864 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Heaven and Earth and the spirits of our royal ancestors aided us from behind
the scenes, and loyal subjects and scholars were all united to save the
country, so that the wicked gang was seized and executed, and the state
finally stabilized.
“Incidentally, the former king, who has been ill for a long time, failed to
recover and therefore ordered me to succeed his throne because I am his
eldest son and capable of discharging my duty. Knowing that I am unworthy
for the task, I was terrified and tried to resist the royal order several times,
without success.
“On the fifth Chŏngch’uk day of the ninth lunar month of thirty- first reign
year of Hongwu, I ascended the throne in the Hall of Diligent Government
and on the tenth Chŏnghae day sacrificed to the Royal Ancestral Shrine,
wearing the royal dragon robe and crown with strings of hanging beads in
front and back. As I look back and think, the former king entrusted me with
the throne because he was too tired to take care of myriad affairs. So I want
to serve him forever with all the resources that the country can afford. The
provisions and tribute presented by each government agency and various
provinces should continue to be presented as they were when the former
king was on the throne.
“Since we are at the beginning of the new reign, it is necessary to pro-
claim the new measures of forgiveness and reform. The crimes and offenses
committed prior to the early morning of the fifteenth day of the ninth lunar
month of the thirty- first reign year of Hongwu, except those related to
treason, robbery, homicide through poisoning and witchcraft, and willful
murder, or joining the traitorous clique of Chŏng Tojŏn and Nam Ŭn, shall
all be granted amnesty, regardless whether they were already discovered or
not. If there is anyone who dares to report to the authorities from this day
forward regarding the offenses prior to this amnesty, he shall be punished
just as the one he accuses. All the measures designed to help the people
shall be listed as follows:
“1. The sacrifices to the Royal Ancestral Shrine and the Altar of Earth
and Grain shall be offered with sincerity and respect. The foods and sacri-
ficial vessels on the table shall be clean, and invocations and rituals appro-
priate so that there may be no disrespect at all.
“1. Since Exalted King Of Culture [Confucius] is the king of kings
throughout a hundred generations, the sacrifices offered to his shrine shall
also be clean, and no disrespect allowed.