Book V 397“So we request Your Majesty to order the Regional Military Commission
of Liaodong to return the Koreans whom it took away on the two aforemen-
tioned occasions, including Kim Paegan and Yi Kyŏnsil, so that the hearts
of our people living on the border region can be calmed.23rd Day (Sinyu)
Japanese invaded P’ungju.^91The king ordered young eunuchs and others in the palace to read the Great
Learning.Ch’oe Ch’ilsŏk, military commander of Right Kyŏnggi Province, died of
illness in the military camp. His clan seat was Wansan.^92 He was so big and
tall in stature that none among his contemporaries could rival him. Every
time he received orders to go out to defend against Japanese marauders, he
failed to make contributions and yet he never lost his battles either. His
public service reached the position of second royal secretary. He is survived
by two sons, Ŏngnyong and Mallyong.
28th Day (Pyŏngin)
Kim Kŏwŏn, our envoy who paid a courtesy visit to Japan,^93 returned with
monk Pŏmmyŏng [or Honmyo],^94 bringing 569 Korean captives with him.
30th Day (Mujin)
Chŏng Tojŏn presented his book, titled Administrative Code of Chosŏn
(Chosŏn kyŏnggukchŏn),^95 to the king. After perusing it, the king expressed
his admiration, praised the author, and bestowed upon him a horse in the
royal stable along with silk and silver.
- An old name of P’ungch’ŏn in Hwanghae Province.
- Modern Chŏnju, a city in North Chŏlla Province.
- This visit was made in response to the visit of Japanese envoys to Korea.
- It’s not clear whether this monk was Korean or Japanese. If Japanese, his name could
be Honmyo. - Also called Kyŏnggukchŏn, this book was akin to a constitution for the Chosŏn
dynasty. As an architect of the new regime and a strong advocate of sweeping reform for edu-
cation and government based on Neo- Confucian ideals, the author laid down the laws for the
six major areas of personnel, taxation, rites, the military, punishments, and works.