(2017Translation) 寧無不平之心乎

Original Script

昔黃相國喜。微時行役。憩于路上。見田父駕二牛耕者。問曰。二牛何者爲勝。田父不對。輟耕而至。附耳細語曰。此牛勝。公恠之曰。何以附耳相語。田父曰。雖畜物。其心與人同也。此勝則彼劣。使牛聞之。寧無不平之心乎。公大悟。遂不復言人長短云。 《芝峯類說.卷十五.性行部》

Translation

Student 1 : Sanghoon Na

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Formerly, when Minister Hwang Hui was unknown, he travelled and took a rest on the road. Seeing a farmer drive two oxen and plough [the field], he asked, "Between two oxen, which one would you say is better?" The farmer did not answer. [But] He stopped ploughing and came to him. He put his mouth to his(Hwang's) ear and whispered, "This ox is better." His lordship thought it strange and said, "Why do you whisper to my ear?" The farmer said, "Though it is a livestock, its mind is the same as man's. If this is superior, then that would be inferior. If we let the ox hear it, how couldn't it have a feeling of grievance?" His lordship was greatly awakened, and consequently it is told that he never again talked about others' strengths and shortcomings.

Student 2 : Younès M'Ghari

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A long time ago, the prime minister Hwang Hui¹ was serving a corvée duty when he was insignificant. He was resting on the road when he saw a farmer leading two oxen to plough. He asked: “Which of the two oxen would you consider the best?” The farmer did not answer. He stop ploughing and arrived [where Hwang Hui was]. He got close to [Hwang Hui's] ear and said very quietly: “This ox is better.” He found it curious and he asked: “Why did you get close to my ear and tell me [that]?” The farmer said: “Even though these are livestock, their heart is similar with the one of men. If this one is better, then that one is inferior. If you let the oxen hear it, would it not have a heart of resentment?” He was greatly enlightened. Thereupon, he did not speak again people's strong and weak [points].

¹: Hwang Hui (黃喜), a politician of the Koryô and Chosôn Dynasties, who once served as prime minister (Korean: 相国, Sangguk) of the Chosôn

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Student 4 : (Write your name)

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Long ago, when the prime minister Hwang Hŭi¹ was of little account, [he] was traveling [and] was resting atop a road. Seeing an old farmer driving two cows to plow, [he] asked, "[Of these] two cows, which one [is] better?"

The farmer did not reply [but] stopped plowing and approached. Getting close to [Hwang Hŭi's] ear, [he] said in a thready voice, "That cow [is] better."

Hwang Hŭi, perplexed, asked, "Why [did you] get close to [my] ear to talk?"

The farmer said, "Though an animal raised [as livestock], its heart and humans' [heart[ are the same. [If] this [one's] better then that [one's] worse. [If] the cow were allowed to hear this, [how] could [it] not have a heart of disturbances?"

Subsequently Hwang Hŭi, greatly enlightened, did not again speak of [other] people's strengths and shortcomings.

¹ Hwang Hŭi (1363–1452) was a prominent statesman in the last years of Koryŏ and the early years of Chosŏn.

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Student 10 : Jelena Gledić

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Long ago, Minister Hwang Hui was on tour while he was not known, and he was resting on a road. He saw a farmer plowing with a two-ox cart [and] asked [him]: “Which of the two oxen do you consider [to be] better?” The farmer did not reply. He stopped plowing and approached. Close to the ear, he said in a quiet voice: “That ox is better.” The Minister [thought] this was strange and said: “Why are you talking so close to my ear?” The farmer said: “Even though [it is] an animal, its heart is the same as in humans. [If] this one is better, then that one is worse. If the ox hears this, how can its heart not be unsettled?” The Minister became fully aware [of this fact] and consequently never again spoke of people’s strengths and shortcomings. “Chibong yusŏl, scroll 15, section on nature and behavior”

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