Book III 281At the time when the revolution was underway [at the end of the previous
dynasty], he made contributions in assisting and recommending that the
king be elevated to the throne, and he did not make excuses for his illness
when he received the royal orders from the king to depart for the Ming cap-
ital to carry out a diplomatic mission.^94 Accordingly, he left in spite of being
ill and died on the way. He had no sons. The government sent Kim Ipgyŏn,
assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery, to take his place.26th Day (Kyŏngja)
A red, sinister glow appeared in the western sky.28th Day (Imin)
Yi Mindo, minister of rites, and others submitted a memorial to the king:
“Nothing is more important than sacrifices among the official ceremo-
nies of the state. Therefore, people in ancient days carried themselves with
extreme caution for seven days and purified themselves for three days before
they performed sacrifices. So it is due to individual efforts and sincerity
that the heavenly spirits are impressed and the ghosts of men savor the
sacrifices.
“Confucius said, ‘He sacrificed to the dead, as if they were present. He sac-
rificed to the spirits, as if the spirits were present.’^95 The master also said, ‘I
consider my not being present at the sacrifice as if I did not sacrifice.’^96
“We sincerely request Your Majesty to abstain [from sex, meat, and
alcohol] for seven days and to fast for three days before you personally offer
a libation to the spirits at the Royal Ancestral Shrine and to ceremoniously
plow or reap the state fields (chŏkchŏn) so that you can set a precedent for
your posterity; and if it happens that you are unable to sacrifice, let the
crown prince take your place.”
29th Day (Kyemyo)
The king ordered Nam Ŭn, director of the Security Council, to visit the
coffin hall of Yun Ho and perform a sacrificial offering.- “Mission” here indicates the imperial birthday embassy.
- “Bayi,” The Analects. (Confucius, trans. Legge, p. 159)
- Ibid.