888 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Heaven to what men do down on the earth. The story of King Ashura that
Buddhist monks talk about is not true.”^2815th Day (Chŏngsa)
A meteor emerged out of the Eridanus constellation (Kuyusŏng) and disap-
peared to the southwest.The Board of Rites submitted a memorial to the king: “The Book of Rites
says, ‘The saying that the superior man mourns all his life for his parents
has reference to the recurrence of the day of their death.’^29 According to the
custom of the previous dynasty, on the death anniversary of their parents,
people did not purify themselves or sacrifice; they only invited monks and
served them with food. This was not only against the principle of filial piety
but also against the rule of proper conduct toward parents.
“We request that, hereafter, one who has a death anniversary refrain from
eating strong- smelling vegetables [garlic and scallion], drinking alcohol,
and having meat, starting from one day before the anniversary, while puri-
fying himself in a detached room, until the moment he performs the sacri-
fice. The sacrificial food should be prepared and arranged on the table
according to the instruction manual “Diagram of Displaying Sacrificial
Food and Wine” (Sihyang chinsŏldo), published by the Board of Rites.
During the occasion, he should also keep away from women and never
accept guests, and by putting all these rules into practice, he should fulfill
what is meant by “the superior man mourns all his life for his parents.” The
king followed the advice.The king recognized Our Majesty [then Prince Chŏngan], Duke Igan
Pangŭi, and Duke Hoean Panggan for the contributions they made for the
founding of the new dynasty and had them additionally recorded with the
title and appropriate rewards. He instructed that the rewards for them should
be based on those given to Cho Chun, a dynasty- founding merit subject
first class.- Ashura, or Asura, was originally a demigod who appeared in Hindu mythology. He is
a sort of Titanic figure rebelling against the main god, Lord Vishnu. He is ultimately defeated
but, still immortal, takes his revenge in the form of solar and lunar eclipses every once in a
while. Therefore, the eclipses were thought to be a bad omen. - Book XXI. “Ki I” (Legge, p. 211).