The “Weeping Dragon”, a leader who cares for the people of Joseon
Oh My Star News, 29 June 2020, Original article in Korean, non-verbatim courtesy translation by ParkSihooSsi.com
“Wind, Cloud and Rain 바람과 구름과 비 (King maker: Change of Destiny)”: The epidemic is fatst turning into a river. What makes a leader?
Episode 12 of TV Chosun’s historical drama “Wind, Cloud and Rain 바람과 구름과 비 (King maker: Change of Destiny)” (aired on 27 June 2020) raised to its highest viewer rating of 6.327%, nationwide. With a total of 24 episodes (Editor note: error in this article, it should be 21 episodes), the production team’s desired rating of 10 percent is worth looking forward to, given that it is now over the mid-point.
Why was it able to increase the ratings despite being broadcast at 2250h on Saturdays and Sundays? Is it because it is quenching viewers’ thirst for an authentic historical dramas after such a long time? In particular, it is expected that a scene in which the actors’ passionate performances and hard work are evident may have satisfied the viewers.
The history of the late Joseon Dynasty, which has been marred by power politics and incompetent power, is already too familiar to us. “Wind, Cloud and Rain 바람과 구름과 비 (King maker: Change of Destiny)” is gaining positive reviews by reinterpreting familiar history using “fortune telling” and “Principlism” in a slightly different way.
But that’s not all. The drama is filled with the learning of “Ongo Jisin,” which looked at today through the old ways. In particular, the plague that covered the Joseon Dynasty in Episode 12 is another mirror of our time that has yet to escape the nightmare of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Power play during a crisis. Who will emerge the leader?
Power game surrounding the royal family
Lee Hajeon (played by Eru), the most powerful successor to King Cheoljong who has no heir, attacked Kim Byungun (played by Kim Seungsoo) of the Jangdong Kims for illegally accumulating wealth, but ended up losing his life after receiving poison at his place of excile. Queen Dowager Cho Shinjeong (played by Kim Boyeon), who tried to preserve the future of her family as well as herself, then stopped and laid low. In contrast, a fortune-teller named Song Jin appeared with Youngun-gun, the son of King Cheoljong’s half brother. Attracted to Youngun-gun, who has the same birth signs as Lee Hajeon and also a similar scar, she urged King Cheoljong to quickly decide on his successor.
Lee Haeung (played by Jun Kwanryul), the father of Lee Jaehwang (played by Park Sanghoon), whom Choi Cheonjung (played by Park Sihoo) had declared as the future King, has a hidden desire for power and to raise the standing of his family. However, this was hindered by the sudden appearance of Youngun-gun, who had the powerful Jangdong Kim clan behind him, making the power game even more interesting.
In response, King Cheoljong summoned Choi Cheonjung, who had earlier declared Lee Jaehwang the future King. The two fortune tellers, Choi Cheonjung and Song Jin, argued over who is the real King. The two decided that the accuracy of their prophecies of the future of the country will determine who was truthful in the choice of the future King.
In order to win the favor of the Queen Dowager, Song Jin promised that the future of the country will be peaceful and that the King will even the birth of the third generation within the year. On the other hand, Choi Cheonjung, as a result of his celestial observations of the recent months, predicted that the country will suffer from a plague epidemic. Having suffered a crisis due to plague in the third year of his reign, King Cheoljong was shaken by the prophecy and this may eventually threaten his life.
Fate twisted everything and everyone
Why did Choi Cheonjung make such an ominous prophecy?
So why did Choi Cheonjung predict the most sinister fortune for Joseon in front of King Cheoljong? In fact, the plague has already begun to circulate around the poor villages. People are unconscious from vomiting on the streets, but officials of Hye Min-seo and Hanseong-bu, who are in charge of this, are watching the fire with their arms crossed. King Cheoljong, the chief of state affairs, should know this, but even the “report” system was blocked through the interference of the influential Jangdong Kims. At the risk of his own life, Choi Cheonjung urged the King to prepare for the plague, as this would determine the next King.
Wind, Cloud and Rain 바람과 구름과 비 (King maker: Change of Destiny)” also revealed the naked face of the power surrounding the plague. When the plague began to circulate in earnest and money is needed to pay for treatments, the Jangdong Kim snouted and dismissed it, saying, “The poor village is a place where the diseases happen frequently because it is humid. Don’t waste money on these people.” For them, the money of the country is their money, not the money of the people.
TV Chosun Drama Youtube Video – Episode 12 “Wind, Cloud and Rain”: Park Sihoo predicts the disaster for the country!, 27 June 2020
https://youtu.be/Ur4KO1t0k_M
The situation in which the power elite and officials below them seem to be watching the plague spreading around the poor villages clearly showed why the Jangdong family’s Joseon dynasty is a ” sinking ship.” There are those who rushed to the center of the plague, while the center of “power” did nothing but left it to the hands of the people. When you think of the historical character Empress Myeongseong, you will have an idea of Min Jayoung (played by Park Jungyeon) who took care of the poor children and led Bongryeon (played by Ko Sunghee) who received her request and went to the poor village.
When Bongryeon asked, “Why do you do it?” Min Jayoung used what Choi Cheonjung said, “Shouldn’t I do it to save the country that is broken by the Jangdong Kims?” And just as Min Jayoung was impressed, Choi Cheonjung appeared with medicine for the plague, which he got from all over the country with his own money.
Choi Cheongjung desperately trying to turn the tide
Choi Cheonjung who foresaw the plague after reading the astronomical signs by the river earlier, asked his right-hand man, Yong Palryong about the future. “When a ship is sinking, will you escape from it, or will you try to save the people on that sinking ship? Joseon is the sinking ship.” Choi Cheonjung had already foreseen the fate of Joseon, when he was surviving alone on the wall and learning to master “fortune telling Myeongri”.
Instead of escaping from the sinking Joseon, Choi Cheonjung decided to save the people and used his wisdom to seek medicine for the epidemic. However, the Jangdong Kims and the government, who were in a political crisis, reacted to such good intentions forcefully, saying that Choi Cheonjung was spreading the plague. Although he took the lead in treating the plague, Choi Cheonjung was arrested and being taken away.
TV Chosun Drama Youtube Video – Episode 13 “Wind, Cloud and Rain”: Yong Palryung appeared and saved Choi Cheonjung from a crisis, 28 June 2020
https://youtu.be/dL0LQ1uXA2E
Who is the king?
As the plague struck, Lee Haeung said now was not the time to discuss the King succession. But instead the counterattack on the plague raised questions about who was the real King. If Lee Haeung was angry at Kim Byungun for not allocating funding for the plague and poured mud on welfare officials, it is worth understanding why the Daewongun wanted to rebuild Joseon despite various setbacks.
On the other hand, Youngun-gun who appeared simply because he was the son of King Cheoljong’s half-brother, is a reminder of a second King Cheoljong. As the King struggled for control, “Wind, Cloud and Rain 바람과 구름과 비 (King maker: Change of Destiny)” followed the steps of Choi Cheonjung. He told the King to prepare for the plague. And did not hesitate to buy needed medicine for the plague with his own money.
Lee Bongryeon’s mother called him a “weeping dragon”. Isn’t the dragon an animal that symbolizes the King? In a kingdom where the King has to be “recognised” by bloodline, people started to flock to Choi Cheonjung, admiring his words and deeds. The movement from here, with Choi Cheonjung trying to save people from the sinking ship, will be become a leader that is truly needed in that era.
Hanging on to the King and clinging to petty lineage is another aspect of a sinking ship. And the bare face of power, which was revealed throughout the drama, left a bitter taste of the remnants of the Joseon Dynasty. On the other hand, the image of Choi Cheonjung hanging on, without giving up to the end, even if he foresaw the sinking Joseon, asked of us what should be the attributes of a true leader.
TV Chosun’s special drama “Wind, Cloud and Rain (King Maker: Change of Destiny) 바람과 구름과 비” will air every Saturday and Sunday night at 2250h Korean time.
Watch the drama “live” at this link:
http://broadcast.tvchosun.com/onair/on.cstv
TV Chosun Drama Youtube Video – Episode 13 “Wind, Cloud and Rain”: Choi Cheonjung tasked to save the people within three days!, 28 June 2020
https://youtu.be/-GOPAkrSomE
WCR风，云和雨新闻：危机中崛起的领袖
Oh My Star 新闻，2020年6月29日，韩文原著，由ParkSihooSsi.com提供的大概翻译
“风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“: 传染病蔓延，隔岸观火…问”领袖的条件“
朝鲜电视TV Chosun的古装史剧“风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“的第12集播出(2020年6月27日)创造了自身最高的收视率全国6.327%。 这部电视剧共24集（编辑：应该是21集），考虑到现在已经过半，制作组希望看到10%的收视率也是值得期待。
虽然周六、日晚上2250点播出，但是依然能获得高收视率的原因是什么呢? 可能是因为久违了的对正统古装历史剧的观众们的渴望。 特别是演员们的认真演出和努力的痕迹历历在目，每一幕都让观众感到满足。
因为势均力敌的政治和无能的权力而消亡的朝鲜历史对我们来说已经是非常熟悉的素材。 “风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“以“算命”和“四柱命利学”将熟悉的历史进行了一些不同的重新诠释，获得了好评。
但是不只是这个。 电视剧里充满了”欲古观今”，”温故知新”的学习。 特别是第12集登场的覆盖朝鲜的瘟疫，至今仍未能摆脱“冠型病毒”的噩梦，是我们时代的另一面镜子。
A struggle for power in the royal court
围绕王的权利游戏
没有后嗣的哲宗王最有力的继承人李昰全（李璐饰）虽然以非法积累财产为由攻击了张东金氏的金炳根（金胜洙饰），但最终还是赔上了命。 以他为先，想保全自己及自己家族未来的王太后赵氏（金宝妍饰），只能保住自己的位置。 在这样的对比面前，一个叫宋振的算命师带着永云君，哲宗同父异母兄弟的儿子的登场。 因为这孩子的的生辰八字与李昰全的是一样，再加上和他有着相似疤痕，所以王太后被永云君给打动催促哲宗王赶快确定继承。
之前崔天中（朴施厚饰）阐明是王宰的李载晃（朴尚勋饰）的父亲李昰应，隐藏着“权力欲望”，还有想要利用永云君来谋求自己家族。 但是突然登场的永云君背后却有真正的实权人物张东金氏家族，因此围绕后事的”权力游戏”变得更有趣了。
因此，哲宗王召集曾宣布李载晃为王的崔天中。 两位算命师崔天中和宋振争论谁是真正的王者。 两人决定由国家的未来预言，决定他们所选择的国王的真实性。
为博取王太后的欢心，宋振保证，国家的前途将是太平盛世，连世孙都将在今年内看到。 相反，崔天中最近一个月观察天机的结果，预言国家会爆发瘟疫。 早在哲宗三年，曹禺就因瘟疫而经历了一场危机，他被崔天中预言翻了个底朝天，并最终威胁到他的生命。
Why did Choi Cheonjung predict the plague?
崔天中为什么会做出不吉利的预言?
但为什么崔天中在哲宗王前预言最不吉利的运势呢? 事实上，瘟疫已经开始以穷村为中心蔓延。 人们无因在街上呕吐而失去意识倒下，但是负责这一情况的惠民署和汉城府的官员却袖手旁观。 身为国政最高负责人的哲宗王当然应该知道这一事实，但由于实权人物张东金氏的妨碍，连”报告”的程序也被封锁了。 作为回应，崔天中冒着生命危险来掩盖下一位国王，并建议国王为瘟疫做准备。
另外“风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“还揭露了权力的真面目。 瘟疫开始全面流行，需要一笔治疗所需的预算，在讨论其紧急性时，张东金氏以”贫村潮湿，是瘟疫经常发生的地方”为由，冷冷地一气呵成。 更不把国家的钱花在百姓身上。 对他们来说，国家的钱是自己的，不是花在老百姓身上的。
权力的实权者及其手下的官员对贫村为中心扩散的瘟疫，隔岸观火般的情况如实地反映了张东金氏世道的朝鲜为什么是”沉没的船”。 就这样，在”权力”的中心对百姓的事情袖手旁观的情况下，有些人跑到了疫病的中心。 历史上，我们所知的明成皇后的角色，就是照顾贫困儿童的闵紫英（朴贞妍饰）和接受了他的要求的李凤莲（高圣熙）奔向了穷村。
当凤莲问起”为什么要是妳”时，闵紫英说”为了拯救被张东金氏毁坏的流接所，国家难道不应该做吗?” 而且就像感化了闵紫英一样，崔天中拿着自己的钱在全国各个角落买的抗病治疗药登场。
此前，崔天中在河边看天文，预感到疫病，他问自己的右臂龙八龙关于未来。 船在沉没，是从那里逃出来，还是努力营救那些沉船上的人? 穿着灭门之画独自生存下来，学习命利学，已经预感到朝鲜命运的崔天中所说的沉船就是朝鲜。
决心不从沉没的朝鲜逃出，而选择救助那里的人们，崔天中用慧眼寻找治疗瘟疫的药物。 然而，身陷政治危机的张东金氏等朝廷官员却唱起了“崔天中散布瘟疫”的”马塔多语”回应。 虽然带头治疗瘟疫，但最后还是被抓走。
TV Chosun Drama Youtube Video – Episode 13 “Wind, Cloud and Rain”: Why did Choi Cheonjung save the lives of the people?, 28 June 2020
https://youtu.be/vdFSzn55qBk
谁是才是王者?
瘟疫一传，李昰应就说，现在不是讨论王者的时候。 然而，反观兵的反击反而让人怀疑谁才是真正的”王者”。 对不批准瘟疫相关预算的张东金氏感到愤怒，对伏地不动的官吏们进行贫村泥洗的李夏应的话，可以读出不顾各种失败，想要重建朝鲜的大院君的气势。
与此相反，只因为是哲宗王同父异母兄的儿子而登场的，背着王太后支持的永云君让人想起了第二个哲宗。 但是“风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“在朝廷的王斗争下，崔天中为了防备瘟疫，不惜向国王谏言，不惜自掏腰包购买瘟疫治疗药。
李凤莲的母亲对崔天中说他是一条”伤心哭泣的龙”。 龙不就是象征王的动物吗? 在一个以血统”认证”的王国，人们开始佩服崔天中的言行，纷纷涌入。 从这往下的举动，沉舟中奋力救人的崔天中，不正是那个时代真正需要的”王者”，也就是领袖吗?
恋着充实的血统，执着王在的朝廷是沉船的另一面。 而且通过电视剧被揭穿的权力的原形只是王朝时代的残骸，让人难过。 相反，预感即将沉没的朝鲜，却始终不放弃，赌上自己一切的崔天中的姿态，向我们询问真正的领导条件是什么。
朝鲜电视TV Chosun的特别企划剧“风，云和雨 (风，云和碑）바람과 구름과 비“，每逢周六、日晚上在韩国时间2250点播出。
TV Chosun 直播的链接是:
http://broadcast.tvchosun.com/onair/on.cstv
Credits – Many thanks! TV Chosun “Wind, Cloud and Rain”, Oh My Star http://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002653906&CMPT_CD=P0010&utm_source=naver&utm_medium=newsearch&utm_campaign=naver_news, ParkSihooSsi.com, ParkSihooHongKong.com
4 Comments
Lo máximo
Web Translation:
The maximum
Appreciate much your translation of this very long article by the press. The article comes across as a very honest objective reporting on WCR, based on facts and without biais, calling a spade a spade! So glad for the admission of much redeeming value in this grand historical drama that makes it worthwhile to catch week after week although first broadcast of every episode is so late at night. To me the latest 2 episodes 12 and 13 are simply awesome. The plague event and the attempts by the evil and wicked to brush it aside as something for the poor and needy to bear with resonates with what’s happening before our very eyes now due to how the Covid 19 is dealt with by some so called world leaders. Episode 13 gave us a sense of hopelessness as the affected poor was mandated to leave their homes and be brought outside of the city gate to perish. Then how amazingly uplifting when fate did not deliver its deadly blow on them, but delivered a new lease of life instead … thanks to the hero of these people, Choi Cheonjung and his ever supporting bunch of loyal followers. By all reckoning with Episode 12 reaching a high of 6.3% viewers’ rating, its my personal view that Episode 13, so uplifting in its content should deserve 8% or higher! Admittedly, one has to factor in that its first broadcast is late on a Sunday night and there’s always the option to catch it at another convenient time on VOD ( doesn’t that largely account for WCR achieving top position on VOD for the running past 3 weeks ? ). But it will indeed be very delightful to see viewers’ rating soar to 10% more — its the target rating of the production team and everyone will agree this entire team, both cast and crew, have worked long and hard for months in all kinds of weather condition in its production… for they deserve our applause and recognition. What better way than to honour them with appropriate data and statistics for a job very well done. Salute!!
Thanks Nance for the translation of this long article about the very intricate story of the late Joseon Dynasty that the viewers are watching with much interest from one episode to another. One of the most dangerous events that has bogged so much the people of Joseon was the plague, so well revealed in epis. 12 and 13 , when they completely lost hope of living. And there is a coincidence of what happens in our days with the Covid 19. But compared to those endured time and again by humankind though history by our ancestors, is smaller than the plague in the historical drama :”Wind, Cloud and Rain”. There are people who say that :”It is in times of crisis that good leaders emerge.” Like , for instance Rudolph Giulliani, The Mayor of New York, widely admired , as the embodiment of an indomitable spirit in the tragedy of 9-11, or Winston Churchill who did the same in the darkness hours in 1940. They gave people the courage and hope they needed when all seemed lost. Back in time, in Korea, in Joseon period, in time of crisis, due to the plague,when people lost their hope, there was a man , a hero, Choi Cheonjung, who revealed his concern for his people, offering himself as a volunteer, spending his money on medicine and places for the sick to survive. Not accepting the rich ones who rejected to give donations and help, and medcine for the people to get cured..CCJ is a good example of a leader that emerged in time of crisis. He is an effective leader, an example, who could mobilize people. tackle tough problems, spot opportunities in crisis of great stress.And he tried to encourage people :”You are stonger than you know. You can do this.”❤️❤️❤️
ขอบคุณมากค่ะ👍🙏❤️
Web Translation:
Thank you very much 👍🙏❤️