Book III 27713th Day (Chŏnghae)
Taking a seat in Pop’yŏng Hall (Pop’yŏngjŏn), the king tested thirty- three
candidates, including Yun Chŏng, who were recommended by left chancellor
Cho Chun, examination administrator, and Kim Chu, associate examination
administrator and concurrent grand academician of the Office of Royal
Decrees and State Records. He selected Song Kaesin as the first winner.
14th Day (Muja)
On the occasion of Queen Hyŏn’s birthday, the king pardoned the prisoners
except those who have been sentenced to capital punishment either by
beheading or strangulation.16th Day (Kyŏngin)
Siam [Kingdom of Thailand]^85 sent twenty people, including an official
named Chang Sado, who presented one thousand taels of sappanwood,^86
another thousand taels of spices, and two natives to the king. The king
assigned the two natives to palace gate guard duties.
Monk Kentetsu of Iki Island, Japan, sent a representative and returned two
hundred male and female Korean captives. He also presented local products
of his island, saying, “We express our respect to you from a distant place.”
17th Day (Sinmyo)
The king dispatched Yun Ho, director of the State Finance Commission, to
congratulate the Chinese emperor on his birthday, and Kim Ipgyŏn, assis-
tant grand councilor of the Chancellery, to express his gratitude for the
payment of the tribute horses. The memorial he presented was as follows:
“Imperial envoy Wang Nai, associate commandant of Jianyang Guard
(Jianyangwei), along with other officials, visited us with a letter from the
Ministry of Rites. My people and I are deeply grateful for your generosity
regarding the payment for our tribute horses. Considering that you paid for
- Thailand was formerly called Siam.
- Sappanwood, called somok in Korean, was a species of flowering tree native to
Southeast Asia. Having many uses, including medicine and dye, it was one of the popular trade
goods in the 17th century.