Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 371

Episode 371: Stagnation – Stillness (5)

In the debate that took place, the first to leave were those who argued for the ‘flat earth theory.’

Those who had just joined the institute and a group of alchemists argued for the ‘flat earth theory.’

“It has been said since ancient times that ‘the sky is round and the earth is square.’ “Of course the world is flat, right?”

Sunji Lee came forward and began to refute their claims.

“Do you not remember Zengzi’s words recorded in the ‘Great Book of Rites’? no way? “Have you not read it yet?”

“That…”

“That…”

Shaking her head, Sunji Lee continued as if admonishing.

“It is said in the Book of Daedaerye, ‘If the sky is really round and the earth is square, then the sky cannot cover the four corners of the earth.’ (Note 1) And didn’t the theory of armillary sphere come out already in the Later Han Dynasty?”

“That is…”

“Why is Armillary sphere called Armillary sphere?”

“But didn’t the armillary sphere theory also say that the ground is flat?”

In response to the researcher’s point about the planar theory, Sunji Lee went out for a moment and brought back dozens of books.

“This is data recorded when we first climbed Baekdudaegan for astronomical observations. “I confirmed this by looking at the arc-shaped horizon of the East Sea, and not only that, I also recorded solar and lunar eclipses, looking at their shapes.”

When Joseon researchers were silenced by Yi Sun-ji’s rebuttal, Marcos, an alchemist, retorted.

“The old Greek philosopher Thales said that the world is like a round disk shaped like a shield.”

Angelo opposed Marcos’ words.

“Thales? Have you forgotten that the great Aristotle refuted that theory? What about the brilliant name Pythagoras? “Didn’t those great men already prove that the Earth is a sphere?”

“It’s not proof!”

“substantiation? Eratosthenes already found the diameter of the Earth? “Shouldn’t we say that the verification has already been completed?”

After the war of words that continued, Hyang got caught in the middle.

“Then why don’t we prove it?”

“yes?”

In this way, the verification proceeded. Even if it was said to be empirical, it was merely a review of the data that had been accumulated – data obtained from observing the horizon when climbing a high mountain for astronomical observations, observation data obtained during civil engineering work such as road construction, etc. However, researchers debated and calculated intensely. And as a result, a conclusion was reached.

“This world is a sphere!”

* * *

As those who argued for the ‘flat earth theory’ fell away, a fight broke out between the ‘heliocentric theory’ and the ‘heliocentric theory’ faction.

As expected, the start was a time difference.

“I think the parallax problem is because the world is spinning.”

Researchers, both Koreans and foreigners alike, nodded at the remark of Hyang-ui Modu (冒頭 words or the beginning of a sentence).

“That is the most likely.”

“Calculations based on navigation records show that dividing time zones into regular intervals will make it easier to determine the time in a given region. Of course, there will be some errors.”

Based on the results of the research conducted so far, researchers have expressed opinions in one way or another.

‘Now that the board has been made, it’s time to throw the spark!’

The dark intentions were hidden deep within, and the scent continued to act naturally.

“By the way. “Isn’t everything that rotates supposed to have a center?”

“Is that so?”

The researchers stuttered out answers to the question about fragrance. The researchers who answered that question all had the same question in their minds.

‘Why is it suddenly the center?’

Knowing the researchers’ doubts, Hyang pointed out the real problem.

“Then where is the center? Is this this world? Or is it somewhere else?”

“yes?”

“huh?”

The researchers were momentarily confused by Hyang’s question. After a while, Angelo and Lee Soon-ji, who escaped their momentary state of cognitive dissonance, answered simultaneously.

“Of course this world is not the center?”

“Of course the sun isn’t the center?”

“huh?”

“uh?”

The two people who answered looked at each other.

“Did you say the world is the center?”

“The sun is the center?”

The two people shouted at the same time at their and the other person’s remarks.

“You are wrong!”

And the scent that caused this sadal was doing its best to hold back laughter.

‘It finally exploded!’

* * *

In this way, a fierce war of words began to break out between researchers who supported the geocentric theory and those who supported the heliocentric theory.

The researchers at the institute were divided into two factions, and a war of words broke out.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly divided into two factions. In addition to the two large factions, there were also a few smaller factions.

One was the wait-and-see faction represented by Jeong Cho and Jeong In-ji.

“If we support one side, it becomes a political issue, so we will just wait and see until the results come out.”

Another one was the Yihyeonryeongbihyeonryeong (earring if worn on the ear, nose ring if worn on the nose) school. They went back and forth between the two factions whenever they thought it was plausible.

The other was the indifferent group. The representative of this faction was Jinpyeong.

“What does it matter whether the earth rotates or the sky rotates? “Shut up, build railroads, and research iron horses!”

Hyang smiled bitterly at Jinpyeong’s reaction.

“Such a consistent bastard…”

Lastly, there was scent.

Researchers from all factions gave Hyang a nickname.

‘firebug.’

As they leisurely observed the situation, they raised controversial issues from time to time, and each time the two factions burned more fiercely.

* * *

In this fierce war of words between the two factions, the most central issue was the ‘orbit of the sun.’

“If you compare the summer solstice and winter solstice, the altitude of the sun is extremely different. If the sun revolves around this world, its orbit cannot be explained. “It’s so unreasonable.”

Angelo immediately responded to Sunji Lee’s claim.

“According to the laws discovered by the great Ptolemy, the orbits in which the stars move…”

Angelo explained Ptolemy’s theory.

Since it was a theory that had been refined for nearly 1,300 years since it was systematized by Ptolemy, it was showing considerable perfection.

As soon-ji Lee seemed to be pushed back by Angelo’s explanation, the fragrance sneaked in.

“I heard the explanation well. But as I listened, I became a little curious.”

“What are you curious about?”

At Angelo’s question, the scent threw another spark.

“If you look at the records of our Joseon Dynasty’s Seo-un-view, as well as the records of Jeonjo.”

Hyang posed a question about ‘apparent retrograde movement’.

Angelo answered the question about the fragrance without delay.

“ah! That’s it. According to Ptolemy’s research…”

Angelo explained using the concept of simultaneous minds. After hearing Angelo’s explanation, Hyang still showed an expression of uncertainty.

“What’s so complicated?”

“yes?”

At the question of incense, Angelo was both confused and wary.

What made Angelo wary was that the tone of the scent had changed.

The king and first prince of this country called Joseon had very unusual speaking habits.

If his subjects were working properly, he was polite and courteous. However, if the work was not done properly, politeness disappeared from the speech.

To be precise, basic manners were maintained, but respect was disappearing.

Thanks to this, it was customary for the officials of this country to turn white as soon as the King and First Prince’s tone changed and check their assigned tasks.

For that reason, the scent continued as it looked at Angelo’s tense face.

“As far as I know, I heard that truth and providence are not complicated at all. Old sages also said the same thing. But the theory you just mentioned is too complicated. “Isn’t this rather a departure from providence?”

‘E=mc² How simple and good!’

Angelo mumbled his answer to the scent’s comment.

“But Ptolemy’s theory and doctrine are the same…”

“As far as I know, Ptolemy was a person from more than 1,000 years ago. How much has the world changed and how much has knowledge increased? “Isn’t it right to look again from the beginning?”

Angelo, who was rather repulsed by Hyang’s criticism, spoke to Hyang.

“Then what are your thoughts?”

After hearing Angelo’s words, Hyang looked at Lee Soon-ji and continued speaking.

“This is what I thought while watching the discussion that has been going on, but it is not an exact theory, but closer to an idea.”

Hyang erased one side of the blackboard and picked up the chalk.

“Sim-won Lee, Dongsim-sim, don’t repeat complicated things. If the orbit is not a circle but an ellipse, and the sun is placed at the center of one of the two centers of this ellipse…”

Lee Sun-ji, who was looking at the picture drawn by Hyang, jumped up from her seat and shouted.

“Then the problem is solved! “You can create formulas very simply, without simultaneous or heterocentric circles!”

As expected of someone who advocated the spherical Earth and heliocentrism in history even before Hyang intervened, Lee Sun-ji was able to get to the point in an instant.

But Angelo did not accept it easily.

“But if it orbits in an elliptical orbit, its orbital speed must keep changing. What that means is that even if it’s the same hour, it has to keep changing.”

Sunji Lee intervened when Angelo pointed out that he still couldn’t let go of his attachment to the classic uniform circular motion orbit.

“What if, instead of once a day, it orbited this orbit once a year, and instead the world itself orbited once a day?”

“Then…”

Angelo fell silent for a moment. The uniform motion problem could be solved if the concept of rotation was introduced. Lee Soon-ji, who was looking at Angelo who suddenly closed his mouth, turned his head to Hyang and shouted.

“This world rotates on its axis! Then the anglerfish will fit in! If it’s an elliptical orbit! “By revising the calendar, even parts that were difficult to explain in the past can now be explained and calculated!”

Sunji Lee was so excited that she wrote down her theoretical equations on the blackboard.

As numbers and pictures of equations filled the blackboard, Sunji Lee continued her explanation in an excited voice.

“… This is how the sun is placed at one of the two foci of the elliptical orbit, and the world revolves around that elliptical orbit!”

After finishing the explanation, Sunji Lee looked at Angelo.

Angelo, who was analyzing the formula, developed an appetite.

Rationally, the concept of incense and Lee Sun-ji’s theory were more reasonable. But emotionally it was difficult to accept.

It was because the moment he accepted it, it seemed like the faith he had in God would collapse.

In the end, Angelo had to keep complaining.

“It is difficult to explain the occurrence of seasons and seasons with that theory.”

Fragrance joined in Angelo’s comment.

“What if the axis of rotation of this world is not upright but tilted?”

“yes?”

In response to Angelo’s question, the incense rolled the paper into a circle and then pierced the gold pen through it.

“It may be a bit clumsy, but this paper is the world and this golden pen is a blessing. And let my left fist be the sun. “If this axis rotates like this…”

Hyang explained, twirling the gold pen around his left fist.

In the end, Angelo had no choice but to give in.

“It seems more reasonable to say that the world revolves around the sun, but according to the doctrine…”

Hyang was cut off when Angelo mentioned the doctrine.

“Are you sure that the divine providence you believe in is consistent with your doctrine?”

“yes?”

“If you look at your scriptures and books that I have read, it says that in the past, what was passed down orally was recorded in the language of a different tribe and then transcribed into Latin. Are you confident that there will not be a single mistranslation in the process?”

“That…”

Angelo couldn’t give a clear answer to the scent’s question.

The sight of Angelo like that caught my breath.

“Assume that the divine providence you believe in is infallible. So, can you be confident that your scriptures and doctrines are also infallible?”

In the end, Angelo and the monks had no choice but to answer that they would positively examine the heliocentric theory.

* * *

Note 1) A story related to 1,000 won and money. Seoul Today. 2019.01.11.

http://www.sultoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=55970