General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 83“I was quite relieved when I was allowed to resign from the office of right
chancellor not too long ago, but this time, I was promoted to chancellor
[senior to left and right chancellors]. Having received Your Majesty’s decree,
I am more nervous than ever and hardly know what to do.
“Furthermore, the state affairs, formerly in disarray, are now in proper
order, and the government is starting out anew. How can one assist the king
in ruling the state unless he has outstanding talent, and how can one pacify
the people unless he has great virtue? I entreat Your Majesty to accept my
sincerity and release me from the heavy burden of responsibility. Then I
may be able to make way for men of virtue and free myself from the accusa-
tions that I failed in my duties. I would be grateful if Your Majesty would
let me live out my days at home, praying for Your Majesty’s good health.”
The king did not allow his request and replied as follows: “A man of
talent is needed to subdue disturbances and straighten out the affairs of
state, and a state councilor who works on behalf of the king is required to
discuss the Way (Dao)^167 and rule the state. Therefore, to find or lose such a
person is a grave matter related to the security and danger of the state.
“Your will is stronger than the wind or frost, and your personality more
splendid than the Three Lights (samgwang),^168 or the Five Sacred Mountains
(Wuyue).^169 You have rendered great services to the royal house from long
ago and brought benefits to the people up until now. You drove Nahachu
away to a distant corner of the north and annihilated the Japanese enemies
all over the country.
“After the former king [King Kongmin] passed away, the ones who were
not the members of the royal family stole the throne. They indulged in
hunting and womanizing and committed atrocities, killing innocent people.
They even raised armies to invade China.
“Clarifying what is right and wrong and upholding the principle of jus-
tice, you made your army turn around and march back, and with the support
of royal family members and officials drove out the false kings. Then you
reinforced the foundation of the state and restored the royal Wang house by
- The Chinese term, Dao, is hard to define. It can be translated as way, path, principle,
and so forth. When the state councilor discusses the way and rule the state, it signifies that he
either simply discusses the strategies of governing the state or governs the state by discussing
the right path of governing the state. - The sun, moon and stars.
- Wuyue is also variously translated as the Five Great Mountains, Five Great Peaks, and
Five Holy Mountains.