494 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
cases, people go on a drinking spree and get drunk for several days, forget-
ting everything, including their work.
“We request that from this day forward no officials, regardless of their
rank, should be allowed to drink wine except at a sacrificial ceremony of the
Royal Ancestral Shrine or a state banquet attended by the king or [Chinese]
envoys. Their practice of gathering together to have a drink, neglecting
their duty, should be stopped, and the common people, including artisans
and merchants and slaves, should also be prohibited from gathering in
groups to have a drink, so that the loss of property as well as the damage to
human nature can be eliminated. If there is anyone who violates your order,
he should be strictly punished, and let your royal order be made into law, to
last permanently.” The king followed the advice.Fuji Korehisa, governor of Satsuma Nokami [modern western Kagoshima]
of Japan and Fujiwara Yorihisa, prefect of Nakaiyuin, submitted a memorial
and tribute gifts, addressing themselves as the vassals of our king and
returned the Korean captives who were scattered throughout Japan.The king sent royal messengers to various Buddhist monasteries, including
C h’o n g ji s a^35 and Hyŏnsŏngsa,^36 and had them offer sacrifices to prevent
unusual natural phenomena.Censor Yi Ko and others submitted a memorial to the king: “Since we are
entrusted with the office of censorship, we dare not keep silent about [grave]
matters related to the security of the nation. Furthermore, since you issued
a royal decree to seek advice from officials, we dare to risk causing annoy-
ance to you with our foolish opinions.
“We believe that all troubles of the state always originate from neglecting,
not from being reckless. The reason that sage kings in olden days drove trai-
tors far away, prohibiting them from setting foot in their world, was because
they intended to prevent unexpected troubles in the future and thereby pro-
tect the state and the people, thinking far ahead.
“The Wang clan of the previous dynasty lacked virtue and failed to live
up to the royal way, so both Heaven and men abandoned them, and they
perished by themselves. Your Majesty was so gracious that you allowed- Located 10 li outside T’anhyŏn Gate of Kaesŏng.
- Located inside T’anhyŏn Gate of Kaesŏng. It was established by T’aejo, the founder of
the Koryŏ dynasty, but no longer exists.