The Royal Court—no, the Emperor—is creating something called an encyclopedia! And they are seeking participants!
Not long after, this rumor began to circulate through the markets of Seoul and across the entire Empire, causing people to gather in small groups, murmuring amongst themselves.
“An encyclopedia? What in the world is that?”
“I have no idea. But if His Majesty the Emperor is the one making it, it must be no ordinary thing.”
“Hmm… you really think so?”
“Is the Emperor Emeritus not standing behind him?”
In this era, for the people of the Empire, the words ‘Emperor’ and ‘Emperor Emeritus’ were practically synonymous with ‘trust.’
‘There is no folly in the work undertaken by His Majesty the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus!’
‘Even those endeavors that seem preposterous or hopelessly unprofitable to us now, will, with the passage of time, reveal themselves to be for the good of the people.’
‘Conclusion: Any man who dares to question their work is either blind as a bat or a fool trying to look smart.’
The people’s faith in their rulers was almost a form of divine sight. A few days later, an official gazette concerning the project was posted on government bulletin boards throughout the realm. The news it contained confirmed the rumors. The ‘encyclopedia’ was indeed no ordinary undertaking, and merely participating was a path to having one’s scholarship officially recognized.
“What does this mean?”
The whispers that flowed from those who had seen the gazette finally stirred the typically sedentary provincial literati into action. After reading the notice, they gathered in local tea houses to discuss the matter.
“…So, this ‘encyclopedia’ can be seen as something similar to the Classics (經), Histories (史), Masters and Philosophers (子), and Literary Collections (集),” one scholar offered.
“Rather than the classics themselves, I believe it would be more fitting to see it as a classified collection compiled from them,” another countered.
“Indeed.”
After debating the true nature of the encyclopedia as described in the gazette, the provincial literati concluded that it was a work closer to a miscellany. And their initial reaction was negative.
“I am unsure if participating in the compilation of a mere classified collection, not the great classics, will be of any help to the ‘pure reputation’ I seek to build.”
The Classics-Histories-Masters and Philosophers-Literary Collections was the traditional four-fold classification of literature in the East: Classics (經), Histories (史), Masters and Philosophers (子), and Literary Collections (集). A classified collection was a compilation of catalogs based on this system, along with a list of books that did not fit into the four main categories. This was why the provincial literati reacted with such disdain.
If it were a project to compile the classics themselves, that would be one thing. But this is the work of assembling a miscellany. Does such a task truly require profound scholarship?
***
Although the Empire was already showing the characteristics of an early capitalist society, the provincial literati remained conservative, their worldview still colored by a rigid Confucian orthodoxy. Men like Han Myeong-hoe—those who held positions in the central government—scoffed at this attitude.
“Look at them, acting all high and mighty while openly playing the part of moneylenders!”
As he said, the primary source of income for these provincial scholars was ‘capital investment.’ The ‘Venture Capital Vault’ established in the early days of the Restoration had grown in size and been renamed the ‘Equity Trading Vault.’ Its original function of venture capital investment had become just one of its many operations. The provincial literati enjoyed their economic prosperity thanks to the profits generated from this institution.
The traditional land-based aristocracy no longer existed, thanks to the thorough application of the King’s Land Ideology—the ideology that all land belongs to the sovereign. Those who had once been landlords were now considered to be merely ‘renting land from the Emperor to form labor contracts with tenant farmers.’ Accordingly, they had to pay a land tax that was essentially a rental fee, and their contracts with tenant farmers had to be signed using an ‘Imperial legal contract form’ in the presence of a local official. Naturally, they were also required to pay income tax after the harvest. Having lost their ability to profit from their traditional source of income, agriculture, the provincial literati had naturally ventured into the capital market. As the Empire grew vigorously, they were able to maintain a stable and comfortable economic life. They were, in fact, the most avid patrons of the stock exchange market that Sejong had created.
However, having failed—partly by choice, partly by circumstance—to advance into central politics, they had retreated even further into a purist, fundamentalist brand of Confucianism.
***
But not all of the provincial literati were so dismissive.
“If this were a simple matter of compiling the classics or a classified collection, there would be no need to post a public notice. They could simply print the existing catalogs from the archives. Something is strange here.”
These more perceptive individuals returned to the bulletin boards and began to examine the text more closely. Soon, they deciphered the hidden meaning between the lines.
“This is no simple classification!”
“The term baekgwa (百科) doesn’t just mean one hundred subjects! It literally means every field, a project to classify and organize all the knowledge in the world!”
“All the knowledge in the world!”
In the eyes of those who grasped the true scale of the undertaking, a feverish light, akin to madness, began to burn.
“I cannot allow my name to be absent from such a magnificent endeavor!”
At around the same time, Han Myeong-hoe and the other ministers were having a similar conversation.
“I have already voiced my concerns and been overruled, but I cannot shake the feeling that the phrasing is too ambiguous. I worry that those who see the notice will not properly understand it,” Lim Sunwook said.
Han Myeong-hoe replied in a placid tone, “What can we do? The text was written by His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus together.”
“But it is far too vague.”
“My lord, do you still not understand their intentions?”
At Han Myeong-hoe’s pointed question, Lim Sunwook thought for a moment before placing a hand on his forehead. “They’re on another fishing trip, aren’t they?”
Han Myeong-hoe sipped his black bean tea and continued calmly. “They chummed the waters by having agents spread rumors in the markets, and now they have cast their line with that ambiguous notice. Anyone who understands the hidden meaning behind the rumors and the text and applies… well, wouldn’t that be a useful talent to have in the future?”
“Hmph,” Lim Sunwook sighed deeply. “The problem is that this is an unorthodox strategy,⁵ not the standard procedure. What will those who came up through the proper civil service examinations think?”
“Is that not why they are being started in intermediate positions, rather than being granted high ranks and offices? Frankly, my lord, the men who climb the ladder from the examinations are too rigid. How many times have we seen them dither and delay on an urgent matter that requires a swift decision, claiming they must first consult the legal codes and historical precedents? Flexibility and integrity must be in harmony. Prioritizing one over the other is a sure path to disaster.”
“That may be so, but… haah.”
Watching Lim Sunwook let out another long sigh, Han Myeong-hoe added a final thought. “Whether it is by standard procedure or an unorthodox strategy, it is a course of action taken by Their Majesties. What comes after is the responsibility of us, their servants. It is our duty to screen the applicants. It is our duty to observe their work and weed out the unfit. And it is our duty to properly utilize the talent we acquire.”
“Why does it feel as if our work only ever increases…?”
“Indeed.”
The conversation, which had begun with concern, ended in sighs. Left alone in his office, Han Myeong-hoe pondered a question that had been nagging him. Something is strange. Even considering the number of agents deployed, the rumor spread far too quickly. Of course, rumors are known to spread exponentially, but this was too fast. Could His Majesty have employed a separate group of people?
The question born from the rumor’s unusual speed grew more serious. Come to think of it, there have been more than a few oddities. There have been times when His Majesty seemed to know about a matter before it was reported to him through the proper channels. Palace gossip travels faster than light, it’s true, but this feels different.
“Hmm…”
Tapping his fingers on his desk, Han Myeong-hoe continued his analysis and deduction until he reached a conclusion. His Majesty commands a separate organization. One that is quite competent in intelligence. No, extremely competent. And they are likely monitoring the officials as well.
He mulled over his grave conclusion for a moment, then let out a short, wry laugh. “So what? It’s not as if I can do anything about it. And what would be the point of making it a public issue? As long as I do my job properly and refrain from excessive greed, it will be fine.”
***
The talents hooked by Hyang and Hyeon’s fishing expedition gathered in Seoul, and the production of the encyclopedia began smoothly. However, as the work entered full swing, the participants began to share a common, anxious thought.
“Will I be able to see this finished before I die?”
The further the project progressed, the more the work seemed to expand rather than diminish. Soon, experts from the Research Institute, the Judiciary, and the Review Board were brought in. The Italian artists and the painters from the Royal Bureau of Painting were assigned to the illustrations. Faced with a task of such monumental scale with no end in sight, the participants’ initial anxiety transformed into fervent dedication over time.
‘If this is completed, it will be a book without peer in all the world!’
‘As Lord Han Myeong-hoe said, when this is done, it will become a Bung bird that covers the world! A Bung that will cover both the East and the West!’
While the participants poured their hearts and souls into their work, Michelangelo was being dragged off to Gyeongju.
***
“Let’s see… Michelangelo is better at sculpture than painting, is he not?”
While reviewing the progress of the illustrations for the herbal guide and the encyclopedia, Hyang mentioned Michelangelo, expressing a nagging feeling. “Of course, I know his skill is such that it’s hard to say whether he or Da Vinci is superior, but it still feels off. I feel there must be a place where his talents could be put to better use.”
Pondering this, Hyang was strolling through the gardens of Sugang Palace when his eyes fell upon a group of Buddhist monks. It was not an unusual sight, as his consorts and concubines often invited monks to give sermons. He was about to walk past them without a thought when he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! I have it!”
He started to hurry back to his office, then stopped and chuckled. “Come to think of it, didn’t something similar happen when I was young?”
Recalling the memory of the ‘limited edition Tripitaka Koreana,’ Hyang smiled and changed his course toward the main palace buildings. Three days later, Michelangelo was handed an order issued by Hyeon.
“You want me to go to a place called Gyeongju?”
“That is correct. There you will find places called Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. You are to work on Seokguram.”
“A restoration project? I understand.”
“Ah, one more thing. That Seokguram is a Buddhist holy site. Will that be a problem for you?”
At the official’s question, Michelangelo grinned. “It matters not. As long as the pay is good, I would repair a mosque in Mecca.”
“Oh? In that case, I suppose we can trust you!”
And so, accepting the order, Michelangelo and his apprentices traveled to Gyeongju. Led by an official, they arrived at Seokguram Grotto.
“Ooh!”
As they toured the interior of the grotto, Michelangelo and his apprentices let out gasps of admiration, their mouths agape. When Michelangelo emerged, the official asked him, “Can you do it?”
“For a masterpiece such as this,” Michelangelo replied, his expression more serious than it had ever been, “I would risk my life!”