Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 239

Joseon (Korea)

Page 18

...[The King] led his troops to assist the Imperial army in the capture and execution of Li Manzhu a powerful leader of the Jianzhou Jurchens and his tribesmen. He sent envoys to present the captives to the court, and the Emperor issued a decree with the imperial seal to praise and reward him. In the following year, Yoo King Sejo, r. 1455–1468 passed away, and his son Gwang King Yejong, r. 1468–1469 succeeded him. In the sixth year [of the Chenghua era], Gwang passed away, and his nephew Hye King Seongjong, r. 1469–1494 succeeded him.

Hye again dispatched troops to assist in the strikes against the Jianzhou Jurchens. When the news of the victory reached the court, the Emperor sent a eunuch as a special envoy to bestow gold and silks upon the King and his officers and soldiers. In the eighth year of the Hongzhi era 1495 CE, Hye passed away, and his son Rung the deposed King Yeonsangun, r. 1494–1506 succeeded him. Rung suffered from "wind illness" a historical euphemism for his mental instability and eventual deposition and abdicated the throne to his younger brother Yeok King Jungjong, r. 1506–1544.

In the twenty-third year of the Jiajing era 1544 CE, Yeok passed away, and his son Min King Injong, r. 1544–1545 succeeded him. Before a full year had passed, Min died, and his son actually his younger brother Hwan King Myeongjong, r. 1545–1567 succeeded him.

During this time, Japanese pirates were raiding the coasts. Some of their boats drifted to the shores of Joseon, and treacherous subjects were traveling back and forth across the sea to trade privately with the Japanese. Hwan consistently captured these individuals and presented them to the Ming court. The Emperor rewarded him generously in return for his loyalty. In the first year of the Longqing era 1567 CE, Hwan passed away, and his nephew Song King Seonjo, r. 1567–1608 succeeded him.

Since the time of Yi Seong-gye the founder of the Joseon dynasty, the Yi family has served the Imperial court with great humility and reverence. Aside from the regular tribute missions, they sent frequent envoys for celebrations, condolences, and expressions of gratitude without a fixed schedule. Their diplomatic parties were so frequent that they followed one after another on the roads. Whenever a King was newly installed...