King Gyeongdeok景德王

King Gyeongdeok ascended the throne. His name was Heonyeong (憲英), and he was the younger brother of King Hyoseong by the same mother. King Hyoseong had no son, and so he set up Heonyeong as crown prince, and thus Heonyeong was able to succeed to the throne. The queen was the daughter of Sunjeong of the rank of ichan.

In the first year, in winter, in the tenth month, an envoy of the country of Japan arrived, but he was not received.

In the second year, in spring, in the third month, at the house of Duke Juryeok a cow bore five calves at one birth.

Xuanzong of Tang sent Wei Yao, grand master of admonition, to mourn and to make offering. He then invested the king as King of Silla and had him succeed to the offices and titles of the former king. The edict said:

"Heonyeong, younger brother of the late Kim Seunggyeong, King of Silla, who was grand minister with honors equal to the three offices, commissioner bearing the tally and grand governor, commander of all military affairs of Gyerimju and concurrently commissioner bearing the tally of the Yeonghae Army, has cherished benevolence generation after generation and has kept his heart always to the rites. In the custom and teaching of great worthiness his order is the clearer, and the rules and bearing and dress of the Middle Land he has inherited from of old. He has sped the treasures of the sea and sent envoys, he has followed the cloudy sea road and reached the court, and age after age he has been a pure subject and offered the constancy of his loyalty many times over.

Of late his elder brother succeeded to the land, then died and left no heir, and the younger brother has come to succeed him. This too is only the constant rule. Therefore we embrace him as a guest and favor him richly with a patent of investiture. It is fitting that he take up the old charge and carry on the name of chief of the frontier domain. We further add an exceptional courtesy and confer on him the titles of Han offices. He may succeed his elder brother as King of Silla, grand minister with honors equal to the three offices, commissioner bearing the tally and grand governor, commander of all military affairs of Gyerimju and concurrently commissioner bearing the tally of the Yeonghae Army."

Along with this the emperor bestowed one set of the Xiaojing with notes he had written himself.

In summer, the fourth month, the king took the daughter of Kim Uichung of the rank of seobulhan as his queen. In autumn, the eighth month, the earth shook. In winter, the twelfth month, he sent his younger brother into Tang to give greeting for the new year. He was given the office of supernumerary senior clerk of the Left Cheongdosol Guard, was granted a green robe and a silver belt, and was let go home.

In the third year, in spring, in the first month, Yujeong of the rank of ichan was made jungsi. In the intercalary second month, an envoy was sent into Tang to give greeting for the new year and to present the products of the land.

In summer, the fourth month, the king sacrificed in person at the Singung. An envoy was sent into Tang to present horses.

In winter, a baleful star appeared in the middle of the sky, as large as a vessel holding five mal. It vanished only after ten days had passed.

In the fourth year, in spring, in the first month, Kim Sain of the rank of ichan was appointed sangdaedeung. In summer, the fourth month, hail fell on the capital, as large as hen's eggs. In the fifth month, there was a drought. Jungsi Yujeong withdrew, and Daejeong of the rank of ichan was made jungsi. In autumn, the seventh month, the Eastern Palace was repaired. The Sajeongbu, the Sonyeon Gamjeon and the Yegungjeon were also established.

In the fifth year, in spring, in the second month, an envoy was sent into Tang to give greeting for the new year and to present the products of the land. In summer, the fourth month, there was a great amnesty, a great feast was granted, and a hundred and fifty men were made monks.

In the sixth year, in spring, in the first month, the title jungsi was changed to sijung. Erudites and assistant instructors of the several studies were established in the National Academy. An envoy was sent into Tang to give greeting for the new year and to present the products of the land.

In the third month, lightning struck the tomb of King Jinpyeong. In autumn, there was a drought. In winter, no snow fell. The people went hungry and fell sick as well, and envoys were sent out along ten roads to comfort them.

In the seventh year, in spring, in the first month, Cheon'gu fell to the earth. In autumn, the eighth month, the queen mother moved to the new palace of Yeongmyeong. For the first time one jeongchal was appointed, to examine and correct the hundred officials. Jeongjeol of the rank of achan and others were sent to inspect the northern border. For the first time fourteen districts and counties such as Daegokseong were set up.

In the eighth year, in spring, in the second month, a violent wind tore up trees. In the third month, one erudite of the heavens and six erudites of the water clock were established.

In the ninth year, in spring, in the first month, Sijung Daejeong was relieved of office, and Joryang of the rank of ichan was made sijung. In the second month, two bong-eo of the Eoryongseong were established.

In the eleventh year, in spring, in the third month, Wonsin and Yongbang of the rank of geupchan were made daeachan. In autumn, the eighth month, the Donggung Agwan was established. In winter, the tenth month, three more clerks of the Changbu were appointed.

In the twelfth year, in autumn, in the eighth month, an envoy of the country of Japan arrived, but he was haughty and without courtesy, and the king did not meet him, so he went back. Mujinju presented a white pheasant.

In the thirteenth year, in summer, in the fourth month, hail fell on the capital, as large as hen's eggs. In the fifth month, the stele of King Seongdeok was raised. Uduju presented an auspicious mushroom.

In autumn, the seventh month, the king ordered officials to repair the two temples of Yeongheung and Wonyeong. In the eighth month, there was a drought and locusts came. Sijung Joryang withdrew.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, grain was dear and the people went hungry. Hyangdeok (向德) of Ungcheonju was poor and had nothing with which to care for his father, so he cut the flesh of his thigh and fed it to him. The king heard of it, gave him gifts of no small weight, and further had a gate of honor raised at his village to make it known.

The pagoda of Mangdeoksa moved.

In summer, the fourth month, an envoy was sent into Tang to give greeting for the new year. In autumn, the seventh month, criminals were pardoned, and the old and the sick, widowers, widows, orphans and those who live alone were visited and comforted, and grain was granted to them by degrees. Kim Gi of the rank of ichan was made sijung.

In the fifteenth year, in spring, in the second month, Sangdaedeung Kim Sain, holding that disasters and strange things had appeared again and again these several years, sent up a memorial arguing to the utmost the gains and losses of the government of the day, and the king received it with favor.

The king heard that Xuanzong was in Shu, and sent an envoy into Tang who went up the river to Chengdu and offered tribute. Xuanzong composed with his own hand and wrote with his own hand a poem of five characters and ten rhymes, and bestowed it on the king, saying:

"Taking it as a fine thing that the King of Silla keeps up his tribute year by year and treads well the rites and music and name and right, I bestow on him one poem:

'The four cords divide the sun and the stars, and the ten thousand shapes hold the pivot at the center. Jade and silk go through all under heaven, ladders and ships come home to the capital. Far off I think of the green land shut away, yet through the years they sought the yellow city without rest. On and on, where the edge of the earth runs out, blue upon blue, it joins the corner of the sea. I raise my voice: this is a land of name and right. How should we say its hills and rivers are strange? Envoys go, and carry custom and teaching, men come, and learn the canons and the counsels. Robe and cap know how to uphold the rites, loyalty and faith know how to honor the learning of the scholars. Sincere indeed! Heaven will look upon him. Worthy indeed! Virtue is not left alone. He holds the banner and shepherds the people with us, and his rich gift may be matched with fresh green fodder. Let him weigh the green, green will yet heavier, and never change through wind and frost.'

When the emperor went to Shu, Silla did not count a thousand li far, but came to court at the place where he stayed. Therefore he took their utmost sincerity as a fine thing and bestowed the poem on them. As for the words 'Let him weigh the green, green will yet heavier, and never change through wind and frost,' how should this not be the meaning of the old poem, 'In a fierce wind you know the strong grass; in a troubled age you know the steadfast subject'?

In the Xuanhe years Kim Bu-ui, the envoy who went in to court, carried the carved copy into Bianjing and showed it to Li Bing, the academician who attended the envoys. Li Bing sent it up to the emperor, and by this it was shown to the two bureaus and to all the academicians, and when that was done word was passed down saying, 'The poem sent up by the vice minister bearing tribute is truly the writing of Minghuang.' And he did not cease to praise it and to marvel."

In summer, the fourth month, great hail fell. Daeyeongnang presented a white fox, and was given the office of nambyeonjeil.

In the sixteenth year, in spring, in the first month, Sangdaedeung Sain was relieved of office for illness, and Sinchung of the rank of ichan was made sangdaedeung.

In the third month, the monthly salaries of the many officials within and without were done away with, and estate stipends were granted again.

In autumn, the seventh month, the Yeongchang Palace was rebuilt. In the eighth month, two more clerks of the Jobu were appointed.

In winter, the twelfth month, Sabeolju was renamed Sangju, and it held one ju, ten districts and thirty counties. Samnyangju was renamed Yangju, and it held one ju, one lesser capital, twelve districts and thirty-four counties. Cheongju was renamed Gangju, and it held one ju, eleven districts and twenty-seven counties. Hansanju was renamed Hanju, and it held one ju, one lesser capital, twenty-seven districts and forty-six counties. Suyakju was renamed Sakju, and it held one ju, one lesser capital, eleven districts and twenty-seven counties. Ungcheonju was renamed Ungju, and it held one ju, one lesser capital, thirteen districts and twenty-nine counties. Haseoju was renamed Myeongju, and it held one ju, nine districts and twenty-five counties. Wansanju was renamed Jeonju, and it held one ju, one lesser capital, ten districts and thirty-one counties. Mujinju was renamed Muju, and it held one ju, fourteen districts and forty-four counties.

In the seventeenth year, in spring, in the first month, Sijung Kim Gi died, and Yeomsang of the rank of ichan was made sijung. In the second month, an order was handed down that officials within and without who asked for leave and had filled sixty days should be released from office.

In summer, the fourth month, physicians who had studied the healing art closely were chosen and appointed to serve within the palace. Two erudites of statutes and ordinances were established.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the twenty-third day, a son was born to the king. There was great thunder and lightning, and lightning struck sixteen Buddhist temples. In the eighth month, an envoy was sent into Tang to offer tribute.

In the eighteenth year, in spring, in the first month, the gyeong and the gam of the Byeongbu and the Changbu were renamed sirang, and the daesa were renamed nangjung; the jipsa saji was renamed jipsa wonoerang, and the jipsa sa was renamed jipsarang. The daesa of the Jobu, the Yebu, the Seungbu, the Seonbu, the Yeonggaekbu, the Left and Right Uibangbu, the Sajeongbu, the Wihwabu, the Yejakjeon, the Daehakgam, the Daedoseo, the Yeongchang Palace and the rest were renamed jubu, and the daesa of the Sangsaseo, the Jeonsaseo, the Eumseongseo, the Gongjangbu, the Chaejeon and the rest were renamed juseo.

In the second month, the Yebu saji was renamed sarye, the Jobu saji sago, the Yeonggaekbu saji saui, the Seungbu saji samok, the Seonbu saji saju, the Yejakbu saji sarye, the Byeongbu no saji sabyeong, and the Changbu jo saji sachang.

In the third month, a comet appeared, and it vanished only in autumn.

In the nineteenth year, in spring, in the first month, a sound like the beating of a drum came from the east of the capital, and many people called it the drum of the ghosts.

In the second month, a great pond was dug within the palace. Also, over the Muncheon south of the palace, the two bridges Woljeong and Chunyang were built.

In summer, the fourth month, Sijung Yeomsang withdrew, and Kim Ong of the rank of ichan was made sijung. In autumn, the seventh month, the king's son Geonun was invested as crown prince.

In the twentieth year, in spring, in the first month, on the first day, a rainbow pierced the sun, and a ring of light stood at the sun's side. In summer, the fourth month, a comet appeared.

In the twenty-first year, in summer, in the fifth month, the six fortresses of Ogok, Hyuam, Hanseong, Jangsae, Jiseong and Deokgok were built, and a taesu was appointed to each. In autumn, the ninth month, an envoy was sent into Tang to offer tribute.

In the twenty-second year, in summer, in the fourth month, an envoy was sent into Tang to offer tribute.

In autumn, the seventh month, a great wind blew on the capital, sending roof tiles flying and tearing up trees. In the eighth month, the peach and the plum flowered a second time. Sangdaedeung Sinchung and Sijung Kim Ong were relieved of office.

Yi Sun of the rank of daenama was a subject the king loved, but of a sudden one morning he fled the world and went into the mountains, and though he was called again and again he would not come out. He shaved his head and became a monk, founded Dansoksa for the king, and dwelt there. Later he heard that the king was fond of music, and he went at once to the palace gate and admonished him, saying:

"I have heard that in old days Jie and Zhou sank into drink and women and did not cease from wanton pleasure. By this the government fell into ruin and the state was destroyed. The track of the overturned cart lies before us, and the cart behind should take warning. I bow and beg that Your Majesty mend your faults and make yourself new, and so make long the life of the country."

The king heard him, was moved, and sighed, and for his sake he stopped the music. He then drew him into the inner chamber, and it was several days before he ceased to hear him speak of the subtlety of the Way and of the means of governing the world.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, in the first month, Manjong of the rank of ichan was made sangdaedeung, and Yangsang of the rank of achan was made sijung.

In the third month, a comet appeared in the southeast. A dragon appeared below Yangsan, and before long it flew away.

In winter, the twelfth month, on the eleventh day, shooting stars, some large and some small, were more than those who watched could count.

In the twenty-fourth year, in summer, in the fourth month, the earth shook. An envoy was sent into Tang to offer tribute, and the emperor gave the envoy the office of inspecting president of the Board of Rites.

In the sixth month, a shooting star trespassed on the Heart. In this month the king died. He was given the posthumous name Gyeongdeok (景德), and was buried on the western peak by Mojisa.