as if it’s their daily bread. No head of household would like his wife or daughter wandering the streets late at night or spending the night outside.”

“Even now, women are walking the streets of Hanseong at night. Legally, at that.”

“…”

At Sejong’s point, the ministers had to close their mouths.

***

Joseon had legally designated a nighttime curfew.

The Annals of King Taejong’s first year, in May, had the following record:

– Those who violate the curfew after the third point of the first watch and before the third point of the fifth watch shall all be arrested.

In simple terms, it prohibited movement from 8 PM to 4:30 AM.

However, as this caused tremendous damage to people’s lives, the curfew hours gradually decreased.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, during King Sejo’s era, the nighttime curfew was relaxed to the second to fourth watches – from 10 PM to 3 AM – and was finalized in the Great Code of Administration as from after the second watch to before the fifth watch.

Interestingly, those subject to this nighttime curfew were limited to men – a gender-differentiated curfew system.

Joseon, which adopted Neo-Confucianism as its national ideology, applied strict gender segregation laws.

According to these laws, women of the nobility and merchant classes could only stay at home during the day and go out at night, while men couldn’t go outside at night. (Note 1)

That’s why the ministers fell silent at Sejong’s words.

***

After refuting the ministers’ objections, Sejong dangled the bait.

“Let’s think about it the other way around. Isn’t it because we’re short on people that officials are working overtime and night duties as if it’s their daily bread? But if we have enough personnel, won’t there be no need for overtime and night duties? Then women won’t have to work late or spend nights outside, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Although logically overwhelmed by Sejong’s words, the ministers continued to oppose.

“Your Majesty’s intention is lofty and beautiful, but there will be strong resistance.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s point, Sejong scoffed.

“Hmph! If they don’t like seeing women wearing official hats, tell them to sit at home and take the civil service exam instead of just quoting Confucius and Mencius! Don’t just sit at home with buttocks heavier than those of stone Buddhas in mountain temples! We can’t even do our work properly because we’re short on people, what nonsense are you talking! Don’t you all know the current situation of the court! Right now, I feel like dragging in even those monks worshipping Buddha in the temples. But I’m holding back for fear of someone like the evil monk Sin Don from the end of the previous dynasty emerging!”

Sejong’s last words were a strong warning.

‘Should I open the way for women? Or should I give power back to the monks? Choose.’

In the end, the ministers had to make a choice.

“We will contemplate methods to carry out Your Majesty’s intentions.”

“I look forward to it. This is an important period to prepare for 10 years from now. Although it’s not voluntary, since it’s come to this, think of it as catching our breath. Don’t forget that we must forge ahead even more from 10 years on, building our foundations as if catching our urgent breath.”

At Sejong’s admonition, the ministers bowed their heads and answered.

“We will engrave it in our bones and hearts.”

The court historian who recorded all this added:

-Thus, when His Majesty admonished, the ministers answered that they would engrave it in their bones and hearts.

The historian says:

It’s true that there’s a shortage of people to work in this court right now. However, appointing women to official positions is something that should be decided only after careful consideration many times over.

This situation has come about, as His Majesty said, because of those who waste their time sitting idle at home.

If their insight is so bright, it’s natural that they should enter official service, but they’re petty individuals who just move their mouths while holed up in their rooms.

Right now, they should all be thrown into the Office of Records…

“What is the historian writing so diligently? My words ended a while ago.”

The historian who was writing, criticizing the ‘scholars who just make noise while holed up in their rooms,’ immediately bowed his head at Sejong’s words.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“A historian’s job is to record the affairs of the court, not to record private feelings. It seems the historians have been too leisurely lately. It wouldn’t be bad to adjust the personnel allocation.”

“Please show mercy!”

At Sejong’s words, the historian with a tearful face immediately bowed his head.

Seeing this, another historian busily moved his brush.

-Thus, when His Majesty mentioned personnel adjustment, the historian who became the subject quickly begged for forgiveness.

The historian says:

Threatening someone with their weaknesses is not befitting of a great person.

How could His Majesty do something like a petty person…

“Are you now doing something else too? Perhaps we should adjust the personnel…”

“Please spare us!”

The two historians with tearful faces had to keep bowing their heads.

Watching this scene from the side, Hyang smiled bitterly and muttered inwardly.

‘Father won’t be getting any good words from the historians. Even with cross-verification, it’ll be full of criticism.’

***

During the Joseon Dynasty, whenever the king and ministers discussed state affairs, two historians always attended.

This was not only to prevent interruptions in recording due to toilet issues or other urgent situations but also to prevent malicious manipulation.

Two historians recorded the same event so that when compiling the Annals later, they could cross-verify.

***

Thus, after the tumultuous meeting ended, the ministers and Hyang who were in Geunjeongjeon Hall came out.

Hyang, who was heading towards the Crown Prince’s Palace, stopped walking and looked at Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Advancing women is one thing, but how are you going to solve the problems of parental leave and career breaks…”

Hyang, who was worrying about the solution to a problem that was an important controversy even in the 21st century, burst into laughter.

“Hah! Oh my, oh my…”

‘I forgot! What kind of person he is…’

Sejong was the first to institutionalize maternity leave for female government slaves and paternity leave for their husbands.

As Hyang was chuckling and turning around, he suddenly turned back to look at Geunjeongjeon Hall again.

“Wait, something’s strange…”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

At the words of the eunuch who was accompanying him, Hyang hurriedly waved his hand and turned around, but the smile had disappeared from his face.

‘Why? He opened the doors even to women? Why? If he was so worried about the shortage of talent, wouldn’t it have been easier to abolish slavery? There would have been less resistance than opening up to women? Why?’

Hyang was heading towards the Crown Prince’s Palace, tilting his head at the sudden curiosity.

***

The next day, Lee Jik visited Maeng Sa-seong’s house.

Thanks to it being an official holiday set by law, Lee Jik’s face was full of relaxation he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Hearing of Lee Jik’s visit, Maeng Sa-seong came out to the yard to welcome him.

“How did you come to this humble place on such a precious holiday?”

“I was at home, but I sensed they wanted me to pay for medicine…”

At Lee Jik’s joke, Maeng Sa-seong burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! You’re still in good harmony! Please drink!”

As they settled in the guest room, a modest drinking table with wild vegetables was soon brought in.

“Let’s have a game of Go after a long time.”

“That sounds good!”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong brightened and brought the Go board that had been placed in one corner of the room.

The two exchanged drinks while playing Go.

Carefully placing a Go stone, Lee Jik spoke to Maeng Sa-seong.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About His Majesty’s intention to open the door of appointment even to women.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong put down a Go stone and fell into thought with his arms folded. As Maeng Sa-seong was lost in thought, Lee Jik continued.

“His Majesty must have anticipated that those noisy fellows wouldn’t stay quiet. Don’t you think?”

“He probably did.”

“Even though their numbers have drastically decreased due to that unspeakable incident in the year of Giyu, there are still those who keep making noise. I don’t understand why he created something for those guys to make noise about.”

Seemingly frustrated, Lee Jik filled the cup beside him with alcohol and drained it in one gulp before continuing.

“There was an easier way to go. Namely, abolishing slavery.”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong silently nodded.

Maeng Sa-seong didn’t open his mouth after that. After pondering for a long time, Maeng Sa-seong slowly opened his mouth.

“Minister, do you know the situation of the slaves in Joseon now?”

“I know roughly. They’re gradually decreasing after taxing slaves as property.”

“That’s the case for private slaves, but government slaves haven’t decreased much. To be precise, the number of those who were government slaves from before has decreased, but the number of those who have newly become government slaves has exploded.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Lee Jik’s eyes widened as he briefly recalled his memories.

“No way! From the year of Giyu?”

At Lee Jik’s words, Maeng Sa-seong nodded.

“Those implicated in the rebellion of the year of Giyu. As long as they exist alive, His Majesty will never mention abolishing slavery.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s assertion, Lee Jik’s expression turned bitter.

“I see.”

Looking at Lee Jik’s expression, Maeng Sa-seong continued.

“I still remember what the previous king said about His Majesty. ‘Chungyeong may seem weak, but when he makes a decision, he’s more resolute than anyone else.’ Seeing how His Majesty thinks about the royal ancestral shrine, the state, and the people, he would be worthy of being recorded as more than a wise king, even a sage king. But there’s something we must not forget.”

“He’s an absolute monarch and a dictator.”

“That’s right. If you think about the cases of Minister Ryu Jeong-hyeon and other ministers in the past, it’s certain. As long as there are beings that could make the royal authority unstable, His Majesty will never abolish the slave system. The same goes for the system of guilt by association.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Lee Jik, with a bitter taste in his mouth, filled his cup with alcohol and drained it in one gulp. But the bitter taste still remained in his mouth.

***

At the same time, Hyang, sitting alone in the Crown Prince’s Palace organizing his thoughts, also had a bitter expression.

“Unless it’s a constitutional monarchy, the essence is an absolute monarchy…”

Those who masterminded and carried out the Giyu Rebellion were all killed.

Those who are now working in mines as government slaves are their children or relatives who were punished by association.

In a way, they could be victims of the inhumane system of guilt by association, but in the context of this era, they were potential traitors who directly inherited the ideology of the rebellion leaders.

As long as there are those who plotted national rebellion and those who directly inherited that thinking, the abolition of slavery would never be implemented.

***

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Entry on Nighttime Curfew.

http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0035247