436 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
18th Day (Ŭlyu)
After taking a look at Mt. Tora, which Min Chungni^60 suggested, the king
said, “How can such a dirty and humid place be a royal capital?” Then he
returned to Songgyŏng [Songdo]. As the king neared the capital, the crown
price came out to greet him, and the officials of various departments greeted
him in front of Ch’ŏnsu Monastery.21st Day (Muja)
The government dispatched Song Hŭijŏng, director of shipbuilding and
transportation, to China to present one thousand tribute horses, and he
returned from Liaodong, China, after accomplishing his mission.The Board of Rites spoke to the king: “Since the days of the Three Kingdoms,
our country has long offered sacrifices to Heaven at the Circular Mound
Altar (Wŏn’gudan), praying for good harvest and rain. Hence, the sacrifice
cannot be rashly abolished. We request that the rules of the ritual be recorded
and the tradition be preserved as it has been in the past after renaming it the
Circular Altar (Wŏndan).” The king followed the advice.The king ordered all officials to present horses in accordance with their rank.22nd Day (Kich’uk)
Japanese marauders invaded Yŏnggwang County,^61 and their battleships
were ten or so. Over thirty people working at a salt farm fought hard,
beheading three of them, and routed the invaders.The government abolished the Warehouse for Buddhist Ritual Implements
(Tojanggo) and the Temple of Sakra Devānām Indra inside the palace- An official of late Koryŏ. In 1378, King U ordered Kwŏn Chunghwa, assistant grand
councilor, and Chang Poji, director of the Astronomical and Meteorological Observatory, to
search for a site for the new capital, saying, “Since Kaesŏng is vulnerable to Japanese attack
and its vitality as the nation’s capital has run out, find a new place based on the secret record
of Master Tosŏn.” Min Chungni, serving as vice minister at that time, recommended Mt. Kidal
in the north, which was called Pukso, meaning “a vital spot in the north.” However, Mt. Kidal
is located in Hwanghae Province, so it is not clear how his name was connected with Mt.Tora,
which is located south of the capital. - A seatown in South Chŏlla Province.