Book I 145Chu felt sorry for Saek because his place of exile was a deserted island.
When Chu asked Tojŏn what he should do, the latter replied, “Sending him
to that island means throwing him into the sea.” A little later, the king
ordered Saek exiled to Changhŭng, so Tojŏn failed to accomplish his plan.Kim Inch’an, deputy commissioner of the Security Council, died. The king
suspended the morning audiences for three days, posthumously promoted
him to assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery, and ordered the respon-
sible office to bury him with propriety.
Inch’an’s clan seat was Yanggŭn,^116 and he was talented in military affairs.
From the days before the king ascended the throne, he made contributions
to escorting the king, and when the new dynasty was founded, he partici-
pated in the efforts to enthrone the king. He had no sons.
8th Month
1st Day (Kyŏngsul)
The king held the morning audience while standing.2nd Day (Sinhae)
The Merit Recommendation Office (Kongsin Togam)^117 was established.The king ordered each member of the Censorate and the Six Boards to rec-
ommend three learned and virtuous officials (hyŏllyang) whose ranks ranges
between rank 4 and rank 6 and not currently assigned to any official duty.The law for hiring public officials is made. There are seven ways for the
people to enter the public service, and they are: “protected appointment”
(ŭmjik), “erudite examination” (munkwa), “examinations for local function-
aries” (igwa), “examination for interpreters” (yŏkkwa), “examination for geo-
mancers” (ŭmyanggwa), “examination for medical practitioners” (ŭigwa),
and “military examinations” (mukwa). The first six areas are supervised by
the Board of Personnel (Ijo), and the last by the Board of War (Pyŏngjo).
- A county in Kyŏnggi Province.
- It was first established by T’aejo right after the Chosŏn dynasty was founded in 1392,
with the purpose of rewarding the 44 officials who had supported him during his struggle for
the throne. It was a provisional office headed by 1 commissioner, 2 vice commissioners, 2
chief clerks, 2 record keepers, and 2 vice record keepers.