The King's Mouthpiece

Foreword: The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat: A Korean Treasure and World Heritage



Part I. A UNESCO Memory of the World Heritage

Daily Records of State Affairs Kept by the Royal Secretariat of the Joseon Dynasty

The Value of the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat



Part II. A Leap through Time with the Diaries

1 Then and There

Yi Wonik, Whose Mere Presence Was a Source of Comfort to the King

The Hawk Kim Sangheon and the Dove Choe Myeonggil Had the Same Allegiance

Take Care upon Care, for This Is His Majesty's Person

A King and His Minister Are like Father and Son

Take Impartiality to Heart

A Standoff between a Minister and a Staff Officer

King Yeongjo and Crown Prince Sado on a Spring Day

Yeongjo's Fiftieth Birthday Celebration

Asking Commoners about Equal Service

The Editor?Compiler of the Royal Archives: A Natural Son's Dream

Please Strike That Day from the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

Western Thought is a Branch of Buddhism

The Royal Secretariat Is Dissolved

Slipping Opium into Gojong's Coffee

2 Scenes from the Past

What Did Chinese Envoys Do during Their Fortnight's Stay in Seoul?

A Monarch and His Courtier Speak Their Minds

The Pros and Cons of Government Communications

Weather Anomalies Have Kept Me from Ever Sleeping with My Legs Outstretched

Were the Performance Evaluations Fair?

Magistrates Take Their Leave

The Literati's Spirit Must Not Be Broken

How Is Your Majesty's Health?

Daring to Defy a Royal Summons

In the King's Presence

There Is Grey Hair in That Picture as Well

Who but He Would Speak His Mind in My Presence?

Abolish Cruel Punishment

Why King Sunjo Kept Silent in the Classics Lecture

The Many Guises of Cheating on the Civil Examination



Part III. Government Documents Discussed in the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

1 Words from the King

Royal Edicts: The King's Work Orders

Royal Memoranda: Notes of the King's Words

Royal Replies: Communications That Won over Subjects

Royal Communications: Please Be Advised

Royal Messages to the People

Royal Directives: My Wishes Are Thus

2 Reports to the Crown

Recommendations: Suggestions to the Crown

Briefs: Concise Reports to the Crown

Final Reports: Easing Communication between the King and His Officials

Status Reports

Memorials: With Your Majesty's Leave

Inventories: Itemized Lists for Reporting



Part IV. The King's Every Move as Seen through the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

1 A Day in the Life of a Joseon King

Ten Thousand Matters to Review

Studying Late into the Night

2 The Custodians of the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat

The Six Royal Secretaries, also Known as the Men of Letters of the Silver Terrace

Recorders: Royal Secretaries in Training

A Day in the Hectic Life of a Recorder

Low-level Staffers: The Hands and Feet of the Royal Secretariat

3 What Kind of Matters Did the Royal Secretariat Handle?

The Royal Secretariat through Time

Events of the Royal Secretariat throughout the Year

The Duties of the Royal Secretariat



Afterword: Bring the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat Back to Life



Glossary

Bibliography

Contributors

Ji-yung Kim Holds a doctoral degree in linguistics from the University of Massa\-chusetts Amherst. Taught linguistics at Georgetown University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Seoul National University. Has been working full-time as a freelance translator (English-Korean, Korean-English, French-English) since 2008.

Published translations:

- "Sangrado and Eighteenth-Century Caricatures of the Physician," Portrayals of Medicine, Physicians, Patients, and Illnesses in French Literature from the Middle Ages to the Present, pp. 207-236. Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd, 2011. (French to English)

- Astronomical, Meteorological, and Seismological Observations from Ancient Korea (Korean Meteorological Archives Series I). Seoul: Korea Meteorological Admin\-istration, 2013. (Korean to English)

- Retracing the Ancient Korean Sky and Its Myths. Seoul: Hollym, 2016. (Korean to English)

- The Aphorisms of Yi Deok-mu. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publish\-ing, 2018. (Korean to English)

- How to Read Eastern Art. Paju and Seoul: Jimoondang, 2018. (Korean to English)