Thursday, March 28, 2024
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First English Translation of The Annals of King Taejo

The Annals of King Taejo (translated and annotated by Choi Byong Hyon, Harvard University Press) is a fascinating read. All the Annals of the Joseon kings were written in classical Chinese. And as of 2021, only the Annals of King Taejo has been translated into English. So it’s a fantastic opportunity to really get a sense of the first few years of the new dynasty in the late 14th century.

The Annals of Taejo is not the kind of book you read from cover to cover like a novel. The records are written in diary-form with notes entered almost every day of the 7-year reign. So it’s a great reference book. And for me, it’s a must.

On a small note, the McCune-Reischauer system is used to romanize Korean words as opposed to the Revised Romanization of Korean (which I prefer) so for me it that takes a bit of getting used to.

What are the Annals?

The Royal scribes kept a daily record of the King’s life. In historical dramas we can often see two scribes sitting somewhere near the king taking notes. Then after the King’s death, the records were combined into the King’s Annals. Altogether, there are 1,893 volumes of the Annals of Joseon. Copies were stored in special storage buildings around the country for safe-keeping.

The 500 years of the Joseon dynasty had its ups and downs. There were 27 Joseon kings who ruled through times of war and times of peace. The early Joseon kings were warriors. They had to be, as the new dynasty was unsettled until the Golden Age of King Sejong (r.1418–1450)

So a lot happened during the reign of King Taejo as the founder of a new dynasty. And the Annals of King Taejo is a thick book – 897 pages – even though the king only ruled for 7 years.

One thing to note when reading the Annals is that they were written by the King’s supporters. So the king is presented in a very good light. In fact, he’s like a hero from an action film. Mounted on a white horse on a hill, holding a red arrow with white feathers gazing down at his men. Standing serene and calm whilst all around him there is chaos and panic as boats sink in a terrible storm.

related posts:

Overview of Joseon Kings

Early Joseon Kings and related historical dramas 

Chart of Joseon kings and related dramas

What information is included in the records?

Everything that happened involving the king was noted daily – from the mundane to the dramatic. Some days have short entries on the weather, other days have long descriptions on serious happenings such as the execution of high officials for treason.

There are requests from government departments, meetings with envoys from Ming (China), and reports on rewards and punishments. We can see how filial piety, in particular, was valued and rewarded. There are lengthy obituaries of high ranking officials. And interestingly, poems written for the King that reinforce his worthiness to be on the throne and hold the Mandate of Heaven.

The king’s free time is also recorded – such as his hunting trips and vacations to hot springs.

And I like the details we can pick up about daily life at court. For instance, the King played kyokku, a ball game on horseback. He liked to go hunting and had a falcon farm erected on the Han River.

Also, a large bell was erected in the new capital so that the King’s achievements could ‘ring out and reach the hearts of the people‘. The bell was also useful to get people up in the morning and let them know when it was time for bed. And we’re reminded that Joseon was a different time when locals could be called upon to help catch a roaming tiger!

Weather and the Mandate of Heaven

A surprising point for me was how the weather carried so much meaning.

One of the objectives of the Annals of Taejo was to give the new king and dynasty some legitimacy. Since the King could only maintain his position if he pleased Heaven by being a worthy king, the writers of the Annals were at pains to show that the last king of the previous dynasty – Goryeo – had lost the Mandate of Heaven. And in contrast, King Taejo had received the Mandate of Heaven.

At the time it was believed that Heaven’s dissatisfaction was shown through the weather, so there are plenty of examples of angry weather.

For instance, the king often likes to leave the palace to visit his falcon farm. But the Inspector General clearly disapproves. So he writes him a note pointing out that after the King leaves the palace, there is fierce thunder and lightening. This means that The Heavens are upset with the king (not the Inspector General!) Therefore, the King should stop leaving the palace so often…

related posts:

Great Korean Portraits

Jeonju – home of King Taejo

Why do some kings have the title Jo and others jong?

the annals of king taejo

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Removing Trouble from the Past

A recurring problem throughout the king’s reign is dealing with possible trouble-makers.

Officials constantly try to persuade him to remove members of the Wang clan (ex-royal family of Goryeo), eunuchs, and Buddhist monks! The officials prostrate themselves outside the palace front gate. So in the end the King has no choice but to agree.

So the last king of Goryeo, King Gongyang, and his two sons are strangled to death. Other members of the Wang clan are beheaded. The records note that after this, people who have the family name Wang (unrelated to the royal family) now feel compelled to use their maternal family names instead.

International Relations

The details regarding Joseon’s relationship with the new Ming Dynasty are also interesting.

The relationship is strained. Envoys are sent to Ming with tributes but often the envoys are turned away. Messages from the Emperor arrive demanding that the ‘small kingdom’ has to show respect and should send envoys who can speak Chinese or not send anyone at all.  The Emperor questions the sincerity of tributary gifts and also sends poems, yes POEMS, by envoy to Joseon. The poems reflect the Emperor’s feelings on the relationship between the two kingdoms.

Whilst having to balance the relationship with Ming, there are constant references of attacks from Japanese marauders. One Joseon commander receives capital punishment for allowing his battleships to be captured by the enemy.

Moving the Capital City

So the Annals of Taejo are special because they reveal what it took to set up the new dynasty. And a main task was moving the capital city to its new location – Hanyang (Seoul).

Records show that officials were against the move as they didn’t want to relocate their homes and families. So they try to dissuade the king from going to look at Hanyang (Seoul) by suggesting that ‘there are bandits on the way!’ (but the King, a former army general, is undeterred!)

By the 3rd year of the King’s reign the geomancers can still not agree on the best location for the new capital. Even though the King has already ordered work to commence in Hanyang to build the new city walls, other suggestions are still being thrown around. But finally, on the 25th day of the 10th month the capital is moved to Hanyang (Seoul).

There are lots of details about the new construction of the palace – such as the size of rooms and facilities. 118,070 workers (slaves) are summoned from around the country to work on the construction of the city walls. Towards the end of his reign, work on the capital is finally finished and the workers allowed to go home and concentrate on agriculture again. Families of workers who died on the job are given grain and beans.

related posts:

The Five Royal Palaces in Seoul

The end of King Taejo’s reign

The Annals show how Taejo’s reign ends rather dramatically when several of his trusted officials are executed for treason. By this point Taejo is sick and weak and chooses to abdicate. (He was the first of only 3 kings to abdicate during the Joseon period). So due to his abdication, there are notes on the first few months of his son King Jeongjong’s reign, too.

I could go on and on with lots more fascinating details from the Annals. It’s a great reference. And I’m waiting for the next Annals translation to come out …

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2 thoughts on “First English Translation of The Annals of King Taejo

  • I have a question regarding 1st paragraph. You meant King Taejo of Goryeo not Joseon right? 🙂

    Reply
  • Oops my mistake. It’s Joseon Dynasty, and Goryeo has Jeongjong too 😊

    Reply

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