101
Book I
First Year of Reign (1392)
7th Month
17th Day (Pyŏngsin)
T’aejo ascended the throne at Such’ang Palace. Earlier, on the twelfth day of
this month, King Kongyang [of Koryŏ] intended to visit T’aejo at his private
residence and strike an alliance with him, while having some drinks together.
The bearers of ceremonial weapons and instruments had already lined up
(for the royal procession), but at that time, Chancellor Pae Kŭngnyŏm and
other officials spoke to the queen dowager [of King Kongmin]:^1 “The present
king is benighted. He has lost the Way of a monarch, and the hearts and
minds of the people have already left him. He is unable either to preside
over the Altars of Earth and Grain or to rule living souls (i.e., the people).
Hence, we request that he be deposed.”
Thereupon, they received the queen dowager’s letter of instruction, while
the decision to depose King Kongyang had already been made. Nam Ŭn
and Chŏng Hŭigye, assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery, with the
instructions in hand, ran to Sichwagung, the royal quarters of the king in
Pukch’ŏndong. After they arrived, they publicly announced the message.
King Kongyang prostrated himself to the ground and, hearing the
announcement, said, “Originally I did not wish to become king, but various
ministers impelled me to do so. By nature, I am not clever and am slow to
understand how things work. How could I help going against the feelings of
- The senior wife of King Kongmin.