Book VII 47724th Day (Muja)
The appearance of strange natural phenomena prompted the king to pardon
and release all the prisoners across the country except those who are sen-
tenced to capital punishment either by beheading or hanging. The king gave
orders to the Privy Council: “Since the jails both in the capital and the prov-
inces are unsanitary and unrepaired, many prisoners become sick or die of
intolerable heat or cold, and I feel sorry for them. Let the officials in charge
inspect them as often as they can and keep them clean.”The construction of the Altars of Earth and Grain makes progress.The king gave orders to hold sacrificial ceremonies for the wandering ghosts
both in the water and on land (suryukchae) at places such as Kwanŭm Cave,
Kyŏnam Monastery^15 , and Samhwa Monastery^16 every spring and autumn,
as supplications for the Wang clan of Koryŏ.
25th Day (Kich’uk)
The king had [General- in- Chief] Kim Kyesu confined in the Capital
Constabulary, and that was because he failed to obey orders to conduct a
head count of army troops.^17Sŏhae Province suffered from a poor harvest, prompting the king to order
that grain in the state granary be released to provide relief [to the people in
the province].26th Day (Kyŏngin)
Sŏhae Province suffered a poor harvest, so Governor Hong Kilmin^18
requested that the king declare the prohibition of alcohol. The king granted
- Located in Mt. Udu in Kŏchang County, South Kyŏngsang Province. It is also called
Hyŏnam Monastery. - Located in Mt. Tut’a in Samch’ŏk, Kangwŏn Province.
- He probably joined Cho Pak, who tried not to conduct a head count of army troops
during the busy farming season. - Hong Kilmin (1353–1407): an official of late Koryŏ and early Chosŏn. He also served
as surveillance commissioner of Kangnŭng Province, third inspector, right grand master of
remonstrance, and discussant of the Security Council.