186 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
must serve the king with sincerity and associate with one another with
trust.
“We should neither harm one another for wealth and honor, nor avoid one
another for self-interests, nor act upon listening to slander, nor become sus-
picious because of trivial mistakes in words and facial expressions, nor pre-
tend to be pleased while hating behind the back, nor feign to be in harmony
while secretly alienating the other. When one of us makes a mistake, we
should correct it. When we have doubts, we should ask. If we are sick, we
should help each other. If we have a problem, we should save each other.
We will keep this pledge for generations, down to our descendants. If it hap-
pens that we break this pledge, the gods will punish us.”The children, brothers, and sons-in-law of the merit subjects had a meeting
in Wangryundong, forming the mutual assistance association for loyalty
and filial piety (ch’unghyogye).30th Day (Musin)
There was thunder and lightning. The king called the officials of the
Astronomical and Meteorological Observatory and asked their opinions
regarding the new building site for the Royal Ancestral Shrine. One of them
replied, “It is hard to find a good place for it inside the palace. The old site
of the Royal Ancestral Shrine of the former dynasty would be the best
choice.”
The king said, “What can we make out of the old site of the ruined dynasty
[Koryŏ]?” Nam Ŭn, director of the Security Council, said, “Why don’t you
take down the old palaces over there, dig out the old ground, and build a
new Royal Ancestral Shrine on top of it?” The king replied, “Do not rush to
cut down the pines yet in the place where the Royal Ancestral Shrine of the
former dynasty is.”10th Month
1st Day (Kiyu)
There was heavy rain with thunder.Chancellor Cho Chun spoke to the king. “According to the reports, this
year’s crop is bad. The government should reduce taxes. However, if we