The Scholar and Minor Etiquette, or Sasojeol (士小節, 사소절), was another Confucian work intended for educating not only children but also women and other literati scholars on the activities of daily life. The book consists of: five volumes on the tales and teachings of other scholars (士典, 사전); two volumes for women (婦儀, 부의); and one volumes on admonishing children (童規, 동규). The title of the work includes the words “minor etiquette (小節, 소절) , because it was intended as a stepping stone to “greater etiquette” (大節, 대절), as explained in the preface. The work covers a variety of topics, including language, clothing, behavior, education, morals, and even intimacy between husband and wife.
The Sasojeol was published in 1775 by Yi Deokmu (李德懋, 이덕무, 1741-1793), a Korean Confucian scholar of the Practical Learning Movement (實學, 실학, Shilhak) Although the Sasojeol was a popular work during the Chosun dynasty, it is not as well known today as the other works in this exhibit are. Below is an excerpt from the scholars section (士典, 사전). The original annotations from the work itself have been indented.
士小節
사소절
The Scholar and Minor Etiquette
尊丈問年, 直對以二十歲三十歲, 不必曰: “某干支生.” 恐尊丈不易計數也.
존장문년, 직대이이십세삼십세, 불필왈: “모간지생.” 공존장불역계수야.
When an elder asks how old [you are], straightforwardly answer with either twenty years or thirty years. It is not necessary to say, “I was born on such and such heavenly stem (干支, 간지).” You should fear that the elder [because he is senile] cannot easily calculate the number.
某干支生, 如甲子生乙丑生之類…
모간지생, 여갑자생을축생지류…
“Such and such a heavenly stem” is like [saying] born on the Gapja year (甲子, 갑자) or on the Eulchuk year (乙丑, 을축) [and alike]…
退溪先生僑居漢城, 隣家栗樹數枝過牆, 子熟落庭. 恐兒童取食, 拾而投之牆外.
퇴계선생교거한성, 린가율수수지과장, 자숙락정. 공아동취식. 흡이투지장외.
When Master Toegye (退溪, 퇴계, 1501-1570) lived temporarily in Hanseong (漢城, 한성), in the neighboring house a number of branches of the chestnut tree hung over the wall and its fruit once it ripen fell into [his] courtyard. Fearing that young children would eat it as food, he picked it up and threw it over the wall.
退溪先生, 姓李, 諱滉, 字景浩, 眞寶人, 中宗甲午文科, 選湖堂, 典文衡,
퇴계선생, 성이, 휘황, 자경호, 진보인, 중종갑오문과, 선호당, 전문형,
Master Toegye (退溪, 퇴계): his surname was Yi (李, 이); his original name was (滉, 황); and his courtesy name (字, 자) was Gyeongho (景浩, 경호). He was truly a invaluable man. During the Gabo Year (甲午, 갑오) of King Jungjong’s reign (中宗, 중종, 1488-1544, r. 1506-1544), he passed the royal civil service examination. He [instead] selected the schoolhouse, balancing [reading of] classics and writing.
官右贊成, 謚文純, 從祀文廟, 有書院及文集.
관우찬성, 익문순, 종사문묘, 유서원급문집.
He became the Chanseong of the Right Rank (官右贊成, 우수찬성), obtained the posthumous name (謚, 익) Munsun (文純, 문순), and [had an ancestral tablet established] at the Literati Shrine (文廟, 문묘). There is a library and a collection of his writings.
許魯齋, 暑中過河陽, 暍甚. 道有梨, 衆爭取啖而獨危坐.
허노재, 서중과하양, 갈심. 도유리, 중쟁취담이독위좌.
Xu Luzhai (許魯齋, 허노재, 1209-1281, Heo Nojae), during summer, passed through Heyang (河陽, 하양, Hayang), and was suffering from the extreme heat. On the road, there was a pear tree. A multitude [of people] were clamoring over obtaining and eating, and he sat alone and upright.
或言世亂, 此無主. 曰: “梨無主. 吾心獨無主乎.”
혹언세란, 차무주. 왈: “리무주. 오심독무주호.”
Someone said [to him], “The world is in chaos. This [tree] has no master.” I said [to myself], “The pear tree has no master. My mind alone has no master!”
許魯齋: 名衡, 元河內人, 官中書左丞, 追封魏國公, 謚文正, 有文集…
허노재: 명형, 원하내인, 관중서좌승, 추봉위국공, 익문정, 유문집…
Xu Luzhai: his name was Xing (衡, 형, Hyeong). He was originally a man of Hanoi (河內, 하내, Hanae). Of the bureaucratic ranks, he was the Secretary Left Deputy (書左丞, 서좌승) and was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of the Wei State (魏國公, 위국공), attained the posthumous name (謚, 익) Munjeong (文正, 문정). He has a collection of works.
Characters:
- 尊丈(존장) – Esteemed elder.
- 謚(익) – Posthumous name (諡, 시).
- 湖堂(호당) – Another name for a Seodang (書堂, 서당).
- 危坐(위좌) – To sit upright (正坐也, 똑바로 앉음).
- 追封(추봉) – To be enfeoffed after passing.
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