Book XIV 819
When he traveled, he placed it in a horse- drawn carriage and followed it
from behind, carrying a sword. Being old and fainthearted, Un did not dare
ask the envoy any personal question or about the items he so jealously
guarded. So he sent a report to the Privy Council: “The envoy is, in fact, a
Chinese, and he brought a gift from the emperor.” The Privy Council in
turn reported the same to the king. Now, it was discovered that the report
was wrong. The items that Kwisaeng said were bestowed by the emperor
were his personal belongings. Un mistook them as gifts sent by the emperor
to our country.
The king dispatched eunuch Pak Yŏngmun to Chŏlla and Kyŏngsang
Provinces to ascertain the current status of training with the Diagram of
Troop Disposition.
29th Day (Kyeyu)
The Office of the Inspector-General submitted a memorial to the king: “The
rules and regulations for dress set by sage kings show the grade of rank, and
therefore the use of primary and complementary colors for dress cannot
help being regulated. The official robes in our country now have no distinc-
tion in terms of rank and status. We request that hereafter all the robes
presented by the king should be made of primary colors, and the common
people prohibited from wearing yellow, gray, and white silk dress, regard-
less of male and female.” The king granted the request.
Floods caused serious damage in various northwestern districts, including
Sunju, Chaju, Kangdong, Tŏkchu, Ŭnju, and P’yŏngyang.
7th Month
1st Day (Kapsul)
The king did not attend the morning audience. He had Chŏn Si, inspector of
miscellaneous affairs, locked up in the Capital Constabulary Prison.
3rd Day (Pyŏngja)
The king entertained Chinese envoy Sin Kwisaeng at Ch’ŏnghwaru Pavilion.