792 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
4th Day (Kimyo)
The king paid a visit to Hŭngch’ŏn Monastery^15 and later inspected the new
office building of the Privy Council.6th Day (Sinsa)
The king ordered Kwŏn Hŭi, Great Lord of Yŏngga, to perform the rite of
blessings for his grandson at the south gate of the crown prince’s residence
[compound on the grounds of the royal palace].Kim Chasu, Magistrate of Ch’ŏngju, requested in writing that the gover-
nor reduce this year’s taxes on barley because of the poor crop. His peti-
tion read:
“The Privy Council recently issued an instruction to provinces and coun-
ties to provide relief, according to the need, to those who suffer famine and
also warned that the officials would be strictly punished for neglecting gov-
ernment orders if anyone in their districts happens to starve to death.
Reading the instruction, one cannot help being impressed by the sincerity
of a government that cares for the people, and reading it again, one becomes
so fearful that he pledges to himself to follow the orders to the best of his
abi l it y.
“As I respectfully think about the matter quietly, however anxious you
may be to help the people, your words will sound empty unless you provide
them with real benefits. In ancient times, Emperor Wen of Han encouraged
farmers by halving their annual taxes, and the sages in later times praised
his act of benevolence. Thus, he was able to make his name remembered
throughout history.
“The government collects taxes from the beginning of the sixth month
every year when wheat is ripe. This tax, called “payment in advance”
(sŏnnap), is immediately transported to the warehouse in the capital. This is
what happens every year.
“This year, from the third month until now, we have had no rain. The
monthly rain that fell previously was not enough to soak the soil, and the
weather cleared up very quickly. The drought grew so terrible that the barley- Hŭngch’ŏnsa was a Buddhist monastery built to the right of Chŏngnŭng, the tomb of
Queen Sindŏk, T’aejo’s second wife.