Book XI 655
But it’s equally wonderful to observe her slim hand offering wine in a
gold cup.
The rivers and mountains running to the south look magnificent,
And the sun and moon stay at the imperial palace in the north.
Thanks to the imperial favors sent through a palace eunuch, I went out
To enjoy myself for three days and returned home drunk and helped
by others.
Praising [Kwŏn Kŭn], the emperor bestowed a prize and ordered him to
work at the Hall of Literary Profundity (Wenyuange).^27 The emperor also
gave him the poems he had personally written, which was a sign that he
really liked Kŭn.
An official letter from the Ministry of Rites of China delivered the imperial
message, which was as follows: “From now on, when you send envoys to us,
send only those who are proficient in the Chinese language. Those who
cannot speak Chinese will not be allowed to visit.”
The Ministry of Rites conveyed another imperial message, which was as
follows:
“Zhang Bing, minister of rites, and others received a sacred instruction
from the emperor, which was as follows:
Since antiquity, starting from the emperor from above down to the lords
of vassal states, one who want to establish a new dynasty and continue
to rule the state must secure men of integrity, outstanding in wisdom.
This is a sure way to make his state prosper. If he employs petty people
from the beginning, they will certainly throw the country into chaos.
The current king of Chosŏn became the ruler of the country at a
time when the fortunes of the Wang clan ran out, and Heaven pro-
ceeded to replace them with new leadership, owing to the fact that one
should fulfill his duty from below, and Heaven responds to his efforts
from above. Thus, he was able to own the Three Han States, changing
the country name to Chosŏn. Then he settled the lives of the people,
both in the cities and in the countryside.
- “One of the palace buildings to which Ming Dynasty Grand Secretaries were assigned.”
(Hucker, p. 568)
