Original subtitles

[Jang Yeong Sil]

Hurry up!

Be gentle with it.

The sun will rise soon.

We must prepare perfectly...

for the solar eclipse ceremony. Double-check everything a few times.

We can't make any mistakes. Everything has to be perfect, okay?

- Understood, Sir. - Yes, Sir.

I can't stop being fascinated by this Jagyeokru.

In your opinion, what's the most remarkable thing about this device?

From a divinatory point of view,

this set-up that allows this ball to create a path...

for the next ball...

by falling in a trap as it rolls...

is what caught my eyes the most.

This ball is destined to sacrifice itself, so to speak.

How did Yeong Sil come up this amazing idea?

Well, I guess his life has been just like this ball's.

So...

does your reading say that today's ceremony will go swimmingly?

That is a great question.

Luck is certainly on our side.

I see a lot of good luck shining on the King.

However, it will inevitably call for someone else's sacrifice.

That inevitable sacrifice.

I'm the one who is making the sacrifice.

Sir Lee. He stayed up all night last night to do his calculations.

I couldn't sleep a wink again...

because Sir Lee kept talking to himself.

The ceremony is happening today. What is wrong with him?

Sir Lee, you still haven't figured it out? What are you doing?

Sir Lee. Are you still checking the calculation?

I already checked it a few times and confirmed the time of the eclipse.

Why are you still working on it?

Sir Lee. That's enough.

We have done everything in our power.

Now, it is up to the skies.

Look, Sir Lee.

There is something wrong with Officer Jang's records.

I am convinced.

What is it though?

Here, put them here.

Thank you.

Here is yours.

What is the matter?

Seeing these mourning clothes we have to wear,

I'm feeling nervous all of a sudden.

I can understand how Sir Lee must feel now.

Here.

Whatever it is, let's do it together.

Tell me. How can I help?

Is there a problem with the motive power?

(Jang Yeong Sil)

It needs to tell the time at shorter intervals.

There's a limit to what water can do.

Yeong Sil!

You'll go to the Palace before the sunrise, right?

- Let's go together. - Sure.

Sir Choi Bok ordered mourning clothes...

for all officials at the Office of Astrology,

so I rushed to make them.

I see that the solar eclipse ceremony is making someone happy.

Oh, right. And...

I made this special garment for you.

Thanks to my scientist friend,

I could come up with this amazing idea.

What is this?

Here. Try it on first.

The solar eclipse ceremony is taking place today.

Wear this underneath the mourning clothes.

At every important occasion in your life,

someone always tried to harm you.

To be honest,

things have been going too well for this ceremony, so I've been nervous.

Right.

And these, too.

They're for your arms. Try them on.

Great.

- Hey. - Yes.

This is awesome!

Isn't it great?

Finally. The sun is rising.

Today, many people will...

(Cho Kwang, Master Chung Bo)

They will be just staring at the sun the whole day.

To some people...

(Byeon Dae Chi)

The sun will cause great despair.

Remember. We must make sure that they have the incorrect time.

We have to make the King...

stand on his altar looking like a complete fool.

Tell our men in the Palace to stay alert...

and keep a watchful eye on everything.

Understood, Master.

(King Sejong: The fourth king of Joseon)

I feel like I can come up with a good solution,

but I can't seem to go any further from here.

Your Majesty. The First Vice Prime Minister, Master Hwang,

and Lord Ha are here.

It is nice to see you both.

What brings you here at this early hour?

Your Majesty.

We wanted to wish you luck on today's solar eclipse ceremony...

and cheer you in person.

It was Lord Ha's idea.

Your Majesty.

Some say that solar eclipses happen because the King lacks virtue.

They say that is why the moon engulfs the sun.

But there are people who see the moon as us, the ministers.

They say that the moon blocking the sun...

symbolises the King's power being weakened.

Hence, some of your subjects...

are hoping that this ceremony becomes a failure.

Then tell me, Lord Ha.

Are you one of my subjects who want this ceremony to succeed?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I want to see you go up to the altar at the accurate time.

Please prove your virtue, regain your power...

and disempower the members of the nobility as well as...

those who are trying to take your authority away from you.

That is the right path Joseon should take.

Including the ones you're wearing, there are 30 in total, right?

- Thoroughly check everything. - I will, Sir.

So the price is...

Gosh, be careful.

Why aren't you doing anything?

- Everyone is so busy. - Right, I apologise.

Here. Take this to the altar at the Geunjeongjeon Hall.

- Sure, Sir. - Thanks.

Sir Lee. You're still doing this.

Are you out of your mind? Hurry up and get ready.

Sir Jang! We have to leave soon as well.

Okay.

- Suk Gu. - Yes.

- Help me with this. - Sure.

Why did you do such a thing?

The sun and the moon...

won't move as stated in the records you gave us.

How dare you smirk!

Why did you change the observation records?

Now that you know it's wrong, all is good.

What are you talking about?

It's too late now.

I knew that you'd figure it out...

no matter how well it's hidden.

What?

In the Office of Astrology, there is a spy of those...

who want the ceremony to fail.

I don't know who that spy is,

so I had to lie to everyone in order to fool those people.

Nonsense.

If it was that much of a risky, dangerous matter,

you should have informed the King. How dare you give us fake records.

Do you think nothing of those people who have worked so hard for this?

Inform the King?

Why do you think I didn't inform the King?

Why did I choose not to tell the King?

Why did I choose to go through this maze instead and ended up here?

Could you understand why if I put it this way?

There's no way you'll understand.

Stop talking nonsense, you lunatic.

The solar eclipse ceremony is taking place today.

You're insane!

Stop wasting your time like this. Go and calculate again!

The spies must be not as alert now. This is the only chance we have!

Think about it.

No one will think that you will come up with another forecast today.

This book...

has the answer.

In it,

you'll find a number conversion table.

Go to a place where no one is around...

and calculate again. Hurry up!

Now...

I'm part of this, too.

Sir Lee.

I thought this would be the best solution.

It's fine even if no one can understand me.

You must calculate the correct time as quickly as possible.

(The start of the solar eclipse)

(The maximum point of the solar eclipse)

(The end of the solar eclipse)

Pardon me?

What should we do?

The time we originally predicted is approaching quickly.

Could you calculate again?

I'm not sure yet.

Please have a look at this.

Officer Jang left this number conversion table for us.

If we do this,

the numbers on the pages change slightly.

This is the original record.

We must calculate again using this data...

in order to accurately predict the time of the eclipse.

I can't believe that someone has been monitoring us.

Officer Jang...

has almost risked his life for this.

He is a complete lunatic.

Do not worry about that insane man.

Please worry about me instead.

Sir Lee.

I'm not worried about you.

I know how talented you are in doing these calculations.

I believe in you.

Today's ceremony will be a success.

All of us are giving our everything as if this is our last chance.

I know that it will be a success.

First of all, we need to find you a place where you won't be caught,

somewhere you can focus.

Please come with me.

Your Majesty.

You seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today.

Of course. Today is a very important day in Joseon's history.

You are finally accomplishing...

what King Taejong couldn't do in the time of his reign.

My ministers, let's go.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty.

What is the matter?

Your Majesty. I sincerely apologise.

The time of the eclipse was predicted inaccurately.

What... What do you mean by that?

How so? Why are you saying this all of a sudden?

I found out that...

those who are against you tried to interfere.

Sir Lee is recalculating with the correct data at the moment.

Your Majesty.

How about we cancel today's ceremony, then?

From the sounds of it,

I think that the eclipse could start before Sir Lee finishes calculating.

We cannot control these things.

If that is my fate the skies have bestowed upon me,

I should accept it.

However,

I will not go up to the altar at the time...

that was originally predicted.

I fully trust you.

I will wait for as long as I can.

Go and calculate the correct time of the eclipse as soon as possible.

Understood, Your Majesty.

It is fine even if the calculation is wrong.

Even if I end up having to walk down from the altar...

without holding the ritual because the newly predicted time is wrong,

that time is what we forecasted...

using our own records.

Let's go now.

Other ministers are waiting.

Tell me.

Were the records Hee Je gave you falsified?

Yes.

But...

Officer Jang...

had a reason to do so.

His Majesty graces us with his presence!

(Crown Prince who later becomes King Munjong and Prince Jinpyeong)

We will postpone the solar eclipse ceremony for a little while.

Gosh.

What is going on?

Go. Hurry up.

Okay.

Please come this way.

People are watching.

It looks like Jang Hee Je has betrayed us.

If they postponed the ceremony,

they must be recalculating the time somewhere.

Find out where that is.

We must stop them.

Understood, Master.

I will make sure to find out.

I will also find Jang Hee Je...

and make him pay for what he has done.

Let's go.

Please come in.

Help him with the calculations.

Here.

Look.

This is the conversion table.

Change these numbers using these.

Okay.

You came here though I didn't even call you.

That took courage.

You will kill me anyway.

I thought I might as well come voluntarily.

What do you mean you'll be killed?

If the ceremony fails,

I will get what I want.

Why would I waste energy killing the likes of you?

The ceremony...

will be a success.

What makes you so sure?

Because it's them.

They are...

much greater than what you...

take them to be.

Now...

kill me.

I said if the ceremony fails,

I will not kill you.

Pray that the ceremony does not happen...

if you wish to live.

Do you think...

I am here because I can't wait to die?

If my death...

would guarantee the success of the ceremony and science's future,

then that would be a value worth dying for, and so I am here.

There now.

Take my life,

and vent your frustration in advance,

because the ceremony will happen.

A ceremony on which the future of science depends?

If I were to let you live,

you would run to Jang Yeong Sil right away,

and waste your mind on useless studies.

Yes.

You saw me correctly.

What a fool.

Science is something...

you can never stay too far away from.

If science develops,

at first you will think that nothing could be greater.

But science...

crawls into the heart of the people who developed it...

and then slowly takes over.

In the end,

it divides a person's mind which should only have benevolence.

It will break your mind apart.

What you said...

makes me think you fear science.

If I walk out of this room alive,

then just like you said,

I will go to any length I can to find out...

if science will break me apart.

Thank you.

You just gave me a clear goal.

I can die here,

or live...

and go mad for science.

How dare you.

How dare you enter without my permission.

I apologise.

We were told to check...

as someone had seen some suspicious men enter.

You can come out.

Come on.

Go.

Your Majesty.

The eclipse didn't happen...

at the predicted time.

There might not even be an eclipse today at all.

(Heo Jo)

I think it is only right that you cancel the ceremony.

When we know something is wrong, we search for the right answer.

That is how science helps us understand the world.

I shall conduct the ceremony...

as soon as the correct time is calculated.

I hope you are willing to wait and hope that...

mistakes can be rectified.

Done.

Me, too.

- When will it begin? - In the afternoon.

- At 1:23pm. - I agree.

And the end?

My calculations say it will end at 4:04pm.

Correct.

We should get going, then.

- Let's go. - Hurry.

- Wait. - What for?

You need to change.

Right. Let's go.

- Oh dear. - This is it.

Suk Gu, take the one by the door.

I'll take the other one.

Officer Lee, you go inside while we hold them back.

What?

- I can't go alone. - Just go.

You have to go and make the ceremony succeed.

Suk Gu.

- Now! - Get them!

Wait.

Go, now!

Go on.

Get him! After him!

Come on.

You are freaks of nature.

I shall cut your head off.

- Prepare to die. - You first.

Turn around.

You fools.

You can't draw a sword here without the King's permission.

Who sent you?

My lord!

It's over.

Let's go.

Run!

My lord.

The King forgives everyone, so even such fools...

think they can do whatever they want.

Yeong Sil, you should change,

and head to the Palace to watch the ceremony.

Yes, my lord. Suk Gu, you saved me.

That's impossible. They got it already?

There's no way it's accurate.

"The new times are as follows."

"The eclipse will begin at 1:23pm."

"It will reach the climax..."

"at exactly 2:48pm..."

"and will end at 4:04pm."

The ceremony shall begin shortly.

Please stand and face the sun.

Beat the drums to announce the eclipse!

The sun will return in one hour!

Who knew that...

I would die to the beat of a ceremonial drum?

This is an honour for me,

and for my family.

I owe all this to you.

The eclipse...

happened exactly at...

the predicted times.

Your Majesty's ceremony...

went off perfectly.

The skies have accepted you...

and have opened up to you at last.

They even predicted the time it ended.

I have never seen such a thing happen.

(Meng Sa Sung)

Not since I pledged to serve the nation.

Your Majesty.

I was moved to see you hold the ceremony...

in perfect accordance with each stage of the eclipse.

I am sure the skies accepted your prayers,

and now the people will be able to...

celebrate your accomplishment.

I am glad that...

the ceremony moved you enough...

to say such great things.

As promised,

I shall support you,

and your will...

to study and develop...

the studies of all things scientific.

Your Majesty.

The Second Vice Prime Minister...

stayed true to his word.

I am sure that he will serve as...

a great example to us all.

Your Majesty.

Congratulations.

Well done.

- You did it. - Well done.

You did well.

Are you all right?

Well done.

I'm proud of you.

- We did it! - Well done.

We did it at last.

The solar eclipse happens...

when the moon gets in-between the sun and earth,

and the three form a straight line.

Yes!

Joseon scientists knew nothing...

of the precession of the equinoxes, revolution or rotation,

but they were able to calculate the exact date,

time and period of an eclipse...

with complicated mathematical equations.

Jang Yeong Sil, Lee Chun, Jeong In Ji,

Jeong Heum Ji and Jeong Cho...

created many astronomical devices.

That made it possible to observe the sky at Hanyang's latitude,

and create a calendar that suited Joseon's time and seasons.

King Sejong focused much efforts on studying astronomy,

and as a result,

in 1432, the 14th year of his reign, they were able to predict...

the exact time of a solar eclipse.

In 1443, Lee Sun Ji and Kim Dam and a few other scholars completed...

"Calculation of the Motion of the Seven Celestial Determinants"...

and its supplement.

They also published them in 1444 as a complete almanac.

Joseon, China and Arabia were the only three nations...

at the time to have an almanac unique to their nation.

Your Majesty.

If they hear I am sick,

the ministers will not be able to celebrate...

this joyous occasion.

I forbid everyone in this room from telling anyone...

what happened within these walls.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

- Now, Joseon will be able to... - Well...

Officer Jang!

Officer Jang!

Have you found him?

Where could he have gone?

He's such a troublemaker.

I can't find him.

He's in danger.

Just when I think I know him, he does something I just don't get.

I wonder if I was too harsh on him.

You were not.

You should have slapped him.

Tell him to kill me.

Today, Joseon's scientists took on and...

beat you narrow-minded nobles and put you in your place.

I can die with a smile.

Are you pleased you won?

Immensely.

I would love to see you...

die of shock at just how much...

Joseon's science will develop.

My only regret is that I'd die before that happens.

You will never see that happen even if you were to be born again.

I treasure Joseon more than my own life.

I will not sit and watch it...

go down a path that will lead it to ruin.

Officer Jang!

Officer Jang!

(Jang Yeong Sil)

"Hieut".

It will bring on a calamity.

A calamity so destructive that it will deter everyone...

from wishing to pursue science forever.

Scientists dream.

Those dreams never change.

Your Highness.

What is going on?

I did not decide what day you will die.

But I must admit that I do wonder...

when you will.