You know I don’t like doing recaps like other bloggers, right?

Instead of recapping Episode 12, I’m going to imagine, “What if BaWoo was Kim DaeSeok and SooKyung was a daughter of a rich yangban, what would their marriage arrangement be like?”

According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, there were four major procedures in marriage during the Joseon period: uihon, napchae, nappye, and chinyeong.

1. Uihon 

According to the Encyclopedia, men aged 16-30 and women aged 14-20 had a matchmaker arrange their marriage.

The process of finding a prospective wife or husband usually involved the services of professional matchmakers who would gather information about local unmarried people and their respective social levels, education, and family lineages.

source: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/marriage

If BaWoo was a nobleman’s son, and SooKyung was a nobleman’s daughter, they would have been matched.

But BaWoo was fortunate to have a matchmaker of his own, ChunBae.

ChunBae: What’s the use of me sticking around you as a hyung? I couldn’t find a match for a healthy man like you. I’m sorry.

ChunBae accidentally became a matchmaker when he botched a bossam job because he was drunk. He couldn’t have done a better job matching two “dead” people, BaWoo and SooKyung, had he tried.

2. Napchae 

According to the Encyclopedia, the bride was selected during napchae. The groom would send a proposal to her family, which her family would accept. If BaWoo and SooKyung were members of the aristocracy, BaWoo would have to select her quickly before DaeYeob’s family made their move. Lol. They would still over the girl, unfortunately.

It was a good thing then that BaWoo selected his bride by bossam-ing her.

He brought her back to his home where his son was waiting.

3. Nappye

If BaWoo and SooKyung were both children of nobility in that alternate reality, Bawoo would have to send a representative to her house to seal the marriage deal. This representative would have to come bearing gifts and letters. Bawoo wouldn’t have to carry his gifts for her on his back, like so —

I tried to find what the letters were all about, and I found this:

The groom’s family would prepare a Saju, which specified the year, month, date, and exact hour of the groom’s birth, according to the lunar calendar, and deliver it to the bride’s family…. Based on the information contained in the Saju, a fortune teller determined the best date for the wedding. The bride’s family then sent a Yeongil to the groom’s family that stated the wedding date and inquired about the groom’s body size.

source: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/marriage/marriage.cfm?xURL=before

Interestingly enough in our drama, the groom BaWoo also prepared a letter to be sent to his bride’s father. But it didn’t contain any information about him like his birthday, zodiac sign, blood type, and so on.

Instead, BaWoo’s letter contained information about SooKyung’s death. 😂 Remember? He had SooKyung write her final testament.

BaWoo: Here. Brush paper and ink.
Nanny: What’s this?
BaWoo: (ignoring nanny) Since you’re dead, let’s do it properly.

Her suicide note was delivered to the King by none other than Kim Ja Jeom, the minister who kidnapped her. Kim Ja Jeom almost lost of his neck because of his errand.

King: So you’re telling me this is Hwa In final testament?

SooKyung’s suicide letter was the only way she could live again. Once the King received it, her new life began with BaWoo.

Her date of death = her date of new life

And she made sure her father knew that her daughter Hwa In was dead.

King: Raise your head.

Wasn’t this what he ordered her to do that night she went to the palace? He knew it was her.

King: Your eyes are full of resentment. Yes, you must be resentment. You must hate your father to the end. But Hwa In…
SK: Hwa In is dead. Since you wanted Hwa In dead, Hwa In is dead as you desired.

King: I understand how you feel. But how could I have wanted my one and only daughter to be dead? I had to prevent the bloody wind from blowing again at court and save the country. I had no choice but to make that decision. After abandoning you like that, I too shed tears of blood. But before I was your father, was I not this country’s royal leader? I couldn’t, because of my affections, allow this country to fall into misery again. I’m not saying this because I’m hopoing that you will understand. It’s definitely not to gain your forgiveness. I just…
SK: (she looked up at him with teary eyes)
King: Never mind. Seeing you safe like this is enough. Hwa In…
SK: I am SooKyung. Since I have become SooKyung, I was able to live. Please understand.

Then, they talked about the origin of that name, and he recalled how she had been a precocious child.

King: How did those fair hands become so rough? It’s all my fault. It’s your lacking father’s fault. I’m sorry. I will protect you from now on. So that no one will ever harm you again, your father will protect you. Trust me this once. I’m not saying this to Princess Hwa In as a king. I’m saying this to my daughter SooKyung as a father. Will you trust and follow me? I will make sure that you never shed a tear again. I swear it upon this country’s throne.

Three points:

One, the kissasian subbed the last line better. “I pledge putting this country’s royal title on the line.”

Two, his speech had two different tones. At first, he was unapologetic about his actions and tried to convince her that he did it for the good of the country. In the last part, he reversed himself and apologized. Though he told her that he’d do all to protect her, I doubt that he’d put her welfare before country’s.

Two, what changed his mind was her insistence that she be called by her common name. Not her royal name. She wanted to be seen as a commoner now because she’d cut ties. Even when he hugged her, her hand remained at her side.

4. Chinyeong 

Chinyeong is the wedding ceremony.  According to the Encyclopedia, the groom arrived at the bride’s house to present a live goose to the bride’s mother. (If a live goose was hard to find, wooden ducks were acceptable substitutes. Honestly, if that were up to me, I’d ask for a pig. I’m a sampyusal type of girl.)

After that, the couple returned to groom’s house to do two more ceremonies:

a. gyobaerye where they bowed to each other
b. hapgeullye where they drank from same cup.

These rituals supposedly fostered a sense of unity since marriage merges two “opposite” individuals.

Marriage represented the perfect union and balancing of the two primary elements of the world: Eum, the dark, female element; and Yang, the bright, male element (“yin” and “yang”). Often, the marriage ceremony took place at dusk, representing a balance between light (day) and darkness (night) The color blue stands for Eum, while red represents Yang.

source: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/marriage/marriage.cfm?xURL=meaning

While BaWoo and SooKyung didn’t enjoy these rituals, I think they had something unique. They created their own ceremony. Remember that scene when BaWoo removed a splinter from her foot? To me, that was their version of a private chinyeong.

Edited to add this: I like symbolism, too — service and devotion.

Their location might not have been adorned with wedding decorations. But the natural setting showed a balance between the male and female elements. The rock formation represented BaWoo, of course.

His head and personality were as hard as a rock.

And the female element, the stream, referred to SooKyung’s name. “Soo” for water and “Kyung” for mirror.

According to the King, he gave her that name, SooKyung.

King: Do you remember why I gave you the childhood name of SooKyung?
SK: Since you said that my inborn temperament was like fire. I heard that you named me so that I would use water as a mirror and control myself.

This was an interesting trivia. So she was originally a fiery, quick-tempered and spirited child. But her name tamed her into becoming a calm and collected person.

Moreover, instead of bowing to each other and drinking from the same cup just like in the traditional wedding rites, Bawoo simply knelt at her feet, and bandaged her foot.

Wasn’t this a much better way to show unity of two newlyweds: the groom attending to his bride’s health and wellbeing?

She was shy of course that he was holding her foot. It hadn’t been touched before.

Bawoo: You’re not even some young miss, how can you be this shy?

As for the gift-exchange, the wooden ducks (kiroegi) were standard gifts in the traditional marriage. .

The geese symbolize several virtues that the couple should follow in their married life:
Wild geese keep the same partner for life. Even of one dies, the other will not seek a new partner for the rest of his or her life:
Wild geese understand hierarchy and order. Even when flying, they maintain structure and harmony.
Wild geese have the nature to leave their existance wherever they go. People should leave a great legacy for their descendants when they leave this world.

source: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/marriage

But I think I preferred BaWoo’s gifts: the expensive shoes that he could hardly afford,

and the second-hand binyeo he bought from a stranger.

If BaWoo and SooKyung married in a Western style, BaWoo would have to ask her hand in marriage from her father. Some people might think this tradition is sexist, but I approve of it. It shows respect to ask for blessings (if not permission), and sincerity on the man’s part.

I don’t think BaWoo was the type to ask permission. He bossam-ed her, right?

Also, I don’t think he respected the King that much. When the King and SooKyung were having the father-daughter conversation in private, Lady Jo was worried that he’d cause trouble.

Chunbae: (The King) wouldn’t kill him just after restoring to him his status, would he?
Lady Jo: I’m also worried for ChaDol’s father, but…it worries me to death that he will drag Her Highness away.

lol. She meant that, knowing BaWoo was hot-head, he might not respect protocol. BaWoo was the type to just drag her away from the King.

Also, when Bawoo was hauled before his the King, he wasn’t intimidated to answer his questions.

King: Do you resent me?

BaWoo didn’t answer because he thought it was a foolish question.

King: Are you truly Kim JaeNam’s grandson, Kim Dae Seok?
BW: I am.
King: Why do you think you are here?
BW: It must be because I am of use.

The guard protested his insolence. BW’s insolence however showed that he wasn’t scared.

King: What use do you think you have?
BW: Do you not intend to use me as a sword?
King: You are an interesting fellow. How can you become my sword? Wouldn’t you be a sword incapable of cutting down even one leaf?

The King found his suggestion audacious because BaWoo had no political clout nor political connection. He had no supporters.

BW: The sword hasn’t been strengthened yet.

The subber used the word “annealed” which is the right word for the process of toughening metal. However, in this instance, the sword is used as a metaphor, so “strengthened” makes more sense and is clearer.

King: Then, what would strengthen that sword?
BW: Please restore my name. I will be a sword that can cut straight through a heart’s worries.

Good one. His family’s good name was his strength.

King: How is Hwa In doing?
BW: (not answering)
King: Let me ask you one more time. How are you getting along with Hwa In?
BW: (not answering)
King: Good. If you want to properly strengthen that sword, I’m going to open a special exam period next month, so pass the military examination then. I will hear your answer afterward.

Three comments:

One, I hope that the King wasn’t planning to make SooKyung/HwaIn a widow again. His question, “How are you getting along with HwaIn?” sounded like a threat. If BaWoo failed the mission the King was going to give him, he was taking away SooKyung from him.

Two, the King met with SooKyung/HwaIn and apologized, but his loyalty is suspect. One would have to be a fool to trust him completely again.

Three, he was most likely about to pit two men, BaWoo and DaeYeob, against each other. He told DaeYeob to pass the military examination too.

5. After the wedding comes the P’yebaek.

Pyebaek meant bowing to parents of the groom.

This ceremony took place in an area of the main living room sectioned off with a folding screen. The groom’s father sat in the east side, while the groom’s mother sat in the west. The bride bowed to them four times, showing her respect to her husband’s family and ancestors and expressing her loyalty. She often presented them with a small gift of food.

source: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/marriage/

If BaWoo and SooKyung were really getting married, they would have an elaborate Pyebaek. This bow is just a “keunjeol” or a big bow that’s done during Chuseok (Thanksgiving) and seollal (Lunar New Year). A man can also do this keunjeol when asking his girlfriend’s parents permission to marry their daughter.

Mom: How did you meet Cha Dol’s father?
SooKyung: (frozen)
BaWoo: I told you we met by chance.
Mom: How old are you? Where are you from? Are your parents alive? How’s your family?
BaWoo: (interrupting) What you so curious about? Can we take our time to get to know each other.
Mom: It’s about bringing a new person into the family. Why don’t you step out–
BaWoo: Mother–
SooKyung: (touching him lightly to stop him) I was born in 1606 in Hanyang, but Jeonju is my hometown. I became an orphan when I was young, so I don’t know about my family, Mother.
Mom: You must have had a hard time since you were alone from the time you were a child.
SooKyung: Not at all, Mother. How could I compare myself to the hardship you and Agasshi have suffered?

True. She was an orphan but they became slaves. I don’t think however that she was trying to insult them.

Mom: Well, let’s just that’s so…As you can see, our family is not an ordinary family. Now that you have become a daughter-in-law to this family, you must be mindful of your behavior. Do you understand?
SooKyung: (nodding) Yes. Bearing in mind what you have said, I will make sure to not bring trouble upon this family.

Two comments:

One, she was just happy to have this chance to finally be a daughter-in-daughter.

Two, she’d rather have this curious scrutiny from BaWoo’s mom than the cold indifference from her former mother-in-law.

Three, BaWoo was worried that she’d make a mistake about her lies or that she’d be offended by his mother’s inquisitiveness so he was nipping it in the bud.

Four, I wonder how the mom would feel about her real identity.

Five, famous last words: “I will make sure not to bring trouble upon this family.”

I’ll have to finish this tomorrow.