552 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
also be revised, following the above example, but they must be free of any
complication or confusion. As for the articles of prohibition, allow us to
continue to discuss this matter and report to you.”
The king ordered the Privy Council to discuss the matter and report the
result to him. Consequently, the Privy Council had a discussion and made a
report as follows:
“We reviewed and discussed the proposal made by the Criminal Admin-
istration Bureau of the Board of Punishments, and, as it was proposed, we
decided to create a separate directorate to deal with the matters concerning
public and private slaves and to issue new slave documents, while destroying
old ones. As for the slaves currently involved in litigations filed after the
Sinch’uk year (1361), we are making sure that the official responsible for
slave affairs adjudicates litigations within two years starting from the
Pyŏngja year (1396) and makes a report to the directorate for slave affairs.
He will also issue new deeds to the owners of slaves, while destroying old
ones, to permanently prevent litigations in the days ahead.” The king fol-
lowed the advice.12th Month
1st Day (Kyŏngin)
There was a red glow in the north.3rd Day (Imjin)
A woman named Chungbo, the wife of Executive Captain Ch’oe Anjong,
strangled her husband to death after committing adultery with Kim
Chungmyŏng, the brother of her husband’s cousin by his father’s sister.
After the crime was discovered, the Board of Punishments interrogated the
suspects. Chungmyŏng ran away, and Chungbo was executed by hanging.7th Day (Pyŏngsin)
The king ordered the National Academy and the two publication offices^55 to
supervise the construction work of the National Shrine of Confucius.- The Publication Office (Kyosŏgam) and the Office of Editorial Review (Kyosŏgwan).