[Column] Four Pillars of Fortune and Interpretation of the Law

It is said that there are many lawyers who study Myungri (the Four Pillars of Fortune) as a hobby. When you were a college entrance exam student, you were anxious, so you probably read your fortune a lot for fun, and this often led to studying. However, it is said that there are similarities between law and Myeongri studies, so there are many lawyers who study Myeongri studies. That's right, if you study Myeongnihak, you can find parts that are consistent with the interpretation of the law.

When interpreting a law, we look into which laws and provisions to apply in a specific factual situation and whether the facts meet the application requirements of the provisions. In some cases, more than one law or provision may apply. For a thorough legal review of a specific case, all relevant legal issues and applicable legal provisions must be reviewed. In this process, attention must be paid to the interpretation of the provisions' principles and exceptions.

If the interpretation is ambiguous, such as whether an exception applies, look for precedents. However, if a precedent phrase is applied carelessly simply because it matches this specific case at first glance, it may lead to erroneous conclusions. This is because every event is as different as the number of events.

In practice, it is more complicated. In order to solve a specific case, you must not only know the law, but also world affairs. For example, let's say there is a defect liability case during a transaction between two companies. The problem cannot be solved simply by knowing the legal principles regarding defect warranty liability. In fact, it is possible to use the law to come up with an optimized legal solution by knowing the technology, such as transaction practices and product composition, in the field. In addition, when deciding on a solution for the client, the needs of the client and the other party must also be understood. You can think of it as truly becoming that person or company and then weeding out only the legal issues. Ultimately, if you are a lawyer, you must be interested in human beings and the principles of the world.

Now, let’s take a look at Myeongnihak. Myeongnihak is a study of metaphysical interpretation. After looking at the designated date and time of birth according to the Universal Calendar, we look at the four major fortunes and great fortune (luck in 10-year units). There are wood, fire, earth, gold, and water properties, but these properties also vary depending on yin and yang, location, and combination. What is important is the relationship and context of cases that are intertwined with the law. Moreover, like the law, there are interpretations of principles and exceptions, so if you miss the interpretation of the exceptions, a completely wrong conclusion will be born (I hope to have an opportunity to provide a detailed explanation next time).

For example, when a magician gives career advice to someone, he or she should not simply conclude, 'You have a knack for fortune telling, so become a lawyer.' Injection feeding is dangerous. Just as we interpret the law by examining its legislative intent and overall context, we must examine the attributes of the officer and the legal profession respectively. Some people may be a good fit for a lawyer because they are not interested in instigation. Isn't it possible that he is a person who views the legal profession as a means of earning a good living rather than a government position? Without being able to think about the ways of the world with such flexible thinking and through rote learning such as memorizing 'A government official is a government position,' you cannot be qualified to give advice under the pretext of freeing evil spirits from someone's life. In the end, when magicians solve someone's spell, they must have flexible thinking and an understanding of the flow of the world and the individual.

The more I study Myeongnihak, the more I think, ironically, that life is about pioneering. As philosopher John Rawls, who provided the foundational philosophy of our Constitution, proposed the concept of 'the barrier of the veil', chance factors determine quite a lot in life. But we find our negative freedom there too. The same goes for fortune telling. Myeongri studies only tell me my fortune like the barrier of the veil. What makes me live within it is ‘me’. In the end, I think Myungri also teaches us that we have negative freedom and suggests a lesson to focus on today and practice free will.

 

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