Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 868

Episode 868: Imperial type, imperial style (5)

“The problem has been that since Greece and Rome, there have been philosophies for individuals but no philosophies for the nation…”

Cosimo still got a kick out of it. He muttered with an expression like,

These days, the Greek and Roman era is called the ‘classical era’ by scholars at European universities, including Florence.

Until at least a thousand years ago, it was no exaggeration to say that all knowledge in the world was gathered in Greece and Rome.

Naturally, this was a time when various types of philosophies and ideas emerged.

It was a time when Athens was evaluated as ‘when 100 people gather, 101 opinions emerge.’

However, there was no philosophy for the country.

No, almost none existed except for Plato’s ‘Republic’.

The famous Solon also left a record of what he did – though it is questionable whether it was true – but what he was thinking about doing it was not left behind.

Additionally, Numa, who is credited with laying the foundation of Rome, has not been told what he had in mind and pursued such a policy.

Of course, records of famous heroes, kings, and politicians remained through records such as Plutarch’s Chronicles of the Heroes. However, most of them were just sagas overlaid with legends and myths. Little remains of what they thought of their country and people or how they dreamed of ruling them.

Other philosophies mostly discussed metaphysical things, such as the truth that moves the world and the composition of all things.

And after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire a thousand years ago….

“It was a time of violence and religion. Phew~.”

Cosimo sighed.

* * *

As we moved into the feudal era, the people’s perspective narrowed to the manor to which they belonged, rather than the territory to which they belonged.

The same was true for kings and nobles.

There was loyalty and reward according to the ‘mutual contract between the king and the nobles’, but there was no place for the people anywhere.

The same was true for philosophy. Philosophy, which discusses humans and society, gave way to Christianity.

Christianity was a double-edged sword.

A combination of factors contributed to the decline of the Vikings, who had been terrorizing Europe for a while, but their acceptance of Christianity also played a role.

However, it was Christianity that led to the history of a long, bloody war with Islamic forces.

Of course, Cosimo took pains to ignore the fact that the Italian merchant power’s efforts to take advantage of the transit trade also played a role.

The same was true after the decline of the Crusades.

As Eastern Europe was shaken by the Mongol invasion and Western Europe was shaken by the Hundred Years’ War, the period of war continued and many things changed.

That wasn’t all.

Even as the empire came into full view of Europeans and exchanges between East and West became more frequent through Suez, changes in European countries were slow.

France, with its cry of ‘France, France, the nation of the French’, stopped there.

England?

‘Magna Carta’ did exist. But for a while, it was just a piece of tissue paper. Of course, Magna Carta contained the phrase ‘consent of the people of England’, but in reality it was merely an agreement on the division of power between the king and the nobles.

In addition, ‘Parliaments’ were created and operated in various countries and cities, including his own Florence.

However, this ‘Parliament’ was also a place open only to those who had money. There was no place for commoners.

To sum up, there was no ruling ideology or philosophy for the common people called ‘people’ in the East.

Although it is called a ruling ideology or philosophy, it was not something grand.

-What kind of life will the people live in the future?

-I will tell the people how to live.

This was what could be called the ruling ideology and philosophy.

However, the thoughts of many European monarchs and nobles that Cosimo had met were simple.

“The people? “Can’t we just let them live without starving?”

“How should I live? You should ask the church about that. “Why are you asking me?”

After thinking this far, Cosimo let out another long sigh.

“Whoa~. It’s church again. However, the place where the term ‘Pandemonium’ is most appropriate has become the church…” * *

*

As Cosimo said, the church during this period was a symbol of ‘corruption and corruption.’

For nearly 60 years, the Council and the Pope fought over who had authority over the church.

In addition, through incidents such as the ‘humiliation of Canossa’, the ‘Ani Incident’, and the ‘Avignon Captivity’, the conflict between secular monarchs and the Pope arose sharply.

In this situation, various denominations emerged within the church, and disputes arose over differences in interpretation and doctrine of the Bible.

It was the commoners who suffered as they lost their minds due to these conflicts.

Every time the common people asked, ‘How should we live?’, the clergy’s answers were very similar.

“We must live an ‘honest Christian life.’”

“Then what is the ‘honest Christian life’?”

This is where the people fell into confusion.

“If your job is honest, you just have to stick to it. ah! Of course, if I can help others, I help them.”

“I am a businessman?”

“It’s not a sin if you don’t deceive the customers.”

There were clergy who said this, but there were also many who argued the opposite.

“What! Be abstinent! Wealth means falling into the devil’s temptation, so live frugally! “Working hard but sharing what is left over with others is the life of a true Christian!”

As these different claims met, theologians engaged in a heated war of words, and believers who followed the doctrine clashed with believers of other denominations.

“Wealth is not a sin! “If you earn it through honest work, enjoying wealth is not a sin, it is natural!”

“There is no such thing as honest wealth! It’s all just exploitation of others! Your doctrines only lead believers into corruption! Starting with the Vatican right now….”

“Look at that proud Vatican! Most popes are illegitimate sons of influential families, and there is no one, including cardinals and bishops, who does not have concubines! “Isn’t that corruption!”

As the situation inside the church became so messed up, believers became lost.

From the state and the king to the nobles and the church, those who were supposed to provide direction and vision to the common people had come to a situation where they were not properly carrying out their duties.

Cosimo let out a long sigh as he thought about the situation in Europe, which was becoming more and more glamorous on the outside but was becoming a mess on the inside.

“Whoa~. “Maybe it would be better to accept that of the Empire, or rather, that of the East.”

* * *

As exchanges with the East, including the empire, continued in earnest, the number of European scholars studying Eastern studies began to increase.

The beginning of a new academic tradition called ‘Eastern Paleoscience (東方考察學)’ was, of course, professors and international students who worked at or returned from imperial research institutes.

What they became interested in was the empire’s policy of ‘suppressing Buddhism.’

In the ‘Suppression of Buddhism and Buddhism’ policy that had been implemented since the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, ‘Suppression of Buddhism and Buddhism’ continued steadily, although ‘Suppression of Buddhism’ was omitted and its intensity was weakened.

First of all, in the early days of Gyeongjang, construction of new temples other than the 36 temples designated by King Sejong was not permitted. Expanding the size of existing temples was also prohibited. The only possibility was that it was old and needed repairs.

The same was true for becoming a monk. Becoming a monk was possible only after becoming an adult, and becoming a monk was completely prohibited.

Becoming an adult and becoming a monk was not easy.

First, you had to know the Buddhist scriptures perfectly and be able to interpret them in writing.

In addition to this, the imperial court’s policy of suppressing the French government seemed to be lax but strict, including prohibiting the increase of temple assets.

What the empire required of Buddhists or monks was simple.

– Since you are this zealous, I don’t care if you believe in Buddha, but don’t expect to live with a full stomach and a warm back!

European scholars became interested in this imperial policy. In a way, this was because they were people who had lived their entire lives in a kind of constitutional society.

As a result, they became interested in studying abroad. After conducting research in their spare time in their busy research lives, they gradually became immersed in the political ideas of the Empire, and indeed of the East.

“Royal politics….”

“Royalty and power….”

“Confucianism and legalism….”

“People’s book….”

The more they dug into it, the more fascinated European scholars became.

And at the top of it all was the ‘super law’.

“‘Benefit widely people.’ Isn’t this the Christian ideal?”

“Equality of citizens! Before the law, there is no distinction between rich and poor! “What wonderful words!”

“The distribution of power between the monarch and the people is clearly stipulated!”

“A legislative reviewer! How to maintain the foundation but constantly change!”

“We are pursuing the perfect harmony between Confucianism and Legalism!”

European scholars who were fascinated by ‘super law’ eagerly sent letters to their colleagues in Europe.

“oh my god! “What a letter without any ink!”

Colleagues who received the letter were very surprised to see that it had no ink at all. This was because I had never received a letter without ink before.

Scholars who had memories of even simple greetings and replies that had been overshadowed by letters read them with deep curiosity.

And they became addicted to what was written in the letters. Scholars who read the letter several times immediately sent it to their colleagues in Seoul.

-Please obtain the law code of Chobeop and send it to me.

Those who received the letter immediately forwarded it to their superiors. After receiving the report, Wan immediately gave permission.

“I admire the imperial law and want to know more. How can I stop it? Sell it.”

“Is it for sale?”

“Tax for sale. “Don’t forget to inspect it carefully before loading it on the boat.”

“I follow your orders.”

In this way, dozens of volumes of legal codes recording the first laws of the empire entered Europe.

This continued to happen, and reports continued to come to Wan that the number of people studying the imperial law in Europe was increasing.

As time went by and he was explaining his plan to the entire gathering, Wan cited this incident as an example.

“There are already more than one scholar in Europe who studies the laws and systems of the empire. However, in order to properly understand the laws and systems of the empire, one must properly understand the empire’s national policy. So, I will refer to the things that are visible on the outside, such as the laws, systems, and culture of the empire, as ‘imperial type,’ and the national poetry and meaning of the empire contained within them as ‘imperial type.’”

At Wan’s words, the Hyang and the ministers all nodded. Hwang Bo-in responded on behalf of the ministers.

“The type on the outside and the flow on the inside… they really suit each other.”

Hyang nodded at Hwang Bo-in’s words and muttered to himself.

‘Is it the Imperial Wave, not the Korean Wave? Interesting. Not American style, but imperial style… Does history go round and round?’