Book IX 587
18th Day (Kapsul)
Yi Wŏn, second inspector and Cho Ch’i, inspector of miscellaneous affairs,
impeached Inspector-General Pak Kyŏng, Third Inspectors Chŏng Chŏl
and Kwŏn Chŏng, and Inspector of Miscellaneous Affairs Yi Ch’i. This
happened because Kyŏng and others conducted investigations on the death
of a female servant who belonged to the household of Yu Wŏnjŏng and sent
an official document to the Board of Punishments, requesting that Wŏnjŏng
be exiled to a distant district after confiscating his appointment certificate.
The king, however, forgave Wŏnjŏng on the grounds that he was a merit
subject.
20th Day (Pyŏngja)
The Board of Personnel requested that the officials be allowed to exalt their
ancestors and treat their spouses with respect:
“1. For an official above rank 6 and responsible for ancestor worship of
three generations, his ancestors of three preceding generations should be
awarded posthumous titles. The rank of his father should be equal to his,
and the rank of his grandfather and great- grandfather should each be low-
ered by one rank, and the rank of their spouses should be lowered in the
same way. If his ancestors happen to be merit subjects, two ranks should be
added.
“1. The lawful wives of officials should be called differently according to
each rank: the wives of officials who hold rank 1 should be called kunbuin,
and the wives of officials who hold rank 2, hyŏnbuin. The wives of officials
who hold rank 3 should be called sugin if the position of their husbands is
above chancellor of the National University; otherwise, they should be called
yŏngin. The wives of officials who hold rank 4 should be called kongin; the
wives of officials who hold rank 5, ŭiin; the wives of officials who hold rank
6, anin; and the wives of officials whose rank is 7 or below, yuin. The Board
of Personnel should be responsible for handling the affairs and issuing a
certificate to each individual. Those who have already received titles
because of their husbands or sons who rendered great service to the state
should not be restricted by these provisions after receiving the royal order.
“1. Wives who are qualified to receive these titles are those who were
virgins before they were lawfully married. If they were not virgins at the
time of marriage, they should not be awarded titles, even if they were law-
fully married; they should just be called wife of so- and- so who served as