508 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
*
The government fixed the grades of sacrificial attire based upon the regula-
tions made by the suzerain state (Ming China). The first grade of sacrificial
attire, which consisted of a headdress with seven strings and a robe with five
patches, was to be made to correspond to the third grade of Chinese sacri-
ficial attire and worn by royal family members and grand councilors of the
Chancellery. The second grade, which consisted of a headdress with five
strings and a robe with three patches, was to be made to correspond to the
fourth grade of Ming China and worn by the grand councilors of the Security
Council. The third grade, which consisted of a headdress with five strings
and a robe with one patch, was to be made to correspond to the fifth grade
of Ming China and worn by the secretaries (chŏnsŏ) of each ministry. The
fourth and fifth grades, which consisted of headdresses with three strings
and robes with no patch, were to be made to correspond to the sixth and
seventh grades of Ming China and worn by the officials of rank 3 to 4. The
sixth and seventh grades, which consisted of headdresses and robes with no
strings and patches, were to be made to correspond to the eighth and ninth
grades of Ming China and worn by the officials of rank 5 to 9. The officials
below rank 7 were not allowed to have any stringed decorations attached to
their robes.10th Day (Sinchíuk)
Ch’oe Yongso, who had visited Japan as envoy in response to the visit of the
Japanese, returned together with a Japanese monk named Sougu sent by
Minamoto Ryōshun, governor of Kyushu of Japan, as well as over 570 male
and female Korean captives who had been taken away to Japan. The king
sent Song Tŭksa, chief minister of the Office of Guest Affairs, to greet and
entertain them. The letter from Governor Minamoto was as follows:
“Minamoto Ryōshun, governor of Kyushu of Japan, presents this letter to
Their Excellencies, the two chancellors of Chosŏn. I read your letter deliv-
ered by your envoy Ch’oe Yongso, minister of works, after burning incense
and bowing down to it. I was very pleased to learn that you are in good
health more than ever. I am also grateful for your gifts, the- high quality
local products as listed in your letter. Having received your instruction to
crack down on piracy, I have done my utmost to eradicate the pirates from
Iki and Tsushima Islands for a long time, but the pirates use their boats as