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[4K] ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXTDOOR, DOYOUNG, n.SSign, LEE JIN HYUK, WOOAH, EPEX | On the way to music bank 240426
2024-04-26
Book Ahead of the Times
A book titled(우서) was written in 1737, the 13th year of the reign of King Youngjo of the Joseon Dynasty. Literally, the title means “oblique book.” Comparing the culture of Joseon with that of China, the book describes how Joseon should systematically change its politics, economy, society and culture. According to the book, a nation is poor when people find it difficult to carry out their jobs properly. To remedy the situation, the book explains that it is necessary to abolish the status system and to allow individuals to work in accordance with their own abilities and preferences. The book serves as a valuable material in the study of Silhak or a Confucian reform, advocating practical learning that flourished in the late Joseon period. This book was clearly ahead of the times. Who is the writer of the book?
Joseon Scholar who Overcame Disability
“Danyang Governor Yu Su-won is an excellent writer, although he is deaf. He wrote a book that contains various plans for the nation.”
- Annals of King Youngjo, October 24, 1737-
When King Youngjo ordered officials to recommend talented people, the officials nominated Danyang Governor Yu Su-won. They told the king that Yu’s book was very good, and the king ordered to have the book brought to him.
After reading the book, the king wanted to talk directly with the writer. Unfortunately, Yu was unable to answer the king’s questions because he was deaf. So the king and Yu communicated with each other through writing. This episode is recorded in the Annals of King Youngjo.
Yu Su-won was born with hearing-impairment in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. His pennames “Nongam”(농암) and “Nonggaek”(농객) both hint at his hearing loss as well. He entered government service when he was 25 years old. He wrote the book when he was around 40. At the time, he was serving as a local official.
The deaf scholar often suffered from diseases, but he wrote with great enthusiasm based on his experiences of working in many provinces as a local official.
Focus on Commerce and Industry
systematically describes how the status system and the state examination system of the nation should be changed, as well as what measures would be necessary to enrich the country. Pointing out the fact that most farmers were poor, Yu said that the most urgent task was to abolish the status system so people could live equally.
Among other reform measures suggested in the book, the most attention-grabbing of them all is one that insists that more focus should be placed on commerce and industry than on agriculture. The book suggests that scholars, who only used to read books, should engage in commerce or industry so people in academia, agriculture, commerce and industry will all be treated equally.
In agriculture, Yu said it was more important to develop farming technology and increase productivity than to expand the farming area excessively.
He also proposed that wealthy merchants doing large businesses carry out something helpful for developing regional communities, such as establishing schools or constructing bridges. This is a similar view held by today’s societies where large companies are urged to invest in social overhead capital or show more commitment to the development of local communities that are left behind.
Wear, Eat and Live in Affluence, Happiness
In his book, Yu used the term(이용후생) to explain the meaning of a prosperous economy where people wear, eat and live in affluence and happiness. In order to achieve this goal, he proposes that the state create an environment where people are encouraged to do their best to fulfill their duties.
He also stressed the need to enrich the country. The idea of enhancing “national wealth” advocated by Yu was inherited by Silhak scholars of the Northern School of Learning, including Park Ji-won, Park Je-ga and Hong Dae-yong. It emerged as one of the representative philosophies of the late Joseon period.
Unlike Silhak scholars such as Park Ji-won and Park Je-ga, Yu had no experience of traveling to China. Solely based on his experience of working as a local official, Yu analyzed the problems of Joseon society and suggested ways to improve the state finance through the development of commerce and industry, thereby helping people live in comfort.
Unfortunately, Yu fell victim to factional strife and was met with a miserable end. But even today, he is held in high esteem as he was able to overcome his physical disability and presented a fresh vision and potential tasks needed for the opening of a new era.
A book titled
Joseon Scholar who Overcame Disability
“Danyang Governor Yu Su-won is an excellent writer, although he is deaf. He wrote a book that contains various plans for the nation.”
- Annals of King Youngjo, October 24, 1737-
When King Youngjo ordered officials to recommend talented people, the officials nominated Danyang Governor Yu Su-won. They told the king that Yu’s book
After reading the book, the king wanted to talk directly with the writer. Unfortunately, Yu was unable to answer the king’s questions because he was deaf. So the king and Yu communicated with each other through writing. This episode is recorded in the Annals of King Youngjo.
Yu Su-won was born with hearing-impairment in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. His pennames “Nongam”(농암) and “Nonggaek”(농객) both hint at his hearing loss as well. He entered government service when he was 25 years old. He wrote the book
The deaf scholar often suffered from diseases, but he wrote
Among other reform measures suggested in the book, the most attention-grabbing of them all is one that insists that more focus should be placed on commerce and industry than on agriculture. The book suggests that scholars, who only used to read books, should engage in commerce or industry so people in academia, agriculture, commerce and industry will all be treated equally.
In agriculture, Yu said it was more important to develop farming technology and increase productivity than to expand the farming area excessively.
He also proposed that wealthy merchants doing large businesses carry out something helpful for developing regional communities, such as establishing schools or constructing bridges. This is a similar view held by today’s societies where large companies are urged to invest in social overhead capital or show more commitment to the development of local communities that are left behind.
In his book, Yu used the term
He also stressed the need to enrich the country. The idea of enhancing “national wealth” advocated by Yu was inherited by Silhak scholars of the Northern School of Learning, including Park Ji-won, Park Je-ga and Hong Dae-yong. It emerged as one of the representative philosophies of the late Joseon period.
Unlike Silhak scholars such as Park Ji-won and Park Je-ga, Yu had no experience of traveling to China. Solely based on his experience of working as a local official, Yu analyzed the problems of Joseon society and suggested ways to improve the state finance through the development of commerce and industry, thereby helping people live in comfort.
Unfortunately, Yu fell victim to factional strife and was met with a miserable end. But even today, he is held in high esteem as he was able to overcome his physical disability and presented a fresh vision and potential tasks needed for the opening of a new era.
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