- The First Change of the Later Heaven
- 1 Sahng-jeh-nim said to Gohng-ooh, “I am going to conduct a work of renewal related to the first change in the fifty thousand years of the Later Heaven. Think very carefully and tell Me what is the most important matter.”
- 2 “I am unable to tell You because of my lack of knowledge,” Gohng-ooh said and kept declining to answer.
- 3 Finally, he said, “In the Early Heaven, young widows have been forced to stay in empty rooms in loyalty to their deceased husbands. They have had to grow old alone. This is not right.
- 4 Please, abolish this corrupt practice in the Later Heaven. Young widows and young widowers, old widows and old widowers―they all should be allowed to meet each other.
- 5 Then, inviting family and friends, they should be allowed to hold a public ceremony and marry again. I think this is right.”
- 6 Sahng-jeh-nim slapped His knee and applauded Gohng-ooh. “I knew that if it were not you, I would not be able to perform this work. I assigned the task to you, and you did it well.
- 7 What has been decided here will stand for fifty thousand years.”
- (JSD Dojeon 5,139)
