[Ko Gyu-hong's Trees and People] Missing Myungjaesang Who Planted a Single Tree with Dignity...

<2> Maeng Sa-seong and Maengssi Haengdan Ginkgo Tree
The legacy of the virtuous official Maeng Sa-seong who played the flute on horseback... Remains in a modest old house inherited from General Choi Yeong
The 'Ssanghaeng Tree' bearing fruit despite the passage of time... Offers great lessons today against political rogues

There was a time when officials would first prepare horses and palanquins upon taking office. This was because such items were symbols to flaunt their power. However, Go-Bul (古佛) Maeng Sa-seong (Meng Si-cheng, 1360?1438), a renowned prime minister of Joseon who held the highest office of his time, did not prepare either horses or palanquins. When he set out, he rode a cow commonly found in ordinary households. The only item he unfailingly carried with his humble belongings was a flute. Few recognized Maeng Sa-seong, leisurely riding a cow and playing the flute, as the highest-ranking official of his era.

Later, Seo Geo-jeong (Seo Geo-jeong, 1420?1488), who also held the highest office, praised Maeng Sa-seong in his work Pilwon Japgi (筆苑雜記), describing him as "pure, unpretentious, neat, yet dignified." Seo Geo-jeong recorded Maeng Sa-seong’s character and lifestyle befitting a model of integrity: "By nature, he was attuned to music and always held a flute, playing two or three tunes daily. He kept his door closed and did not receive guests. When someone came to report official matters, he sent someone to open the door and welcome them. In summer, he sat under the shade of pine trees; in winter, he sat on a reed mat indoors, with no other belongings around him."

The fact that Maeng Sa-seong rode a cow was no trivial matter. For this reason, Jeong Yak-yong (Jeong Yak-yong, 1762?1836) even referred to him as "Prime Minister Maeng who rode a cow" in a poem. A prime minister living frugally and riding a cow...

Moreover, whenever guests visited, Maeng Sa-seong personally went out to greet them regardless of their social status. He also saw them off at the main gate. Such conduct is rare not only in his time but even now, more than 600 years later, serving as a model for politicians.

Visiting his old house gives a glimpse of how frugally he lived. The Asan Maeng clan’s Haengdan, located in Jung-ri, Baebang-eup, Asan, Chungnam, remains there. Maeng Sa-seong’s old residence, the oldest household in Korea, is so simple that nothing beyond the essentials could be brought inside. Considering the early Joseon period, having even a house like this could be considered wealthy. However, given that the owner was a prime minister who held the highest office, it is truly moving.

This small house was actually built not by Maeng Sa-seong himself but by General Choi Young (Choi Young, 1316?1388) at the end of the Goryeo dynasty. One day, while napping on the floor, a dragon suddenly appeared and climbed a wild pear tree in front of the house, ascending to the sky. It was a dream. Upon waking and looking outside, he saw a young child climbing the wild pear tree and picking pears without the owner’s permission. When the general scolded him, the child did not panic but respectfully asked for forgiveness. Unlike other children who would run away, this child was different?young but dignified. This was the young Maeng Sa-seong.

The trunk of the Maeng Sa-seong ginkgo tree soaring straight up toward the sky.

Because of this incident, Choi Young cherished the young Maeng Sa-seong greatly. Eventually, he accepted him as a grandson-in-law and bequeathed the house with the wild pear tree that the dragon had climbed in the dream. That house is the current Maeng Sa-seong old residence.

The charming house, built in an H-shape with four rooms at the front and three on the side under a hip-and-gable roof, consists of a two-room main hall and one ondol-heated room on each side. It is a modest house that cannot accommodate anything beyond what is necessary.

What makes this small house feel grand is not just the preconceived notion that a great figure once lived here but undoubtedly the pair of large ginkgo trees rising at the edge of the yard. Their impressive size is one reason, but more striking is that Maeng Sa-seong himself planted and nurtured these trees when he lived here. Since that was 600 years ago, these ginkgo trees are about 600 years old.

While managing his household in this house, Maeng Sa-seong planted trees in the yard. Among various trees, he chose ginkgo trees. It is said that Confucius taught his disciples under the shade of a ginkgo tree. Accordingly, ginkgo trees were widely planted by Confucian scholars in Joseon. That is why large ginkgo trees are commonly found at old hyanggyo (local Confucian schools) or seowon (private academies).

Maeng Sa-seong, a Joseon prime minister who followed Confucianism as the state ideology, planting ginkgo trees in his yard is not unrelated to this tradition. To nurture the trees well, he built terraces around their trunks. The villagers call this 'Maengssi Haengdan (Maeng Clan’s Apricot Altar).' Haengdan is also the name of the place where Confucius expounded his teachings.

The Maeng Sa-seong Old House in Asan, Chungnam, built by General Choi Yeong during the Goryeo Dynasty and once inhabited by Maeng Sa-seong.

A pair of 600-year-old ginkgo trees personally planted and nurtured by Myeong Sa-seong, a renowned prime minister of Joseon.

Both ginkgo trees standing opposite each other are known to have been planted by Maeng Sa-seong. There is a considerable difference in size between them. The protective tree information board states that the tree’s height is 35 meters and the trunk circumference is 9 meters. However, these measurements reflect their prime size. Currently, both height and trunk circumference appear smaller than the figures on the board. Especially for the tree whose central trunk has rotted and broken off, measuring the trunk circumference is difficult. This is because the vigorous shoots (maengaji, 萌芽枝) sprouting outside the trunk are larger, making it unsuitable to measure by the trunk alone. Although the absence of the central trunk gives a hollow feeling, the tree still retains the dignity of a great tree thanks to the lush shoots.

The smaller tree among the two is much smaller in both height and trunk size. Even trees of the same species with identical characteristics naturally show differences over time. The smaller tree still maintains a robust and fresh appearance overall.

At first glance, one might doubt that these trees were planted at the same time. However, upon closer inspection, the smaller tree also clearly shows the marks of time. Although smaller compared to the opposite tree, it cannot be called small when considered alone. Because the two trees stand side by side, people also call them Ssanghaengsu (雙杏樹), meaning "Twin Ginkgo Trees."

Despite many branches being torn and broken by the ravages of time, the trees still bear abundant fruit. Just below Maeng Sa-seong’s old residence, there is a household building for managing the residence. Maeng Geon-sik, the 21st-generation descendant of the Sinchang Maeng clan who stays there, said that although the fruit yield is irregular due to alternate bearing (haegori), when the harvest is good, they collect about two gamas (traditional Korean volume unit) of ginkgo nuts.

Ginkgo tree of Maeng Sa-seong, lush with yellow autumn leaves.

It is also called 'Samsangjeong (三相亭)' in honor of three prime ministers, and 'Gugwaejeong (九槐亭)' because the three people each planted three zelkova trees, making a total of nine.

However, recently, as the trees gradually lose vitality, the fruit yield has decreased further. Even the small amount of ginkgo nuts that do grow are carefully gathered and shared with those in need despite their pungent smell. This reflects the generous spirit of the descendants who faithfully carry on the legacy of their proud ancestor.

The image of the pair of old ginkgo trees brings to mind the person who planted them, especially in contrast to the disheartening behavior of many people frequently appearing in today’s news. During elections, we have seen countless dispirited politicians bowing to anyone and even prostrating themselves on the streets. Such despicable behavior continues even now. After elections and once in office, almost no politician maintains a humble attitude. Everyone knows this, but those working in the field remain shamelessly unchanged. Those people also continue to fail to fulfill their duties properly, only offering slick words.

Maeng Sa-seong, who planted and cherished these trees, once advised King Sejong when the king wanted to preview the Annals of King Taejong after its completion: "What is recorded in the annals is the actual events meant to be shown to future generations. Even if Your Majesty sees them, you cannot alter them for King Taejong. Once you have seen them, future kings will follow your example, so the historians may doubt and fear, failing to fulfill their duty to record the truth. How then can faithfulness be conveyed to posterity?" King Sejong heeded Maeng Sa-seong’s advice. This story is recorded in Yeollyeosilgiseol (燃藜室記述) by the late Joseon Silhak scholar Lee Geung-ik (1736?1806).

This is a season to long for the life of Maeng Sa-seong, who remained humble and upright before and after taking office. Those who do not hesitate to say or do anything for a single vote?if only they had the composure to plant a tree. Finding a kind and wise politician in reality is as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle. It is truly regrettable and sorrowful.

Ko Gyu-hong, Tree Columnist and Adjunct Professor at Hallym University