860 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
prolonged exposure to the damp- wet weather during my military career,
which started at an early age. Being old now and feeling weak, I can hardly
deal with numerous affairs from morning until evening. My eldest son,
Panggwa, is by nature sincere and careful, displaying integrity in his con-
duct, so he deserves to be entrusted with the lordship of our eastern kingdom.
On the fifth day of the ninth lunar month of the thirty- first reign year of
Hongwu, I commanded the crown prince to assume control of the state
affairs provisionally. So I respectfully await your approval.”
Ordering a palace attendant to lend his arm, the king sat up and called the
crown prince. Dressed in formal attire, the crown prince prostrated him-
self to the floor in front of the king. As the king personally handed the
royal decree, the crown prince took it and placed it on his bosom. The royal
decree read:
“The king speaks as follows. Lacking in virtue but indebted to the hidden
support of royal ancestors as well as the Son of Heaven [Chinese emperor],
I founded a new state, and it has been already seven years since I began
ruling over the people. Staying in the military for a long time and often
exposed to frost and dew, I am worried that I have now become too old and
sick to carry out various affairs of state from early in the morning until late
at night, paying due attention to all of them.
“You, crown prince Panggwa, are my eldest son and have been benevo-
lent and filial from childhood; furthermore, you made numerous contribu-
tions to the founding of the new dynasty, a fact everyone in the country
knows. Therefore, on the fifth day of the ninth lunar month of the thirty- first
reign year of Hongwu, I report to the Royal Ancestral Shrine and command
you to take over my throne. I also admonish you to carry yourself according
to precedents and regulations. Try to befriend men of integrity and keep
away from petty people. Do not impose your personal prejudice upon others;
instead, decide your preference in accordance with popular opinion. Do not
dare to abandon yourself to dissolution or neglect to pay attention to your
duty. Let your successors prosper by making your throne secure forever.
Ah! Your father, lacking virtue, is not worth emulating, but the Way of the
sage kings is recorded in the books. Get up early and go to bed late, always
being reverent in your behavior.”
Next, he called the left and right chancellors. They also presented them-
selves dressed in formal uniform. The king said, “I now hand over my
throne to the crown prince. I want both of you to get together and assist him
with his governing of the people, and make sure that nothing goes wrong
with his reign.”