188 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
for those words under the circumstances in which an official killed another
recklessly without the permission of the king?
“Furthermore, after Mongju died, military officers from various depart-
ments submitted a joint petition to punish Mongju and his clique for the
future of the country. Those who signed the petition at that critical moment
can be regarded as my supporters and deserve to be commended. This is the
reason I want to award them with a title of merit subject. How can the
Censorate continue to oppose it?” Then, the king instructed the Censorate,
saying, “Do not mention this matter any longer.”4th Day (Imja)
There was rain with thunder.5th Day (Kyechíuk)
Sitting in the Council Hall, the king ordered Yu Kyŏng, chancellor of the
National University, to present a lecture on the Extended Meaning of the
Great Learning.6th Day (Kabin)
The king said to Cho Chun, Nam Ŭn, and others: “When I deposed the false
king [King Ch’ang] and established King Kongyang in order to restore the
royal Wang clan, the officers under my command protected me and also
made similar contributions when I ascended the throne. For this reason, I
had each of them promoted by one rank. The Censorate, however, has not
signed their letters of appointment. What is the reason?”9th Day (Chŏngsa)
The king bestowed the titles of dynasty-founding subjects as follows: the
first class to be called “mandate-assisting dynasty-founding merit subject”
(chwamyŏng kaeguk kongsin); the second, “cooperating and supporting
dynasty-founding merit subject” (hyŏpch’an kaeguk kongsin); and the third,
“assisting and sustaining dynasty-founding merit subject” (iktae kaeguk
kongsin).