¹When Sangjenim was residing in Guritgol Village, a disciple one day presented him with a pheasant. Sangjenim left the pheasant untouched for three days, and it began to spoil.²When the disciples mentioned this, Sangjenim had them boil the bird and dine upon it, but did not partake himself.³When asked why, he replied, “The man’s wife was reluctant to part with the pheasant, so it became laced with malevolent qi.”

⁴“Then why did you allow us to eat it?” asked the disciples.

“I had already removed the malevolent qi.”

⁵Sangjenim revealed, “If a husband and wife are not one, it is difficult for them to fulfill the work of heaven and earth.

⁶“One seeking to practice the dao of a noble human must first inspire their spouses to follow them in all matters.⁷If you cannot move your spouse’s heart no matter how hard you try, do not cause turmoil; rather, yield all the more humbly and make it your habit to comport yourself with propriety and prostrate yourself in deep respect to your spouse every day.⁸Eventually, your spouse will be moved by your sincerity and follow you. Such was the way of the ancients.”