A LESSON IN HISTORY
As you already know, Yung Pak's father intended that his son, when he
grew up, should fill a position in the service of the king. To fit him
for this work, it was important that the boy should learn all that he
could of his country's history.
On this account Yung Pak's tutor had orders to give to the lad each day,
during the hours devoted to study, some account of events in the rise
and progress of the Korean nation or of its royal families.
You must know that Korea is a very old country, its history dating back
hundreds of years before America was discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Now Wang Ken knew that dry history had very few attractions for his
young pupil, or any lively boy for that matter, so as far as possible he
avoided the repetition of dates and uninteresting events, and often gave
to Yung Pak much useful information in story form.
One day, when the time came for the usual history lesson, Wang Ken said
to Yung Pak:
"I think that to-day I will tell you the story of King Taijo."
At this Yung Pak's eyes sparkled, and he was all attention in a moment.
He thought one of Wang Ken's stories was a great deal better than
puzzling over Korean letters or struggling with long strings of figures.
The tutor went on:
"When Taijo was born, many, many years ago, our country was not called
Korea, but had been given the name of Cho-sen."
Yung Pak had been told that Cho-sen meant Morning Calm, so he asked Wang
Ken how it came about that such a peaceful name had been given to his
country.
"Why," said Wang Ken, "the name was given to our land years and years
ago by the leader of some Chinese settlers, whose name was Ki Tsze. In
his native land there had been much violence and war, so with his
friends and followers he moved to the eastward and selected this country
for his home. Here he hoped to be free from the attacks of enemies and
to be able to live a peaceful life. For this reason he chose a name
which well expressed its outward position--toward the rising sun--and
his own inward feelings,--Cho-sen, or Morning Calm. This is still the
official name of our country.
"But to come back to our story of Taijo. At the time of his birth, the
rulers of the country were very unpopular because of their wickedness
and oppression of the people. There was much suffering on account of the
misrule, and the people longed for a deliverer who should restore
prosperity to Cho-sen.
"Such a deliverer appeared in the person of Taijo. It is said that even
as a boy he surpassed his fellows in goodness, intelligence, and skill
in all sorts of boyish games."
Wang Ken improved this opportunity to tell Yung Pak how important it was
that all boys should follow such an example.
But while Yung Pak listened with apparent patience, he could hardly
conceal his inward desire that the tutor would go on with his story.
Like most boys, of all races, he felt that he could get along without
the moralizing.
"Hunting with the falcon was one of Taijo's favourite sports. One day,
while in the woods, his bird flew so far ahead that its young master
lost sight of it. Hurrying on to find it, Taijo discovered a hut beside
the path, into which he saw the falcon fly.
"Entering the hut, the youth found a white-bearded hermit priest, who
lived here alone and unknown to the outside world. For a moment Taijo
was speechless with surprise in the presence of the wise old hermit.
"Seeing his embarrassment, the old man spoke to him in these words:
"'What benefit is it for a youth of your abilities to be seeking a stray
falcon? A throne is a richer prize. Betake yourself at once to the
capital.'
"Now Taijo knew how to take a hint as well as any boy, so he immediately
left the hut of the hermit, forsaking his falcon, and went to Sunto,
then the capital of the kingdom.
"As I have already told you, Taijo was a wise youth. He did not rush
headlong into the accomplishment of the purpose hinted at by the hermit.
Had he done so, and at that time attempted to dethrone the king, he
would certainly have been overpowered and slain.
"He took a more deliberate and sensible way. First he enlisted in the
army of the king. As he was a young man of courage and strength, he was
not long in securing advancement. He rapidly rose through the various
grades, until he finally held the chief command of the army as
lieutenant-general.
"Of course Taijo did not reach this high station in a month, nor in a
year, but many years went by before he attained such an exalted place.
Meanwhile he married and had children. Several of these children were
daughters."
Wang Ken did not say right here, what he might have said with
truth,--that in Korean families girls are considered of very little
consequence. But in this case Taijo's daughter proved to be of much help
in making her father the king of Cho-sen.
"One of these daughters was married to the reigning king. Thus Taijo
became father-in-law to his sovereign. You can easily see that in this
relationship he must have had a large influence both over the king and
over the people.
"Being a brave man and courageous fighter, Taijo was idolized by his
soldiers. He was also very popular with all the people because he was
always strictly honest and just in all his dealings with them.
"Taijo proved his bravery and his reliance on the soldiers and on the
people by attempting to bring about a change in the conduct of the king,
who abused his power and treated his subjects without mercy.
"The king, however, refused to listen to the advice of his
father-in-law, and, as a consequence, the hatred of the people for him
grew in volume and force every day.
"Meanwhile, the king was having other troubles. In former years, Korea
had paid an annual tribute or tax to China, but for some time it had
been held back by this king. Consequently the Chinese (or Ming) emperor
sent a large army to enforce his demand for the amount of money due him.
"The Korean ruler neglected the matter and finally refused to pay. He
then ordered that more soldiers be added to his army, that the Chinese
forces might be resisted; but with all his efforts the enemy's army was
much the larger. Nevertheless, he ordered Taijo, at the head of his
forces, to attack the Chinese. Upon this, Taijo thus addressed his
soldiers:
"'Although the order from the king must be obeyed, yet the attack upon
the Ming soldiers, with so small an army as ours, is like casting an egg
against a rock, and no one of us will return alive. I do not tell you
this from any fear of death, but our king is too haughty. He does not
heed our advice. He has ordered out the army suddenly without cause,
paying no attention to the suffering which wives and children of the
soldiers must undergo. This is a thing I cannot bear. Let us go back to
the capital, and the responsibility shall fall on my shoulders alone.'
"The soldiers were quite willing to take the advice of their courageous
leader, and resolved to obey his orders rather than the king's. They
went to the capital, forcibly removed the king from his throne, and
banished him to the island of Kang-wa.
"Not yet, however, was Taijo made king. The deposed ruler plotted and
planned all kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored to his old
position of authority. Taijo heard of some of his plots, and finally did
that which would for ever extinguish the authority of the old king or
any of his family. He removed from the temple the tablets on which were
inscribed the names of the king's ancestors. More than this, he ordered
that no more sacrifices be offered to them.
"The king could have suffered no greater insult than this, for, like
all Koreans, he held as sacred the memory of his ancestors, and even to
speak ill of one of them was an unpardonable crime. But this time he was
powerless to resent the indignity or to punish the offender, and
consequently he lost what little influence he had been able to retain.
"Taijo was now formally proclaimed king. He was able to make peace with
the Chinese emperor, and under his rule the Koreans enjoyed freedom from
war and oppression. His descendants still sit upon the throne of Korea."