당태종과 위징

역사책을 읽다 보면 가끔 별로 큰일이 아닌데도 심금을 울리는 장면이 있어 몇 시간씩 그 장면에 대한 생각에 사로잡히곤 한다. 그것은 때때로 사건일 때도 있고, 생각일 때도 있고, 위인들의 대화 일 때도 있다.  

당나라 역사는 내 사랑 위진남북조시대 뒤에 이어지긴 하지만 워낙 중국인들이 자랑스러워하는 역사여서 재수 없는 데다가, 관심마저 없어서 기본적인 지식수준만을 가지고 있었다. 예를 들면 당태종이라는 사람과 정관정요까지는 알더라도 그 주위에 누가 있는지는 알지 못했다. 아니 예전에 보던 중국 드라마인 “태종 이세민”이던가 에서 태종은 잘생긴 하윤동이 맡았었고, 위징은 웬 도사같이 생긴 양반이 맡았었던 것이 내 당초기 역사에 대한 기억의 전부다. 

그러나 이번 학기 수당사 수업을 들으면서 읽게된 <offerings of jade and silk>에서 위징과 당태종의 대화를 통해 알 수 있는 그들의 인물 됨됨이는 뭐랄까, 더 이상 공부 진도가 안 나갈 정도의 사람 숨을 멈추게 하는 마력이 있고 감동이 있다.

이 위징이라는 사람은 도대체 무엇을 믿고 당태종에게 이렇게 곧이곧대로 옳은 소리만 했을까. 어떻게 절대 권력자와 그의 신하 사이에서 이렇게 순수하게 정직한 이야기가 오고 갈 수 있을까. 화딱지가 날만한데도 오히려 조언에 고마움을 표하거나, 됐다, 꺼져라, 싫다, 죽여버리겠다 하지 않고 그의 의견을 조목조목 반박하는 당태종이라는 사람은 도대체 얼마나 큰 그릇인가. 

하긴 그도 사람인지라 황후의 처소에 돌아오는 길에 위징 죽여버리겠다고 화를 버럭버럭 내자 문덕황후가 오히려 술을 내오며 말하기를 당태종이 황제임에도 불구하고 그들의 의견을 받아들이니 그들이 두려움 없이 직언을 할 수 있는 거 아니냐며 당태종의 후덕함을 경하하였다고 하니 이 시대 사람들 다 이렇게 멋있고 현명한 건가. 

A dramatic exchange at court between Taizong and Wei Zheng provides much insight into the conditions deemed necessary during the early Tang for a ruler to carry out the Feng and Shan. According to a near contemporary source, when Wei Zheng, of all the court ministers, opposed Taizong’s intention to perform the sacrifices in 632, the emperor angrily confronted him, saying:

I want your straightforward opinion, without hiding anything. Is not my merit high?
Your merit is indeed high.
Has not my virtue become substantial?
Your virtue has indeed become substantial.
Has not China become peaceful?It is a peaceful.
Do not far-off barbarians emulate us?
They emulate us.
Have not auspicious omens arrived?
They have arrived.
Have not yearly harvests increased?
They have increased.
Then why do you think it improper for me [to perform the rites]?

Wei Zheng acknowledged a great improvement in conditions since the establishment of the dynasty but questioned whether, with the economy still shaky, it would burden the people. He compared China to a man who had just suffered a ten-year-long disease, and who, although much recovered, was still not well enough to perform feats of strength or endurance. (pp.177-8 Offerings of Jade and Silk)