46

Tree With Deep Roots: Episode 17

This show takes the universal notion that knowledge is power and puts it to the most extreme test. If power is only power when it can be traded for something (so claims one of our characters), then knowledge is a power that is priceless – and therefore something that scholars are unwilling to trade for anything in the world. The best part about this episode’s commentary on literacy and who really deserves the power to put their thoughts into words is still something we can all find relevant today.

 
EPISODE 17 RECAP

Jung Ki-joon is now aware of the power that the King’s new alphabet has, and he wants anything and everything done to stop the deal between Lee Shin-juk, Hwang-hee, and Sejong. The message goes from slave to official, and then all the way to Lee Shin-juk, who’s pulled aside just as he’s taking off his shoes to go inside. Agh, you were this close!

This message isn’t relayed to the Prime Minister, who is noticeably surprised when Lee Shin-juk renegades on his promise in the middle of the meeting. Just as Sejong is talking about how he made an agonizing decision the night before (to abolish Jiphyunjeon), Lee Shin-juk interrupts him to say that he’s just not confident in his ability to convince the other officials, and therefore can’t uphold his side of the bargain. He’ll work hard to get officials back in their posts, but that’s about all he can do.

In other words, the deal is off. Sejong does not seem pleased. He’s sure Hidden Root is pulling the strings here, but what can he do?

Lee Bang-ji, the martial arts master and Chae-yoon’s teacher, has been the rare white elk of this series thus far. His name hasn’t come up for a few episodes and it’s time to remind the audience he still exists, so Jung Ki-joon charges Pyung with the mission to go retrieve Lee Bang-ji. Jung Ki-joon claims that Hidden Root will need his strength, while the Leader questions whether Lee Bang-ji would even go to their side. Jung Ki-joon is sure that if they tell him that his only disciple (Chae-yoon) has joined their cause, he is bound to come. Really? Is he actually going to come this time?

One of the two orders Lee Shin-juk received that day was to bring the exam theme to be used on tomorrow’s government exam to Jung Ki-joon. He does, but in the following meeting with Jung Ki-joon it’s very clear he’s unhappy about all the recent happenings. If they had gone through with the deal with Sejong, then Jiphyunjeon could have been abolished and they could have put into place the de facto parliament system they’ve been wanting so much. He demands to know why Jung Ki-joon thought that stopping the promulgation of the alphabet was more important than their goals.

What follows is a literal debate between these two powers, but one made wonderful because of the quality of acting involved. Lee Shin-juk really gets to shine as he asks Jung Ki-joon questions that we as the audience have been wanting to know, but most of Jung Ki-joon’s answers are a rehash of what’s been said before – that writing is power, and if that power falls into everyone’s hands (as opposed to the sadaebu, the bureaucratic force of scholar-officials) then the very order and fabric of Joseon will be ruined.

Lee Shin-juk thinks that Jung Ki-joon is taking this whole alphabet thing a little too seriously, and is upset enough that he uses sarcasm as he quotes something Jung Ki-joon said: “Look at Phags-pa! No one will use it. A world where everyone uses writing? That is the same as the sun rising from the west!”

Jung Ki-joon: “These are letters that will make the sun rise from the west.”

Sejong knows that it’s Hidden Root… no, Jung Ki-joon behind the broken deal. But what he can’t figure out is why Jung Ki-joon would turn down this kind of opportunity, and what their other aim might be. He seeks the advice of Mu-hyul, and I really love that anytime he seeks Mu-hyul’s advice on a political matter he words the question in sword fighting or battle terminology, presumably so the warrior-minded Mu-hyul can properly understand. He asks that, if he were in a battle, and he made a great blow but missed… what would happen?

Mu-hyul replies that an enormous counterattack would be next on the list, which Sejong has guessed. He said that this deal was his great blow, and he missed. He knows a counterattack is coming, but can’t figure it out. I’m as worried as he is – if our super-intelligent King can’t see Jung Ki-joon’s next move, how is he going to fend it off?

Jung Ki-joon’s debate with Lee Shin-juk is still going, with neither man backing down. Lee Shin-juk finally says, fine – if the letters are so great, why can’t he see them so he can judge for himself? This is something that Jung Ki-joon absolutely forbids, because he knows that the letters will spread like an epidemic. No one can see them, no one can learn them, lest people actually use them (cue collective gasp).

Lee Shin-juk brings up a very good point in this argument – even if they assume that every commoner learns these letters, does that automatically make them government officials? Jung Ki-joon’s main rebuttal is that anyone who learns these letters will disregard Chinese characters for being too difficult – and as we all know from Hae Gang’s protest, Chinese characters carry the heart and soul of Neo-Confucianism within them. Therefore, a lack of Chinese letters makes for a lack of Neo-Confucianism, which Jung Ki-joon just can’t abide by in any universe whatsoever ever in the world forever and ever amen.

If I thought all the bombs that could be dropped during this conversation had been dropped, I was sorely mistaken. Jung Ki-joon only digs his grave deeper (as far as my esteem for him goes) when he says: “Once they [the common people] know writing, they will naturally know the joy of reading. If they know the joy of reading, they will wake up.” Goodness gracious, Jung Ki-joon! You were that kid on the playground that never shared his toys even if you had toys to spare, weren’t you?

Chae-yoon and So-yi have another late-night meeting where he’s updated on the state of affairs. So-yi is fairly sure that Hidden Root has somehow gotten ahold of the letters and thus have seen their power (she with the perfect memory that can’t remember the paper she left behind with all the characters on it for Hidden Root to find).

What I find interesting is that Chae-yoon’s take on the whole deal-breaking matter is in line with Lee Shin-juk’s thinking: will ordinary citizens instantly become aristocrats if they know how to read and write? So-yi says that the aristocrats seem to think so, and that’s why they’re putting a stop to it. Sejong doesn’t believe it will end with just that broken deal, either.

It’s the official day of the government exam, and Jung Ki-joon has been a busy bee. He sends an official order to the exam grounds (we don’t know what it contains), and Sejong is asked to assess the most impressive answers picked out by Hwang-hee in order to determine who has achieved first place. Sejong finds an answer worthy of such an honor, and both scholars and officials gather with the test-taker in ceremonial clothing. He’s poured a drink by the King, who asks him what family he’s from.

The man gets up, and begins to take off his ceremonial robe…

…In order to reveal that he is not from a prestigious family, but in fact is a slave from Ban Chon. Shock reverberates through the room and through our screens as this bomb is dropped, and we instantly know that Jung Ki-joon orchestrated this, which is why he asked for the exam theme ahead of time – in order that he could cheat, and write the perfect answer. I’m as floored as Sejong.

The man says that though he knew how to write since he was young, he never planned to advance. But when he heard that the King was creating letters and thus creating a world where everyone will know writing, he came. He demonstrated all his talents, and has no regret even if he dies.

The fact that a slave pretty much tricked everyone (even if Jung Ki-joon was behind it) and had his drink personally poured by the King before he revealed his status is unacceptable (slaves were also forbidden by law to take government exams), and Sejong looks like he is barely containing his rage. He knows that it’s Jung Ki-joon behind this, but he’s basically had one pulled on him because he couldn’t read ahead into his enemy’s plans. Now that very essential seed will be planted in every official’s mind – will this alphabet make slaves into officials? Oh man. But well-played, Jung Ki-joon. I have only awe for you at this moment.

News travels fast, and soon Park-po is relating the events to his fellow palace guards, Chae-yoon and Cho-tak. He says this is the biggest incident since the founding of Joseon. How could a slave enter the exam grounds? And how could that same slave win first place, at that? It’s pandemonium in the palace.

Cut to: pandemonium in the palace, as Choi Man-ri is hopping mad when Jung In-ji suggests that they make the second-place winner first instead. The slave is going to be punished by law, but Choi Man-ri doesn’t see how that will solve anything. He’s been against this alphabet since the start, and blames Sejong as the reason for that slave finding the nerve to even enter the exam. To Choi Man-ri (and probably a bunch of other officials against the alphabet), this is a warning that even a slave can become the Prime Minister.

The brand of Sungkyunkwan student this drama produces is not your model Sungkyunkwan Scandal student, since many of them have proven to be Hidden Root members. The slave that won first place in the civil exam (or did he?) has caused an uproar among scholars and students, but one group of hot-headed youngsters decide to take their beef directly to some poor slaves who probably did nothing wrong. One in particular catches Chae-yoon’s eye, as he recognizes the look on that student’s face as one he’s seen in battle before. It’s that look when everyone around you is dead and you’re left alone to go nuts. Yikes.

Chae-yoon is once again left wondering, as he watches the scene unfold, if slaves learning a little writing is really enough to make nobles so furious. It’s almost beyond him.

Jung Ki-joon, meanwhile, has already got his hands on that enraged student. The student is convinced Joseon is headed for ruin, and when Jung Ki-joon asks if that same student is ready (to stand up for his beliefs, presumably), the student says he’d planned to come forward even without the order. Uh oh. This can only end badly.

Acting on a warrior’s intuition, Chae-yoon follows the student to the water’s edge. The slave that took the civil service exam is set to be exiled, but before he can make it to the boat, the same student gets his fellow students to hold the guards back so he can repeatedly stab and kill the slave.

Chae-yoon’s next stop can only be the gates of Sungkyunkwan, where he’s prepared to make an arrest on the grounds that he was eye witness to the murder. But he’s distracted by a very loud voice not too far off…

And it’s none other than our resident murderous student, loudly protesting (to mostly residents of Ban Chon, which seems counterproductive to his cause) King Sejong’s alphabet. He echoes Jung Ki-joon’s exact sentiments when he laments Neo-Confucianism over and over, saying that only officials can lead the nation, and only those who are cultured can serve in the government. The very idea of that alphabet defies Neo-Confucianism and will single-handedly shake the bureaucracies that are the roots of Joseon.

With that, he announces his name, his status, and his cause. He doesn’t confess to the murder of the slave so much as says he ‘disposed’ of him, and that for the sake of duty and loyalty he’ll offer his life.

He jumps from the high wall, and falls to his death in front of all the onlookers. Well, that is a hell of a way to make a statement, I guess.

Chae-yoon is left more thoughtful than ever, as he barely registers the death. He seems to be in some sort of shock, not at this suicide, but more at the idea that all of this chaos is happening at all. He ends up standing next to Jung Ki-joon (disguised as Ga Ri-on), and wonders aloud if this whole everyone-being-literate thing is enough to be the catalyst of such wrath, and if it’s enough for that scholar to even give up his life.

Jung Ki-joon seems to be feeling him out (in terms of Chae-yoon’s involvement with Hidden Root) as he says that all they are as people is what they do, and the strength of scholars lies in writing. So if they’re about to lose that strength, their outrage is understandable. It’s as if Jung Ki-joon is studying Chae-yoon to see if his words are taking root (ha).

It’s time for our hero to sort through all of his thoughts – and he does so on his own, then he does so while watching Sejong take in the night air from a distance, then he does so while meeting with So-yi. The two of them are able to meet at their leisure, it seems, with neither of them having to be held accountable (especially So-yi, as a court lady). He wants to know if So-yi thought that the alphabet would become this huge of a deal.

She replies that she didn’t at first, but now that she’s been with the project and has seen it nearly come to completion, she feels both happy and apprehensive. Happy because the letters are truly easy and good for the lower class, but apprehensive because of how the upper class would inevitably feel.

Chae-yoon knows that Hidden Root is the one manipulating all of these events, and that Jung Ki-joon must be caught. So-yi says that no one knows what he looks like, with Jo Mal-saeng being the last person to see him at the age of twenty. Chae-yoon finds this news curious, which brings out another quick thought montage that takes him back to what Jo Mal-saeng said about that ‘former’ best swordsman of Joseon, Lee Bang-ji.

But then (at last!) So-yi brings up Chae-yoon’s wish. Right, he says, that wish… He gives an adorable smile, but then I suddenly want to smack it right off his face when he says he’ll tell her after he catches Jung Ki-joon. No! Not okay, Chae-yoon. Not okay! If I had one wish, it would be for you to tell me your one wish!

Pyung finally meets with Lee Bang-ji, who is less than thrilled to see him. The assassin says he’s come to relate an order from Jung Ki-joon, but Lee Bang-ji reminds him that he’s not part of Hidden Root and therefore will not take orders – and if Pyung says that one more time, he’ll kill him. Pyung calls him Teacher too, and Lee Bang-ji threatens to kill him over the use of that word as well. Curiouser and curiouser.

Pyung relates the message/order anyway, that Lee Bang-ji should join the cause. After all, he knows Chae-yoon, right? Chae-yoon has joined hands with Hidden Root (or so they believe). Lee Bang-ji seems shocked at this news.

Chae-yoon goes directly to Mu-hyul in order to ask about Lee Bang-ji, with the current best swordsman worrying at what a bad fate it is the moment he finds out that Chae-yoon was once a disciple of the former best swordsman. Chae-yoon wants to know what happened that night that Jung Do-jun was killed by Former King Taejong’s forces. He’d heard from Jo Mal-saeng that Lee Bang-ji abandoned his duty (to protect Jung Do-jun), so what could have been the cause?

We cut to a severely blue flashback of Lee Bang-ji on the night of Jung Do-jun’s murder. Former King Taejong had known Lee Bang-ji would be the biggest obstacle to killing Jung Do-jun, so he devised a plan to lure him away the night of the murder by threatening the woman he loved, who also happened to be the woman of his master, Jung Do-jun. When he went to save her, she expressed her desire for him to quickly return and protect Jung Do-jun by stabbing herself with the sword being used to threaten her. Even her last words were only to tell Lee Bang-ji to hurry to his master’s side.

This is all according to Mu-hyul’s memory, and when Chae-yoon asks him why his memory is so lucid, Mu-hyul replies that he was only a teenager then and that night had been his first day on the field. Chae-yoon finds Mu-hyul’s account much better, and mentions that he knows more details than Jo Mal-saeng, who said that he didn’t know the reason why Lee Bang-ji up and disappeared that night. Mu-hyul finds this curious, since a young Jo Mal-saeng was the one who had been tasked to stall Lee Bang-ji and thus was the man who threatened the woman he loved. Ouch.

Chae-yoon is back in his Sunday best, ready to go on a journey to find Lee Bang-ji. It’s cute that Cho-tak flips a lid and frantically looks for a letter, afraid that Chae-yoon plans on leaving forever again. Their friendship is one of the greater ones in this drama, even at its most understated moments.

But it seems like Lee Bang-ji has taken Hidden Root’s bait, since he’s resurfaced again after many quiet years. So many, in fact, that Jo Mal-saeng forgot he gave an order to a man to report to him if he were to see a man pouring a drink on a tomb. That very man was none other than our rare white elk, Lee Bang-ji.

The martial arts master has gone to visit Ban Chon, and receives a cool and controlled ‘welcome’ by Jung Ki-joon. I imagine most of Jung Ki-joon’s animosity (as he explains) is due to the fact that his uncle, the venerated Jung Do-jun, could have lived that night if Lee Bang-ji had been at his side. But because Lee Bang-ji had been tempted by a woman to leave his station, he ruined Joseon’s history by allowing Jung Do-jun to die. That’s a serious charge there, Jung Ki-joon.

Lee Bang-ji says he has nothing to say about that incident, because he’s offered his head to them and asked them to kill him. Instead, they wanted to make a deal – ohhhh, so that’s how Pyung came about. Part of Lee Bang-ji’s penance for the death of Jung Do-jun was to teach Pyung martial arts, which explains why there’s so much animosity between them and why he doesn’t consider Pyung a true disciple.

So, in the end, Jung Ki-joon lays down the terms. He wants Lee Bang-ji to come to the dark side together with Chae-yoon. Lee Bang-ji doesn’t seem to believe Chae-yoon could be in Hidden Root, claiming that Chae-yoon’s exterior is harsh and biting to properly conceal his inner, frail child. Politics are not for him.

Jung Ki-joon is happy to report that Chae-yoon involved himself in politics the moment he became a palace guard. This seems to surprise Lee Bang-ji, which only delights the inner evil maniac in Jung Ki-joon. He’s honestly surprised to know that the martial arts master never knew who Chae-yoon wanted revenge against. He pretty much spells it out: Chae-yoon came to kill the King.

However, Chae-yoon has arrived outside on his way out to get some dried meat for the journey. Jung Ki-joon takes this as fate and invites him inside, where his guest is still sitting…

…And teacher and disciple meet again, under the eerily giddy eye of Jung Ki-joon.

 
COMMENTS

There you are, Awesome Cliffhanger! I missed you this past week! I’m glad to see that this show has its cliffhanger mojo back, because while last week’s were still good, they weren’t as crack-filled as some. And this cliffhanger is especially good, leaving me chomping at the bit to see how this conflict is escalated or resolved next episode.

I’m venturing to say that Lee Bang-ji looks to Chae-yoon as a sort of son figure, seeing as how Chae-yoon is the only true student he’s ever taken on and that he’s gone out of such deep hiding to confirm whether Chae-yoon is going down the wrong path. I might have that totally turned on my head next episode, but it seems like there’s some disappointment coming from Lee Bang-ji to hear that Chae-yoon is mired up in all this Hidden Root business. Of course, he’s unaware that Chae-yoon is working as a secret double-agent. Such is the lonely life of a spy.

My favorite thing about this episode was seeing all of the bedlam arising from that test-taking slave through Chae-yoon’s eyes. I couldn’t quite get a read on what he was thinking most of the time, but it’s part of what I love. He is like Lee Bang-ji says – a little boy inside. Chae-yoon isn’t being painted as our cold hero who secretly knows all, because in the world of politics, he really is lost. So to see him watch as things go from bad to worse is just a joy, because he effectively grounds all of these crazy happenings in the best way possible.

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , , ,

46

Required fields are marked *

... knowledge is a power that is priceless...

True true.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Amazing episode. i was on the end of my bed by the end of it.

Jung Ki-joon seems to have strayed away from the original melbon teachings. now it seems as if he wants to be the king himself. the only thing that is spewing out his mouth is power this and power that.

thanks for the recap. amazing as always.

0
7
reply

Required fields are marked *

i agree with aya,,and just my opinion,,he also (slightly) want to get revenge for what happened to his uncle and father

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

i see where your coming from with whole getting revenge thing, but Jung Ki-joon will be quite idiotic trying to get revenge against the very man who tried to save his father. the only thing i do realize is that he has a lot of pent up anger and hatred for the former king (lee do father) which he is taking out on lee do himself.

i always find myself returning his own words that he said to lee do.

"you can do nothing Jung Ki-joon"

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

It's probably the sins of fathers passed onto sons kinda thing :/

Villains... if they had pure minds they wouldn't be "villains" in the beginning *sigh*.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Jung Ki-Joon doesn't want to be King, he wants the power solely for the aristocrats-scholars-officials.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree.

MB considers that they are the roots of the tree where the king is merely a figurehead or puppet seen by all. He is to do what they want; nothing more or nothing less. What kind of existence is that for a royal or anyone for that matter? I only live to do your bidding....Right.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

At which point, why bother having a king in the first place?

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, but he sure relishes being the boss of Milbon and ordering everyone else around.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Hmmmm...I'm actually really curious about Pyung...I wonder if he's going to turn into a good guy? (Just a random...thought...)

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I wonder this myself. He seems like he's gonna switch. That'd make me happy.

Where is the prince hiding that no one knows where he is or that he's even alive?

I am loving this show to bits!!! So good. :)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm also curious about Pyung.

But for totally un-noble reasons. :P

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

totally!! haha. I must admit i totally love pyung's character but as you said, for totally un0noble reasons.

haha

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks much for the recap!

Love this show..... especially the cliffhanger... gosh, make me so mad that i have to wait until next week to watch the next episode to find out what's going on! ahahhahahaha

I've always thought that the Milbons was for the people, the poor who didn't have much rights. I guess I was wrong.
Now, it's about power for the nobles, let it stay there, make sure the poor, uneducated stay ignorant so they will stay under the noble's thumb. In so I would think that Bonwon, who's been living as a butcher who understand what it's like would want the people to be able to rise up with the easier letters. I just couldn't get around to the fact that he would think the way he thinks? Is he so power hunger for living poor that all he saw is revenge for personal gain? How is that benefiting the people?
Even if he was able to stop it, he wouldn't live to see what happens afterward--a better Joseon anyway--or not.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Jung Ki Joon should die!!! hahaha

rage aside, i enjoyed this episode... it gives us the reason why literacy for all was only pushed through in the 1900s

politicians do not want the common people to have power...

but nowadays, it's not writing that makes one powerful, it's financial status, political power or camaraderie

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

That's so true. Once literacy (knowledge) became commonplace, power moved on to the next limited commodity. It's such a shame that we've yet to reach the point where "shared power" is the kind that is sought.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

All I could think of during the "people who can write have power" discussion was the internet.

That in most countries, people who are doing bad things ARE afraid that the word of their misadventures will get out there.

While the people with the money have the most power, someone with power CAN be toppled from anonymous voices out there on the www.
Not because everyone is Horton hearing the hoo, but because what starts as just a "I saw what you did" post will be picked up. It will be repeated until a network or news agency gets a hold of it. Once the claim starts to be investigated, the bad person loses.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

The power of the internet makes me think of this year's Egyptian revolution.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I feel comfortable saying that I never really like Jung Ki joon in the first place. He came across as one of those arrogant kids who belittles those he thinks dumber than himself. He was acting for a righteous cause then, fighting against the former king's abuse of power, but his attitude was all wrong. Fast forward twenty years, and that rotten attitude has festered into this disgusting notion that his ideas are always right, and thus justify his extreme methods to reclaim power.

This fight is about who gets to make the rules, and has nothing to do with whether those rules are just or not. I can't wait for him to get what's coming to him.

Thanks for the recap. I LOVE this show so much! It's intellectually stimulating in a way that so few dramas are.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love this show...

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

As much as I personally disagree with Jeong Ki Jun and am so glad to see his truer colors I detected on full display now, I think it's important to remember that he's a product of his time. In some ways, it's not Jeong Ki Jun that's awful but Neo-Confucianism itself, which was both utilized by the sadaebu to ensure their near monopoly on power but also fully subscribed to as ideal by not only the sadaebu but many throughout the entire society. (That said, I just want to clarify that I'm not trying to vilify Neo-Confucianism, which does have its merits.)

Per Neo-Confucianism, society achieves balance only when each individual knows his/her place in life in relation to other individuals: king & subject, father & son, husband & wife, master & servant. Of course, these relationships were further regulated in ways that benefited the sadaebu at the expense of everyone else. For example, when land holdings become diluted as a result of an increase in the number of eligible scholar-officials, the sadaebu passed various legislations repeatedly to whittle down the numbers eligible. They added generational requirements, for example: at some point in Joseon history, all male ancestors four generations back on both sides had to be yangban in order to be eligible to sit for the civil exams, ergo government position, ergo land/wealth/opportunity to accrue more land/wealth. That wasn't always the case. Sons born of yangban women's second marriages became ineligible, hence yangban women eventually found themselves condemned to virtuous widowhood as Joseon dynasty became further entrenched in Neo-Confucianism. Women who lost their fiancés before their marriages often found themselves pressured to maintain their "virtue" for the rest of their lives, never mind that such women were actually young girls since so many engagements occurred early. All in order to limit the number of men eligible to hold office and enjoy entitled land.

So, when the Sadaebu - including Jeong Ki Jun who'd lived his life among the government slaves (but not truly as a slave) - are outraged that the slave challenges the existing social relationships (not just hierarchies), they not only feel threatened but genuinely believe that such transgressions against the social relationships will cause social imbalance that will bring about the demise of the Joseon dynasty. Of course, what's at issue is whether it is so bad for the society as they know it to meet its end.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm learning so much about Korean history here because of you Anais and so many other knowledgable writers here.

Thank you all for your intelligent comments and HeadsNo2 for your fast recap! I absolutely love this site, keep up the good work.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow! That was fabulously explained and written!

Just curious, if you know, how unbalanced was this power?

How many eligibles were there with the stricter laws as compared to the general population?

Did they go from 5000 to 500?

Was the wealth distributed the same way, where 5% of the people had 70% of the money and land?

I don't know why I am trying to see this from a numbers point of view. I guess I am trying to understand if they were hoarding a small group of acorns, or an entire forest of oak trees.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think asking for numbers is totally legit. Unfortunately, I don't have any of those numbers readily at my fingers. I'd have to go back to my graduate school notes. But... I'm too lazy to dig that up. Is there any practicing Korean scholar among us?

They hoarded forests. Not just acorns or one forest, but forests, if I remember correctly. In Korea, land was wealth. I can't remember the proportion but some people had land outright privately. However, a lot of land wealth was government land that was then doled out to government officials who were literally "entitled" to that land (or more properly, the right to "manage" - cough cough skim - that land's harvest and manpower, since slaves could also be a part of the land entitlement). Hence, that land was NOT meant to be hereditarily passed down the way dukedoms and whatnot were hereditary in Europe. They were meant to be passed onto the next governor or whatever titleholder. Of course, many officials sort of appropriated government land for themselves, families, or clans over time. In addition to that, because the sadaebu realized they had to relinquish entitled land, they tried to limit the number eligible. Every so often, monarchs tried to institute land reforms that would return land officials had skimmed from government coffers back to the government. I can't remember under which monarchs, but some managed to succeed in reappropriating / releasing significant land wealth and productivity.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Neo-Confucianism is what kept Korea and China backwards as much of the rest of the world (esp. the West) progressed.

It's no coincidence that Japan was quicker to accept and adapt Western ways, but unfortunately, a lot of that had to do w/ military arms and training.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Woooh. Thanks so much for the recap! <3

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

OMG, I'm trying to watch Ep 18, and I'm at about 41:xx, unable to go on. I don't want to see what I dread. For once, I almost think I'd rather have that part be spoiled so that I can get to the next part. I've hit pause three times now within 2-3 minutes. Too agonizing.

And now back to your regular programming.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

What is it? What is it???? OMG!!! *runs to watch episode 18*

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

waaaahhhh!!! thanks for the recap!!

off to read!hehehe

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks HeadsNo2 for the recap!

I loved how everything is being fitted into place like how when Sejong finally realized the merit behind the lunchbox his father sent to him that had a dual meaning. It appears that Lee Do may not have the all-pervasive victory by the drama's end that we’re accustomed to seeing. And relating to "seeing", the last picture you posted HN2 in your recap reminds me of the darkness intruding itself upon our lovely the King as a metaphor. Will he go blind by the end of the drama?

As for Garion/Jung Ki-joon in this episode, his role was explosive and I enjoyed every moment of it. I am not siding with his sentiments, but love the drama that ensues because of said sentiments. Most palace intrigues in dramas are not relatable even if entertaining, but the themes of this drama are very real and meaningful. It is interesting that the rebellion in this drama is first brought to us by the scholars/nobles themselves. It is curious why the inhabitants of Ban Chon are going along with Garion’s philosophy and shielding him. Are they all slaves…?

I hope Chae-yoon’s wish has something to do with his father’s class within Joseon because it will be interesting to see if his wish is self-serving like the scholars wanting to restrict the promulgation of the King’s letters. Wanting to secure one’s fate is not a bad thing as long as others are not being hurt but he will be given a leg up over others due to meritocracy (solving the MB problem), which some have been given based on birth, which no one has a control over.

LOVE.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

The majority of Banchon's slaves are unaware of Milbon and their quest.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks so much for this recap!! You're the bestest!!

Some random and disjointed thoughts of mine:
Pyung is so jealous of Chae Yoon. He really wants his teacher recognition.

Can somebody tell me why our sharp King didn't think of testing that slave?? I would've ask him to write something right there in front of everyone.

That SKK student that committed suicide looks an awful lot like the boy that played young Jung Ki Joon.

Episode 18 is already 100% translated on viki. Yay! Off to watch it :)

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

About Pyung being jealous, since both boys lost their fathers, Lee Bang is seen as a father figure to both so wanting his acceptance is natural. I feel bad for Pyung.

Here are my thoughts about why Sejong did not "test" the winner. He conveniently revealed himself, per Garion's plan. In fairness, Sejong did question his parentage so the man's responses would have been investigated it seems if no one in the room knew his family to give them praise for bringing up such a brilliant subject.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

its amazing how they keep managing to one-up the cliffhanger from each episode! ep 18 really.... no words. can't wait till next week!!!!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

The cliffhanger for episode 18.

OMG - - -

How can they leave off like that. It took me at least five tries over the course of 2 days to finish episode 18. Can't bear the tension.

I want everyone I like to remain safe. No deaths please. Especially not a certain favorite of mine.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Nnnnnnnnooooooooo Muyuhl.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow, this is getting better and better.Has to be the best drama of the year. Superb acting by all.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Seeing as Lee Bang Ji's past ended up that way because of the woman he loves, I'm scared to think of what might happen once Jung Ki Joon finds out about So Yi's importance in Sejong's project and just how much Chae Yoon loves her. Jung Ki Joon might make the same trap for Chae Yoon as Taejong once did for Lee Bang Ji.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for the recap! Every one is better than the last!

Loved the way the writers decribed the fear of the power of the letters with:

Jung Ki-joon: “These are letters that will make the sun rise from the west.”

Agree that the literacy arguments in the show were compelling even today. Makes me feel very blessed to be born in a day and age where we take it for granted.

Missed JH/SY in the episode. I like the talky talky stuff, but I could use a little more sweetness, too.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you for your wonderful recaps =)

WOO -- each episode makes me giddy for more!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

All this "the dark side" talk and no one has mentioned that Lee Bang-ji kinda looks like an Asian Yoda?

Also, that young scholar who killed the slave and later jumped to his death kinda looks like the young Jung Ki-joon.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I thought that too!!! He looks like such a Yoda with the squinty eyes (not being racist here) and round fuzzy face. So adorable.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

They keep asking this: can you imagaine a world where everyone can read? We don't know how the real King Sejong was, but he has definitely contributed a lot to Korea, by creating hangul!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

could anyone tell me what is the black hat that kang chae yoon is wearing with the black robe THX

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Is the kid that suicide the same actor for young jung ki joon? They look the same!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Since the time of Adam and Eve (if you believe in that bullshit), behind every man's downfall is a woman. In Yi Bang Ji's case he was so blind by his love, or rather his obsession, for a woman and someone else's woman at that, that led to his sorry life.

Moreover, that woman did not even like him since she killed herself for Jeong Di Jeon's sake. What an arsehole, this Yi Bang Ji and they were plenty of this types in K-Dramaland. For some reason, they love to portray Korean men as wimps.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *