Episode 16
The celestial globe is finally spinning.
Amazing.
Looking at this, I feel like this could change the world.
You could actually make it happen sooner.
Because of your calculation,
we were able to install the weight, which is very difficult to do.
I was able to help only because you believed in me.
If it is about arithmetics, I can help you any time.
You two are making me realise that Joseon's future is very hopeful.
You've done an amazing job.
Thank you for your kind words.
I'd like to tell everyone about this as soon as possible,
including those in high positions in the Palace.
Those people only care about their corporeal needs.
They just love talking nonsense...
and abstract gibberish.
Anyway, Officer Jang. You've done a great job.
Gosh, it's already noon.
I said I'd be back in the Office of Astrology by 1pm.
I need to rush back.
When I look at this,
I think of Yeong Sil.
Yeong Sil made this five years ago.
Is that really true?
I guess you didn't know.
When we were in Beijing, Yeong Sil made...
the celestial globe spin like I did.
At the time, Yeong Sil and I...
could have died because of it.
But he did it.
Thanks to him, I could live.
But...
the fact that Yeong Sil spared me my life.
Do you know what made me feel more miserable and defeated than that?
A torquetum from the Middle East was in my possession at the time.
And funnily enough,
as soon as Yeong Sil saw the torquetum,
he figured out how the simplified armilla was supposed to work.
I had it in my hands way before he even saw it.
My mind was all twisted like that of a monster.
That is why I couldn't figure out the simplified armilla in it.
Had I thought like Yeong Sil,
I wouldn't have had to do such foolish things.
I beat myself up and regretted deeply while I locked myself up.
Perhaps I'm...
still battling the monster in my heart.
Officer Jang,
you are such a wonderful person.
So please...
Please expel the monster out of your heart.
Yes, Your Highness.
I'm devoting myself to this water clock...
because I want that monster gone.
I wish to make an armillary sphere that spins,
which Yeong Sil couldn't do.
If I could beat Yeong Sil just once,
the monster could...
leave my heart on its own.
It could really leave me at peace. That's what I think at least.
I don't agree.
You don't have to do that.
I trust that you can...
make the monster disappear even without it.
Your Highness.
When I complete this water clock,
may I tell you my wish?
Your wish?
As you were watching the water clock operate,
I was looking at your smile.
The reason why I want to complete this so much...
might not be only because of Yeong Sil.
You could be the reason as well.
I'm finally realising it.
Jang Yeong Sil.
Jang Yeong Sil is alive?
I cannot believe what I'm hearing at the moment.
Indeed.
What's more? Even before I went there,
he was already working on polishing stones...
and making stone harps in Namyang.
He would like to send them to you, Your Majesty.
He must still remember what I said to him in the past.
Tell me. Did he seem to be doing well?
Minister Jo Doo Sik told me that...
he still can't forget the first day Yeong Sil showed up in the village.
He thought that a lunatic showed up...
I sincerely apologise, Your Majesty.
Please continue.
A man was standing as if he was there to embrace the sky.
At first, Minster Jo thought that he was a crazy man.
Sir Jang said,
"The energies of the skies and the earth are all connected."
"I was standing there to feel the energy."
I am envious of Yeong Sil.
It is difficult for me...
to even step out of this Palace.
Things probably...
happened this way so that Jang Yeong Sil can...
feel and learn all these things on your behalf, Your Majesty.
I think that...
Sir Jang could grow into a wiser man because of you.
I am sure that he has been helping others...
and not wasting even a second of his time.
Your Majesty.
I trust that it is now time to bring him back to the Palace.
He has probably been hiding all these years...
because he was worried that I could be harmed...
if people find out that he is still alive.
Perhaps he created...
his own path...
to come back to me and to the Palace.
Your Majesty.
Princess So Hyun would like an audience with you.
So Hyun.
I have great news to tell you.
Gosh, stop making so much fuss!
I'm sure Suk Gu will bring him safely.
I guess I got too excited after hearing the unexpected news...
that he is visiting.
I admit that I was acting like a child.
(Lee Chun: Deputy Minister of Public Works)
Are you not happy to see me?
I'm the one who has been supporting you all these years.
This is making me a little sad.
Is that why you punched me so hard?
My jaw is still hurting.
My hand is hurting more!
Why is your jawbone so hard?
Sir.
Hey, Jang Yeong Sil!
My lord!
It's been such a long time.
And you are here in Joseon. I feel as if I'm dreaming now.
Thank you for coming all the way here.
This must feel like a dream to Yeong Sil.
He couldn't even sleep last night as he was too excited to see you.
I also feel as if I am dreaming at the moment.
I heard that you were involved in an unfortunate accident,
and I was absolutely devastated.
I almost felt that...
the entire studies of astronomy and science came to an end.
I am beyond grateful to see you alive and well like this.
There are so many stories that I'd like to tell you.
There are many things I'd like to show you as well.
Am I invisible to you?
Gosh, my lady.
I am very pleased to see you again.
(Ju Bu Ryeong: Ju Tae Kang's daughter)
I am not pleased at all.
I didn't even want to come here.
You rushed us to get here quickly even when we were in Hanyang.
There is something I have to show you, Lord Ju.
Please come with me.
Come here.
How much is a bunch?
Hello.
This is what you wanted to show us?
I thought you made something amazing like Su Song's water clock.
You brought us all the way to this market to show us this?
I am the magistrate of Namyang, Jo Doo Sik.
I am truly honoured and pleased to welcome...
the Emperor's royal relative here in Namyang.
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Look at this.
Everyday at 11am,
this area in front of your clock...
turns into a market.
Every villager knows that people gather here at 11am.
So they finish their work on their farms early in the morning...
and come here to exchange goods and produce.
Words have spread,
and even people from the village next to ours come here nowadays.
Look! How lively is this!
You made this happen.
Gosh, I didn't do anything.
It's just that the villagers started thinking...
it would be good to gather at a certain time...
to exchange good and produce.
This is interesting. It is very interesting, indeed.
What is interesting?
I now know what you really wanted to show me.
Yeong Sil, you must still remember what I had told you about...
the astronomical clock in Europe.
With a public clock like that,
people can have faith that they can meet at promised times.
When that happens, people will start trading for what they need...
in a way that is very different from how it is done now.
In Europe, public clocks are contributing greatly...
to development of commerce, which obviously leads to...
making the countries become more prosperous.
People think that only those in the lowest class are engaged in it.
But I trust that...
commerce is what could propel and enable the people to be prosperous.
Bu Ryeong.
Take a good look at this.
This small clock is changing the lives of these villagers.
What Yeong Sil wanted to show us...
isn't this clock.
What he really wanted us to see...
is how the villagers' lives have changed because of this clock.
Is this true?
Yeong Sil, you are pretty impressive.
I didn't expect this outcome when I first started.
The villagers have taught me so much.
These people are not puppets that can be manipulated by the kingdom.
When the right environment is given,
all of them work proactively for betterment of their lives,
and the entire village becomes lively.
This clock made me realise that...
all of my studies from books are useless.
This small clock that embraces the wonders of the universe...
enriches and enlivens the people's lives.
As a magistrate, I just...
kept worrying about what people in Hanyang would think of my work.
The fact that I was focused on my personal success embarrasses me.
So I come here as often as I can these days...
to observe the villagers to make sure that they are well.
I find it very fun.
Father.
What Yeong Sil is doing in Namyang now is...
what you have always told me about...
That is correct. It is called humanism.
Yeong Sil, the man who has special talents in astronomy and science,
has also opened his eyes to humanistic studies now.
Astronomy belongs to humanistic studies in a large sense.
He has realised the fact that it is all about people.
I see. That was what I was doing.
The more I studied astronomy, the more I thought of this.
Just like the sky, day and night exist in all of us.
Summer and winter also exist in us.
We, humans,
truly resemble the sky, indeed.
Yes.
I agree with you, Yeong Sil.
The people are the skies of the nation.
If a world, where people are the focus, can arrive in the future,
it could mean that a need for monarchy might disappear.
Lord Ju.
That is...
That sounds a little too extreme.
If it happens, it'd be after all of us die anyway.
Please do not worry too much.
How could the world not need a monarchy?
I think that would be impossible, my lord.
The sun is neither an emperor nor a king. It is just the sun.
All celestial events are natural phenomena, not omens for disasters.
When everyone finds out that...
such astronomical phenomena and the sky itself...
do not belong to the Emperor or the King,
it would only be a natural thing that all those who gained power...
using the sky would collapse and fall hard.
Stop, you fool.
He's throwing a fit because I didn't tell him that...
you are Jang Yeong Sil.
Gosh, he's being silly.
Hey.
Hit me with that and forgive us, okay?
- Goodness. - Come on!
Here.
Let's get it done quickly and start packing.
All of us have to go to Hanyang together.
Yeong Sil.
Did you really decide to go to Hanyang?
Yes. It sort of happened that way.
I wasn't going to go.
But hearing what Lord Lee and Sir Park said...
changed my mind.
Yeong Sil, Hanyang is a dangerous place.
That city is filled with people who want to harm you.
I know.
But it's not like I'm staying here to be safe.
I'll feel the same no matter where I am.
Right. I thought of a good idea.
- I will tell you about it later. - I'm not sure about this...
Yes! I'm going to Hanyang!
- Hey, get down! - Stop bugging Yeong Sil!
Hey, get down now!
The moon is round and bright
Let's go out to the field
The moon is shining brightly over my head
It is pouring light unto my path
- I'm having so much fun. - This is great!
It is bringing me good luck
The moon is round and bright
Let's go out to the field
The moon is shining brightly over my head
- It is pouring light unto my path - Here, take this.
I'm loving this!
My lord!
Why are you here all alone?
Well,
I just wanted to look at the stars quietly alone.
The sky that you feel so connected with.
I wanted to think about it too.
Isn't it amazing?
Yes. It is, indeed.
- Yeong Sil. - Yes, my lord.
When did you start having those thoughts?
The thought about how astronomy should be about people.
The thought about wanting to change people's lives through astronomy.
After losing Sir Lim and Sir Park like that,
I thought hard about what I should do.
"Shall I slash up all of those jerks?"
It's possible that I'd fail in my attempt and lose my life,
but I didn't think it was right to not do anything.
"I'll kill them. I'll kill them all."
"Then I'll take my own life too."
"No."
"I should go to Lord Lee Chun and tell him everything."
"I should ask him to kill all those jerks."
"I should meet the King..."
"and ask him to kill all of them."
However,
my existence alone could endanger the King, so I couldn't do that.
I felt extremely powerless and guilty, so I just wandered around.
I didn't want to think about anything.
But I found myself repeatedly saying,
"Sir Park and Sir Lim. I'm sorry I'm the only one alive like this."
"I'm sorry that I can't even take revenge for you."
Master Hee Je spared me my life,
but my life after that was no different from death.
Regardless of what was on my mind,
it was truly agonising.
I wandered around like an insane man.
Then when I was starving, I stuffed my face with food.
As I was eating,
I burst into tears because I was utterly disgusted with myself.
Then one day,
I looked up in the sky.
My curiosity, which I thought I had lost forever, came back.
"What is this?"
"This is a persimmon."
"But what fell on my face isn't a persimmon."
"It is a force. Where can this force be used?"
I couldn't help but think that I was being ridiculous.
"Did the sadness go away?"
"No, it didn't."
I was still sad, but the persimmon fruit completely changed me.
That was the point...
that I started noticing the stars again.
"Samsu is absolutely beautiful."
"I wasn't aware of its beauty."
"These stars are only visible in fall and winter."
"Now, I'm realising that they look like a butterfly together."
"The constellation next to them, Jeongsu."
"You look like two people holding hands together."
"At a glance, they look like they're overlapping each other."
"The stars I observed yesterday look different today."
"People have named them Samsu and Jeongsu."
"Well, I could come up with my own names for them."
I kept observing the stars like that...
and imagined various shapes inhabiting the sky.
Time just flew when I was observing the sky.
I guess I let my imagination run a bit too wild.
Among the stars, I could see your face,
Suk Gu's face...
and the King's face.
Princess So Hyun's face too.
I missed everyone terribly.
I prayed to Venus,
"Tell Princess So Hyun that I am alive."
I imagined that it'd listen to my prayer.
"But what I can do? I can't see them."
That is when I started noticing people.
"Shall I make things that people might need?"
That is why I started making little objects,
and I came this far.
What you saw in Namyang.
It just shows you how much I missed all of you in Hanyang.
You fool. You should have told me at least.
Why were you so foolishly holding all these things inside of you?
All that sorrow, anger and resentment melted away...
as I was looking at the smiles on people's faces when they were...
using the objects I made for them.
Now, I don't want to waste even a second of my time hating anyone.
I asked myself.
"Yeong Sil."
"You're going to die anyway. Why did you get born into this world?"
"You could've died many times. Why are you still alive?"
And I found my answer.
My skilled hands.
My talents for the studies of science and nature.
Yes.
That is why I was born.
I am destined to use my talents to help others.
The more we live, the closer we get to our last day in this world.
The amount of time we could spend together will only keep decreasing.
Hence, I decided to focus on those whom I respect and admire...
as well as all those whom I love.
In order to be able to do that,
I have to work harder.
Look at this fool.
How can you lie like that?
If you cared about me that much, why did you not even...
give me a hint about you being alive like this?
You are right, my lord.
He is clearly lying.
You went through so much.
It is bringing me good luck
The moon is round and bright
Let's go out to see the stars
At sunset appears the Well
At sunrise appears
(Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hanyang)
Park Yeon's new stone harp...
seems to be perfectly in tune.
We made that possible.
With Jang Yeong Sil gone,
the King is finally able to focus on the issues...
that are worth paying attention to.
You are right.
They say music is used to soothe and entertain,
and that in turn makes it possible to rule well.
Confucianism is based on a principle that ceremonial formality...
and music should complement each other.
The King finally realised that.
The man...
who cut the stones had skill beyond belief.
Do you know who he is?
I do not, but he accomplished something amazing.
Our ancestors said that only a learned man can master music.
Cutting the stones explains that he know the principles.
He must be a noble.
You are very right.
We should go less we be late.
We have a meeting to attend.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
Your Majesty.
The stone harp's clear music...
was pleasing to my ears.
Now, finally, our meetings will begin and end with music.
This was...
never possible in the previous dynasty.
I congratulate you, Your Majesty.
Never was a day...
more emotional than this.
Your Majesty. We finally have an orchestra...
that can compete with that of Ming's.
Your Majesty.
The stone harp that was played this morning...
sounded grand enough to become the standard for all stone harps.
I beg of you to award the man who made this,
hereby making it possible for us to live by the great teachings...
of Confucius, who taught that music is an important part of politics.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You should commend his effort.
Summon the man who made the stone harp.
Your Majesty.
Punish me...
for not visiting or contacting you...
in so many years.
So you came back.
Jang Yeong Sil.
Let's dance.
Join us.
The court records say...
King Sejong set the standards for ceremonial music,
Park Yeon set the standards for musical theory...
and that the instruments Jang Yeong Sil made...
were extremely elaborate.
You leave tomorrow?
Why don't you stay longer?
The banquet you hosted in my honour...
gave me more reason to leave.
Stay any longer and people will say an old man...
came to inconvenience you.
All I wished to do was show my gratitude,
and I ended up sending you away instead.
I wish to thank you, Your Majesty.
You sent Yeong Sil to Ming where we were able to meet.
I received great gifts from him both when we were in Ming,
and when we met again here.
Lord Ju said great things are happening in your village.
The stories he told made me want to visit.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What you see would please you greatly.
You must be on guard, Your Majesty.
I am a Ming official.
I wouldn't want to see Joseon...
do better than Ming in astronomy or science.
As soon as I return, I will gather our scientists...
and have them study and work much harder.
You will have to brace yourself.
We shall try our very best so as not to fall behind.
We can have another contest to see who has done better...
in a few years' time.
I expect you to be witness.
Yes, my lord.
This is grand.
When did...
You worked hard.
Yeong Sil.
I think I'm good at trading.
When Eul Sun married me,
Princess So Hyun gave her a few rings and a hairpin.
We sold that to open a stall and look at it now.
Wow.
You are famous as a servant who is now exempt from servitude.
I'll become famous as a servant who did well in the marketplace.
- Wait and see. - I will.
You do that.
Her Highness will meet you here.
Thank you.
Are you ready to pay for letting Yeong Sil live?
Come with me.
(Kim Hak Joo)
Your Highness...
What are you doing?
Are you all right?
Your Highness.
Get out of here.
This isn't good.
She's Princess So Hyun, the King's sister.
Let's get going.
I can't stand this.
You idiot.
How dare you!
This is for letting Yeong Sil live.
Jang.
(Jang Hee Je's home)
Yeong Sil.
I know where the Princess is.
Your Highness.
Get out of here.
Jang Yeong Sil is here.
How is he?
The doctor said...
he will wake up in due time.
Jang put...
a lot of effort into making this simplified armilla.
I was able to...
use this to observe the night sky,
and calm myself.
I knew that...
he would succeed.
Don't you think this is a grand multi-levelled clock?
I didn't think he would make one.
When I heard the chimes for the first time,
I was utterly captivated.
He did...
a great job.
He said...
you made this clock five years ago.
I didn't know you had made Su Song's water clock,
or that you were alive.
There's...
a lot I didn't know about you.
Even after I heard you were dead,
I waited for you.
I apologise for...
not being able to contact you to say...
I was alive.
Don't apologise.
I am pleased you are back.
You have become...
someone great, someone who is out of my reach.
That thought...
pleases me...
and saddens me at the same time.
Your Highness.
The sky is clouded.
It is.
It will rain for many days.
We won't see the stars for a while.
I think Venus...
will be invisible for many days as well.
The Noon Drum...
failed us.
It's raining and...
the water clock is broken?
What should we do about this?
We failed to open the city gates on time,
and the people are very confused and scared.
The sundial and water clock are my responsibility.
I have wronged the court,
the King and the people I serve.
We have nothing to tell the time with.
How could this even be happening?
Your Majesty, I am afraid to inform you that...
it has been raining for five days. We cannot see the stars at night,
or the sun during the day.
Even the water clock is out of order,
and we have nothing to tell the time with.
Joseon has lost track of time.
It is such a pity that something like this...
is still an issue.
I called the ministers,
Jang Hee Je,
and Yeong Sil, who is very good with science,
to discuss whether we can make a reliable water clock.
Your Majesty.
We can fix the water clock.
Must we waste our funds...
trying to create a new one?
Yes, Your Majesty.
The current situation is an unfortunate one,
but I do not think it justifies creating a new water clock.
How could you say that?
We failed to inform the public what time it is,
and their lives have been thrown into disarray.
The exhausted drummers keep missing when to beat their drums,
and the sundial is useless when it rains.
Now even the water clock has failed to give an accurate time.
Why do you say we don't need a new one?
We can fix the existing one so that it works properly.
You were against our research because you didn't want to...
upset the Ming Emperor.
Now we have his permission. Our King paved the way...
so we can study and make what we want.
Why...
have you not changed one bit?
How dare you raise your voice.
Calm down, everyone.
Your Majesty, I heard that...
(Jo Mal Saeng)
Jang Hee Je made...
a replica of Su Song's water clock.
Is this true?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Based on the design of Su Song's water clock,
I made a water-powered clock.
It is drained now,
but it will work as soon as I fill it with water.
My clock chimes to tell the time.
Even if the drummers fall asleep,
the chimes will wake them,
and they will be able to beat their drums on time.
So...
you made a water clock that makes a sound to tell the time?
Yes, my lord.
If it chimes,
that will solve...
the problem we have with the exhausted drummers.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Can you have it brought to the Palace right now?
It is still incomplete.
Like Su Song's water clock,
all I have to do is place an armillary sphere on top,
and make it spin.
It has an armillary sphere?
Your Majesty.
I call it the Haedong Water Clock,
the water clock of Joseon.
Because it is set to our sun.
The Haedong Water Clock?
That is a lovely name.
Your Majesty.
It must have taken Jang a lot of money...
to build such a thing.
You should award him...
to acknowledge the hard work he put in for the people.
We could also appoint the Haedong Water Clock...
as our new official clock,
which will cancel the need for a discussion.
I second that suggestion, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
We cannot use the sundial when it rains,
and now our water clock is broken.
When you said Joseon had lost track of time,
it pained me.
Have Jang bring in the Haedong Water Clock...
that he made alone,
so that Joseon can get back on track.
Officer Jang.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I commend your hard work.
The Haedong Water Clock is our new official clock.
Have it installed.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
The Haedong Water Clock cannot be our official clock.
Why do you say that?
It follows the design of Su Song's water clock.
It is not accurate enough.
To prevent our current problems from reoccurring in the future,
we must make a new clock in a new way.
(Jang Yeong Sil)
It looks just like the one we saw in Beijing.
Well done.
It is clear to me that Yeong Sil is making something.
The Haedong Water Clock is not accurate enough to be official.
We must make a new clock in a new way.
If Yeong Sil said the armillary sphere won't spin,
there must be a reason.
What do you mean?
I think Yeong Sil is making a water clock somewhere.