The First Lessons for Children, or the Dongmongseonseup (童蒙先習, 동몽선습) was yet another important work directed at the moral instruction of the children during the Chosun dynasty. It was typically the second book children read, after having gone through the Thousand Character Classic. The lessons of the work primarily revolve around the Five Relationships (五倫, 오륜) of Confucian morals: between a father and son, there is intimacy (父子有親, 부부유친); between a king and his servants, there is justice (君臣有義, 군신유의); between a husband and wife, there is distinction (夫婦有別, 부부유별); between an elder and a child, there is order (長幼有序, 장유유서); and between friends, there is trust (朋友有信, 붕우유신).
Pak Semu (朴世茂, 박세무, 1487-1554) composed the Dongmongseonseup. The earliest existing written copy dates back to 1541. The first print edition was published sometime during the 16th century, but all copies of that edition were lost during the Japanese Invasions of Korea (壬辰倭亂, 임진왜란, 1592-1598). Realizing its importance in educating Korean children, King Yeongjo (英祖, 영조, 1694-1776, r. 1724-1776) ordered a second print edition of the Dongmongseonseup in 1742. A translation of the work into Korean known as the Dongmongseonseup Eonhae (童蒙先習諺解, 동몽선습언해) was printed in 1797.
朋友有信 붕우유신
Between Friends, There is Trust
朋友, 同類之人. 益者三友. 損者三友.
붕우, 동류지인. 익자삼우. 손자삼우.
Friends are the same type of people. There are three [types of] friends that will be beneficial; there are three [types of] friends that will be harmful.
友直, 友諒, 友多聞, 益矣. 友便辟, 友善柔, 友便侫, 損矣.
우직, 우량, 우다문, 익의. 우편피, 우선유, 우편녕, 손의.
A friend who is honest, a friend who is trustworthy, and a friend who will listen often will be beneficial. A friend who is partial, a friend who is likes tenderness, and a friend who flatters will be harmful.
友也者, 友其德也. 自天子至於庶人, 未有不須友以成者, 其分若疎而其所關爲至親.
우야자, 우기덕야. 자천자지어서인, 미유불수우이성자, 기분약소이기소관위지친.
Making a friend is [akin to] making friends with their virtues. From the son of heaven to the common people, there is no one who has not surely made friends and succeeded. Their divisions are as if distant but what their ties are have become extremely close.
是故, 取友必端人, 擇友必勝己. 要當責善以信. 切切偲偲忠告而善道之, 不可則止.
시고, 취우필단인, 택우필승기. 요당책선이신. 절절시시충고이선도지, 불가칙지.
For this reason, when obtaining friends it is necessary [to obtain] a well-behaved person and when choosing friends it is necessary [to choose] a person better than oneself. It should be asked rightfully that [friends] are admonished to do good with sincerity. Ardently and earnestly, from [the bottom of] the heart, it is advised that the good [should] lead them. If it cannot [work out], [the friendship should be] stopped.
苟或交遊之際, 不以切磋琢磨爲相與. 但以歡狎戱謔爲相親, 則安能久而不疎乎?
구혹교유지제, 불이절차탁마위상여. 단이환압희학위상친, 칙안능구이불소호?
If perhaps when one is playing and making friends, do not apply oneself to studies assiduously in order to mutually give. But with happy and teasing playing become mutually close, then how can [friends last] long and not be distant?
昔者, 晏子與人交, 久而敬之. 朋友之道, 當如是也.
석자, 안자여인교, 구이경지. 붕우지도, 당여시야.
In ancient times, Anja (晏子, 안자, Yanzi, 580-510 BC) with another became friends. For a long time, he respected [his friend]. The way of friendship is rightfully like this.
孔子曰: “不信乎朋友, 不獲乎上矣. 信乎朋友有道, 不順乎親, 不信乎朋友矣.”
공자왈: “불신호붕우, 불획호상의. 신호붕우유도, 불순호친, 불신호붕우의.”
Confucius said, “To not have trust from one’s friends is to not be acknowledged from those above. To have trust among friends, there is a way. To not be obedient to one’s parents is to not have trust from one’s friends.”
Notes:
- Anja (晏子, 안자) is the Korean pronunciation of Yanzi, a prime minister of the State of Qi (齊, 제, 1064-221BC).
Characters:
- 侫(령) – To flatter (阿諂–, 아첨하다).
- 切切偲偲(절절사사) – To be earnest (墾切–, 간절하다).
- 切磋琢磨(절차탁마) – Literally means to cut and polish precious stones.
- 謔(학) – To tease (戱弄–, 희롱하다).
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