Book XIV 813
things fail to be recorded? We, your subjects, do not understand why Your
Majesty wants to see the draft history.
“To reflect respectfully and quietly, the founder king of the new dynasty
is the example to his royal descendants. If Your Majesty once sees the draft
of history of your reign, your successors will certainly find an excuse for
reading the draft of history of their reigns, saying, ‘My father read it and so
did my grandfather.’ If this practice of reading or revising the draft of his-
tory is thus justified and handed down, how can a historiographer dare to
grab a brush and write history as he witnesses it? Unless he is allowed to
write history truthfully, his will to promote the good and discourage the bad
will be undermined. Then, wouldn’t the time come when the king and his
subjects have nothing to fear and no reason to reflect on their conduct?
Seeing the draft of history today, therefore, is not the right way of leaving a
good example for your descendants.
“Furthermore, in the age of peace, a sage king and loyal subjects have
met, and their laws and commands—which are all so good, beautiful, and
exemplary—have made their history shine. However, once Your Majesty
takes a look at it, I am afraid that the people of later ages will certainly say,
‘Since this history was personally read by the king during his reign, how
could historiographers be honest about what they recorded?’ If that hap-
pens, wouldn’t the great virtue and achievements of Your Majesty appear
false and lose credibility, contrary to your expectations, and consequently
damage the reputation of the laws and commands during your great reign?
Prostrating myself to the ground, I beg you to specially accept my request.
If you have your order to see the draft of history repealed, it would be
extremely fortunate for the people and the state.”
Denying the request, the king gave orders immediately: “The reason I
personally want to read the draft history now is not because I want to see
evidence of my good or bad conduct, but because I suspect the historiogra-
phers are largely ignorant of the talks secretly exchanged between the king
and his subjects in the Imsin year (1392) when I ascended the throne. Since
Yi Haeng, though he served as chief royal secretary, made a mistake in his
account of history, how can other historiographers fully know about the
talks carried out between the king and his subjects? The history since King
Kongmin of the previous dynasty, which is already compiled, as well as the
draft history since the Imsin year shall be selected and submitted.”