Post by ajk on Dec 3, 2008 15:55:37 GMT -5
(Thanks to member jocal for transcribing the crawl at the end of the episode.)
------------------------------------------------------------
Five years have passed; it's now 1441. Alone in the dimly lit workroom, Sejong is working on his alphabet project...we see brief flashbacks from throughout the series as he reflects: "My people have a beautiful spoken language that takes after their hearts." But its sounds are too different from Chinese to be able to write it using Chinese script. "What's more, Chinese script is too complex, with too many letters"--more than 2000 characters before you can effectively express your thoughts on paper. "So my people are always suffering. But I see hope in their suffering." The dream of an alphabet for his people "is still yet to be realized, but it's still very much alive."
At the palace, we see weather observations taking place under the supervision of Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil. Youngsil informs the crown prince that a monsoon is likely to arrive. This is not good news, since it's already been raining heavily and harvest time is approaching.
At the observatory: Scholars are bickering about using the ganui for their own pet research projects. Then the crown prince shows up, accompanied by a group of officials. Youngsil is one of them; he tells the scholars to knock it off and work on the Joseon calendar science project, which is far more important because it will lead to better weather forecasting.
"Calendar science?" Wang Zhen has informed the now-teenage Ming emperor. The boy is very irritated at the possibility that Joseon might have its own calendar. "What proof do you have?"
We see Huang Zan being tortured by Haishou. "Confess! What did you give Joseon in exchange for the self-striking water clock?" Wang Zhen enters, answering Haishou's question: "The emperor's right to rule the heavens--you turned that over to the Joseonese." Huang denies giving them anything.
Sejong asks Jo Malseng to go on the winter solstice diplomatic mission to Ming. Jo doesn't really want to go--he has a bad back--but intelligence reports suggest that things are dicey in Ming, specifically, that Wang Zhen has won the young emperor's favor. So Sejong apparently wants someone of Jo's experience to go. Later, he tells Jo that there are things he wants him to take with him (not things, but people, it turns out), and hopes he can come up with a valid cover story for them.
Jo is meeting with Hall of Worthies scholars. There's an opportunity for a scholar exchange with Hanlin Academy, and two Hall of Worthies scholars will have the opportunity to go. Hanlin has always resisted such an exchange in the past; why the change of heart? Turns out, Prince Anpyeong has developed a style of calligraphy that has become very popular in Ming. So he's been invited and can bring two scholars with him. Anpyeong has chosen Shin Sukju and Sung Sammun. Jo likes the choice, but Choi Manli objects: "Both are much too eccentric. One is crazy about language, the other is a poetry, calligraphy and arts fanatic." But the Emperor is the same way, Jo says, and they might become friends and nothing would be better for the Ming-Joseon relationship. Jeong Inji agrees with Jo; he just tells Jo to "keep an eye on them so they do not make mistakes." Jo smiles.
Later, Choi is complaining again to Jeong about the alphabet project he suspects exists, but Jeong reminds him he's been digging for evidence for five years and hasn't proven anything. So give it up, he advises; the whole purpose of the Hall of Worthies is "to share our wisdom with the king, not question him or weaken him."
The water clock strikes 9 p.m. The Hall of Worthies scholars are still at the office, but now Sukju and Sammun are trying to get the elder ones to call it a day so everyone can go home. But Choi Manli, among others, won't go. "That bell has nothing to do with our schedule," he says, and the current project isn't done yet. But Sukju and Sammun are going to leave anyway; their own assignments are finished and they're hungry. So they leave. This arouses suspicion among the three suspicious scholars (Choi, Gim Mun and Jeong Changson). Jeong discreetly tails them as they leave the building. Outside, Sukju and Sammun make plans in audibly loud voices to go to a certain gisaeng house. Then after Jeong goes back inside, they drop the act and climb over a palace wall, and head for a meeting with Sejong.
Sejong tells them that the language research is at a stalemate and they could really use Huang Zan's advice (remember, Huang is a top scholar) on studying vowel and consonant sounds. So that's what he assigns them to do when they go to Ming.
Still that evening: Attendants scurry into the crown princess' home.
At the observatory: The Prince Star (last star of the Little Dipper) is shining exceptionally brightly tonight. The crown prince is there; he's told that this is an omen. A good omen. Then an excited Ogeun runs in to tell him that his wife is in labor! With the star shining so brightly, the scholars tell him, "a royal grandson is certain to be born, your highness."
We see the crown princess, identified as Kwon Seunghui, in labor.
The queen and escort Han are smiling and excited about the pending delivery. The queen is beaming with happiness.
Hyang wants to see his wife, but escort Han won't let him in! Doing so would go against royal tradition, she explains. "Human feelings are more important than tradition," he argues to her, and then the queen shows up and agrees with him. "Go in. It'll give her strength to see you." So he goes in to see her. He tells her he hopes it will be an easy delivery. "The child has been gentle in my womb," she says; "he takes after you, so he won't bring me too much pain." He's going to leave the room now (this sure was the olden days!) but says he's leaving his heart behind with her. From the tender way he talks to her and touches her, we can tell that he's more mature and comfortable than five years ago, and is very happy with her as his wife.
Back in the Ming torture room: "You are responsible for their possession of astrological knowledge," Wang tells the captive Huang. Huang only mutters, "This is a setup!" But then Wang has Yehjin brought into the room, and gets him to say that it was Jang Youngsil who Huang dealt with when he and Huang were in Joseon as envoys.
Wang reports this back to the emperor. "Then he must be Sejong's most treasured subject," the boy concludes. "Kill him and strip Sejong of his honor." But then he seems to change his mind; in the next sentence he wants Jang captured (maybe to be killed after capture; this was a bit fuzzy).
The crown prince visits Youngsil to ask him about some glass that Youngsil purchased from India. What's it for? It was at the king's instruction, Youngsil says, but we don't really learn anything more about it. (Presumably we will later.)
Meeting with scholars, Hyang tells them he wants them to develop a system for accurately measuring rainfall. This will help with flood control.
Outside, Hyang and the scholars are dressed incognito and are walking around a public street when the prince sees a little boy taking a leak into a bucket-like container. He asks the kid about it; the kid's father, it turns out, saves the urine as fertilizer. Something about the liquid-accumulation aspect of the scene clicks in Hyang's head, and he has a Eureka moment: "That's it!" He picks up the boy and throws him in the air with joy, in the process knocking the bucket over and spilling the urine. This scares the kid, who tells him he'd better refill it!
No baby yet. The crown princess is having a difficult labor, and all of the women gathered are becoming concerned.
Youngsil presents Sejong and Hyang with the final plains for the rain gauge. It's a simple tubular container consisting of three equal cast-iron segments, put together. Why three segments? Because this will increase the measurement accuracy in spring and summer, when there's less rainfall. (Presumably the idea is to remove the top one or two segments so you can get a better view and reading of small accumulations of rain.) The gauge is also built to minimize inaccuracy due to temperature variation. Both of these ideas were Hyang's, we learn.
Out in a courtyard, a platform has been built for the formal unveiling of the first gauge. Why a platform? Yi Chun tells Hyang says that the gauge will be the first gift for the new royal grandson, so they're making things a little extra-special.
Still no baby, just a princess in a LOT of discomfort. "She's been in labor for days," the queen says. "Something has to be done!"
Hyang explains to his father his inspiration for his work on the rain gauge: "The tradition of this royal house is the king's willingness to work every waking moment of this days for the people." Just like his father does.
Finally! It was long and it was awful, but at last the cries of a healthy baby boy. "You did it, my child," Soheon tells a groggy crown princess.
Sejong and Hyang get the news. Immediately Sejong wants to go to his grandson (an immediate and visible onset of grandparent-mania!). But Jachi physically steps in his way, reminding him that "until the straw festoon is removed..." I know, Sejong says, cutting him off, but we can at least listen to him cry from outside. (Note: According to my research, it's a long-standing Korean tradition to hang a charcoal-containing straw festoon outside of a delivery room to protect the newborn from diseases and evil spirits. But I'm not sure why it has to be removed before a father or grandfather can enter the room.)
So they head over there...and see escort Han urgently summoning the royal physician. Not for the baby, but for the princess. Hyang ducks under a rope barrier and rushes inside.
The princess is unconscious, completely wiped out. The queen can't seem to wake her. "She will be all right," she tells her son, but neither one of them seems too sure of that. Then the princess awakens, enough to open her eyes and ask about the child--"May I see him?" Her new son is laid beside her; we get a glimpse of him (a healthy-looking four-week old baby! Always makes me laugh that TV doesn't want to show newborns in their wrinkled-up purple-and-reddishness.) "Are you a healthy boy?", she says to him. "Then you won't be a heavy burden to your father and those who will raise you." Uh-oh; this doesn't sound good at all. "Go easy on your father," she says, and then asks the child to be taken away--"I want no shadows cast upon him. Don't let him see his mother dying." As the baby is removed, she tells Soheon, "I can feel it. It's hopeless." To Hyang she says, "I wanted to be with you forever." Hyang, holding her hand, is beyond distraught: "I must be punished, not you." But she tells him softly, "Don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong. None of this is your fault." And her hand slips from his. She dies.
A devastated Hyang doesn't go home but heads for the regularly scheduled ministers meeting to try to wrap up the day's state affairs. At the meeting he commands production of the rain gauges to be started. He also orders arrangements made for their distribution, and commands the military to make observations of potential flood dangers around the country. He gives these instructions in a near-trance and with a weak voice; then he gets up ad leaves. "The crown prince is so much like his father," Yi Chun observes. Jo Malseng warns, "He'd better cool it" and NOT try so hard to be like his father or he'll wear himself out.
As Hyang leaves, some of the Hall of Worthies scholars are waiting for him in a hallway. Ha Wiji is holding a jug and offers Hyang a drink. Seeing the obvious irony, Hyang answers, "I'm not interested if it doesn't involve a bet." The scholars are understandably concerned about the prince's welfare, but he mechanically gives them an assignment to disperse around the country, among the regional magistrates, and act as crop assessors for the coming harvest. "While I have failed to stop natural disasters," he says, possibly referring in part to his own personal disaster, "I must stop man-made disasters." He adds, "I’m asking for your help," as he leaves. But Ha gently contradicts him, more for support than to correct him: "You are to command us. A ruler must command his subordinates." Ha wants him to be strong. Sukju adds, "We will always be behind you and your newborn son." The prince appreciates the sentiment and puts his hand on Sukju's arm (and here comes that schmaltzy pop ballad again).
Later (as the tune continues), evening has fallen and we see Hyang alone outside in the pouring rain, weeping bitterly. (You've just seen your loving wife die right in front of you, laa dee daa dee daa. AAAUGH.) He's actually standing next to the prototype rain gauge, which he can see is doing its job. It makes the moment all the more emotional for him. Youngsil, coming out on a porch, sees the prince and starts to head out to him, but from behind, Sejong puts his hand on Youngsil's shoulder: "Leave him alone for a while. He probably needed a place to hide and cry. I'm quite sure he did."
"How much more of his tears," Sejong wonders, "will that container have to hold on his rocky path to becoming king? In a way, that rain gauge is a gauge for the king's tears and not for the rainfall."
The episode ends with a crawl about the rain gauge:
------------------------------------------------------------
Five years have passed; it's now 1441. Alone in the dimly lit workroom, Sejong is working on his alphabet project...we see brief flashbacks from throughout the series as he reflects: "My people have a beautiful spoken language that takes after their hearts." But its sounds are too different from Chinese to be able to write it using Chinese script. "What's more, Chinese script is too complex, with too many letters"--more than 2000 characters before you can effectively express your thoughts on paper. "So my people are always suffering. But I see hope in their suffering." The dream of an alphabet for his people "is still yet to be realized, but it's still very much alive."
At the palace, we see weather observations taking place under the supervision of Choi Haesan and Jang Youngsil. Youngsil informs the crown prince that a monsoon is likely to arrive. This is not good news, since it's already been raining heavily and harvest time is approaching.
At the observatory: Scholars are bickering about using the ganui for their own pet research projects. Then the crown prince shows up, accompanied by a group of officials. Youngsil is one of them; he tells the scholars to knock it off and work on the Joseon calendar science project, which is far more important because it will lead to better weather forecasting.
"Calendar science?" Wang Zhen has informed the now-teenage Ming emperor. The boy is very irritated at the possibility that Joseon might have its own calendar. "What proof do you have?"
We see Huang Zan being tortured by Haishou. "Confess! What did you give Joseon in exchange for the self-striking water clock?" Wang Zhen enters, answering Haishou's question: "The emperor's right to rule the heavens--you turned that over to the Joseonese." Huang denies giving them anything.
Sejong asks Jo Malseng to go on the winter solstice diplomatic mission to Ming. Jo doesn't really want to go--he has a bad back--but intelligence reports suggest that things are dicey in Ming, specifically, that Wang Zhen has won the young emperor's favor. So Sejong apparently wants someone of Jo's experience to go. Later, he tells Jo that there are things he wants him to take with him (not things, but people, it turns out), and hopes he can come up with a valid cover story for them.
Jo is meeting with Hall of Worthies scholars. There's an opportunity for a scholar exchange with Hanlin Academy, and two Hall of Worthies scholars will have the opportunity to go. Hanlin has always resisted such an exchange in the past; why the change of heart? Turns out, Prince Anpyeong has developed a style of calligraphy that has become very popular in Ming. So he's been invited and can bring two scholars with him. Anpyeong has chosen Shin Sukju and Sung Sammun. Jo likes the choice, but Choi Manli objects: "Both are much too eccentric. One is crazy about language, the other is a poetry, calligraphy and arts fanatic." But the Emperor is the same way, Jo says, and they might become friends and nothing would be better for the Ming-Joseon relationship. Jeong Inji agrees with Jo; he just tells Jo to "keep an eye on them so they do not make mistakes." Jo smiles.
Later, Choi is complaining again to Jeong about the alphabet project he suspects exists, but Jeong reminds him he's been digging for evidence for five years and hasn't proven anything. So give it up, he advises; the whole purpose of the Hall of Worthies is "to share our wisdom with the king, not question him or weaken him."
The water clock strikes 9 p.m. The Hall of Worthies scholars are still at the office, but now Sukju and Sammun are trying to get the elder ones to call it a day so everyone can go home. But Choi Manli, among others, won't go. "That bell has nothing to do with our schedule," he says, and the current project isn't done yet. But Sukju and Sammun are going to leave anyway; their own assignments are finished and they're hungry. So they leave. This arouses suspicion among the three suspicious scholars (Choi, Gim Mun and Jeong Changson). Jeong discreetly tails them as they leave the building. Outside, Sukju and Sammun make plans in audibly loud voices to go to a certain gisaeng house. Then after Jeong goes back inside, they drop the act and climb over a palace wall, and head for a meeting with Sejong.
Sejong tells them that the language research is at a stalemate and they could really use Huang Zan's advice (remember, Huang is a top scholar) on studying vowel and consonant sounds. So that's what he assigns them to do when they go to Ming.
Still that evening: Attendants scurry into the crown princess' home.
At the observatory: The Prince Star (last star of the Little Dipper) is shining exceptionally brightly tonight. The crown prince is there; he's told that this is an omen. A good omen. Then an excited Ogeun runs in to tell him that his wife is in labor! With the star shining so brightly, the scholars tell him, "a royal grandson is certain to be born, your highness."
We see the crown princess, identified as Kwon Seunghui, in labor.
The queen and escort Han are smiling and excited about the pending delivery. The queen is beaming with happiness.
Hyang wants to see his wife, but escort Han won't let him in! Doing so would go against royal tradition, she explains. "Human feelings are more important than tradition," he argues to her, and then the queen shows up and agrees with him. "Go in. It'll give her strength to see you." So he goes in to see her. He tells her he hopes it will be an easy delivery. "The child has been gentle in my womb," she says; "he takes after you, so he won't bring me too much pain." He's going to leave the room now (this sure was the olden days!) but says he's leaving his heart behind with her. From the tender way he talks to her and touches her, we can tell that he's more mature and comfortable than five years ago, and is very happy with her as his wife.
Back in the Ming torture room: "You are responsible for their possession of astrological knowledge," Wang tells the captive Huang. Huang only mutters, "This is a setup!" But then Wang has Yehjin brought into the room, and gets him to say that it was Jang Youngsil who Huang dealt with when he and Huang were in Joseon as envoys.
Wang reports this back to the emperor. "Then he must be Sejong's most treasured subject," the boy concludes. "Kill him and strip Sejong of his honor." But then he seems to change his mind; in the next sentence he wants Jang captured (maybe to be killed after capture; this was a bit fuzzy).
The crown prince visits Youngsil to ask him about some glass that Youngsil purchased from India. What's it for? It was at the king's instruction, Youngsil says, but we don't really learn anything more about it. (Presumably we will later.)
Meeting with scholars, Hyang tells them he wants them to develop a system for accurately measuring rainfall. This will help with flood control.
Outside, Hyang and the scholars are dressed incognito and are walking around a public street when the prince sees a little boy taking a leak into a bucket-like container. He asks the kid about it; the kid's father, it turns out, saves the urine as fertilizer. Something about the liquid-accumulation aspect of the scene clicks in Hyang's head, and he has a Eureka moment: "That's it!" He picks up the boy and throws him in the air with joy, in the process knocking the bucket over and spilling the urine. This scares the kid, who tells him he'd better refill it!
No baby yet. The crown princess is having a difficult labor, and all of the women gathered are becoming concerned.
Youngsil presents Sejong and Hyang with the final plains for the rain gauge. It's a simple tubular container consisting of three equal cast-iron segments, put together. Why three segments? Because this will increase the measurement accuracy in spring and summer, when there's less rainfall. (Presumably the idea is to remove the top one or two segments so you can get a better view and reading of small accumulations of rain.) The gauge is also built to minimize inaccuracy due to temperature variation. Both of these ideas were Hyang's, we learn.
Out in a courtyard, a platform has been built for the formal unveiling of the first gauge. Why a platform? Yi Chun tells Hyang says that the gauge will be the first gift for the new royal grandson, so they're making things a little extra-special.
Still no baby, just a princess in a LOT of discomfort. "She's been in labor for days," the queen says. "Something has to be done!"
Hyang explains to his father his inspiration for his work on the rain gauge: "The tradition of this royal house is the king's willingness to work every waking moment of this days for the people." Just like his father does.
Finally! It was long and it was awful, but at last the cries of a healthy baby boy. "You did it, my child," Soheon tells a groggy crown princess.
Sejong and Hyang get the news. Immediately Sejong wants to go to his grandson (an immediate and visible onset of grandparent-mania!). But Jachi physically steps in his way, reminding him that "until the straw festoon is removed..." I know, Sejong says, cutting him off, but we can at least listen to him cry from outside. (Note: According to my research, it's a long-standing Korean tradition to hang a charcoal-containing straw festoon outside of a delivery room to protect the newborn from diseases and evil spirits. But I'm not sure why it has to be removed before a father or grandfather can enter the room.)
So they head over there...and see escort Han urgently summoning the royal physician. Not for the baby, but for the princess. Hyang ducks under a rope barrier and rushes inside.
The princess is unconscious, completely wiped out. The queen can't seem to wake her. "She will be all right," she tells her son, but neither one of them seems too sure of that. Then the princess awakens, enough to open her eyes and ask about the child--"May I see him?" Her new son is laid beside her; we get a glimpse of him (a healthy-looking four-week old baby! Always makes me laugh that TV doesn't want to show newborns in their wrinkled-up purple-and-reddishness.) "Are you a healthy boy?", she says to him. "Then you won't be a heavy burden to your father and those who will raise you." Uh-oh; this doesn't sound good at all. "Go easy on your father," she says, and then asks the child to be taken away--"I want no shadows cast upon him. Don't let him see his mother dying." As the baby is removed, she tells Soheon, "I can feel it. It's hopeless." To Hyang she says, "I wanted to be with you forever." Hyang, holding her hand, is beyond distraught: "I must be punished, not you." But she tells him softly, "Don't blame yourself. You did nothing wrong. None of this is your fault." And her hand slips from his. She dies.
A devastated Hyang doesn't go home but heads for the regularly scheduled ministers meeting to try to wrap up the day's state affairs. At the meeting he commands production of the rain gauges to be started. He also orders arrangements made for their distribution, and commands the military to make observations of potential flood dangers around the country. He gives these instructions in a near-trance and with a weak voice; then he gets up ad leaves. "The crown prince is so much like his father," Yi Chun observes. Jo Malseng warns, "He'd better cool it" and NOT try so hard to be like his father or he'll wear himself out.
As Hyang leaves, some of the Hall of Worthies scholars are waiting for him in a hallway. Ha Wiji is holding a jug and offers Hyang a drink. Seeing the obvious irony, Hyang answers, "I'm not interested if it doesn't involve a bet." The scholars are understandably concerned about the prince's welfare, but he mechanically gives them an assignment to disperse around the country, among the regional magistrates, and act as crop assessors for the coming harvest. "While I have failed to stop natural disasters," he says, possibly referring in part to his own personal disaster, "I must stop man-made disasters." He adds, "I’m asking for your help," as he leaves. But Ha gently contradicts him, more for support than to correct him: "You are to command us. A ruler must command his subordinates." Ha wants him to be strong. Sukju adds, "We will always be behind you and your newborn son." The prince appreciates the sentiment and puts his hand on Sukju's arm (and here comes that schmaltzy pop ballad again).
Later (as the tune continues), evening has fallen and we see Hyang alone outside in the pouring rain, weeping bitterly. (You've just seen your loving wife die right in front of you, laa dee daa dee daa. AAAUGH.) He's actually standing next to the prototype rain gauge, which he can see is doing its job. It makes the moment all the more emotional for him. Youngsil, coming out on a porch, sees the prince and starts to head out to him, but from behind, Sejong puts his hand on Youngsil's shoulder: "Leave him alone for a while. He probably needed a place to hide and cry. I'm quite sure he did."
"How much more of his tears," Sejong wonders, "will that container have to hold on his rocky path to becoming king? In a way, that rain gauge is a gauge for the king's tears and not for the rainfall."
The episode ends with a crawl about the rain gauge:
AD 1441, 23rd year of Sejong's reign: Crown Prince Yi Hyang invented the rain guage. It was the world's first quantitative rain gauge, invented nearly 200 years before Castelli's invention of the rain gauge in Italy in 1639. On May 19, 1442, Joseon instituted a nationwide standardized rainfall measurement policy and opened a new chapter in the history of flood control through accurate precipitation measurement. In 1957 the Korean government proclaimed May 19 as National Inventor's Day in honor of the day that rainfall measurement policy was instituted.
