114 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Buddha and the spirits instead of dreading and repenting their mistakes.
The money they spent on those activities was beyond calculation, and Your
Majesty already knows this too well. We would like to request you, from
this day forward, to emulate King Yü of Xia and Emperor Wen of Han in
their virtuous conduct of frugality (which extended to their official dress,
trappings, entertainment and rewards) and eliminate all nonessential expen-
ditures for worshipping Buddha and the spirits. If you hold events and per-
form ceremonies without self-indulgence and luxury, people will notice and
be impressed by it, so they will be eager to follow your example.
“Eighth is to keep away from eunuchs. Eunuchs have long been a source
of trouble. Zhao Gao^22 of the Qin dynasty, Hong Gong and Shi Xian^23 of the
Han dynasty, and Li Fuguo^24 and Chou Shiliang^25 of the Tang dynasty are
among the worst examples. At the end of the previous dynasty [Koryŏ],
more than a few seized power as eunuchs. They are generally intelligent,
eloquent, and good at pleasing others as they try to read the minds of their
superiors. Therefore, the king often falls into their trickery and either loses
his power or runs into trouble while he is unaware of the danger. Cases such
as these are almost endless, and this is truly lamentable.
“From this day forward, we request that you choose decent and discreet
eunuchs from the group and let them carry out their original duties—that is,
to control the access of people to the palace and keep it clean (soje), without
being assigned to any other extra duties. As for those who are old and cun-
ning, and avaricious and shameless, we ask you to send them all away to
the countryside so that they cannot tarnish the image of your new benevo-
lent rule.
“Ninth is to eliminate Buddhist priests and nuns. The so-called Buddhism
is a religion that originated in a barbarian country and first entered the Han
dynasty during the years of Yongping^26 and was finally transmitted to our- Chief eunuch at the end of the Qin dynasty who, along with Li Si, played an instru-
mental role in the downfall of the dynasty. - Hong Gong and Shi Xian served as imperial secretary and chief eunuch, respectively,
during the reign of Emperor Yuan (75 b c–35 b c). - A powerful eunuch of the Tang dynasty during the reign of Emperor Suzong and his
successor Emperor Daizong. Involved in constant power struggles, he served as minister of
war and chancellor but was eventually assassinated by Daizong, whom he had helped to
enthrone. - Chief eunuch during the reign of Emperor Wuzong (814–846). He was famous for
promoting Taoism while persecuting Buddhism. - The reign name of Emperor Ming (58 a d–75 a d) of the Han dynasty.