King Aejang哀莊王

King Aejang ascended the throne. His name was Cheongmyeong (淸明), and he was the crown prince of King Soseong. His mother was Lady Gyehwa of the Kim clan. He was thirteen years old when he ascended the throne, and so Eonseung, of the rank of achan and byeongburyeong, governed in his stead.

At first, when Wonseong died, Dezong of Tang sent Wei Dan, the sifeng langzhong and also yushi zhongcheng, bearing the tally, to condole and to comfort, and also to invest King Junong as gaebu uidong samsa (開府儀同三司), grand minister with honors equal to the three offices, geomgyo taeui (檢校太尉), acting grand commandant, and King of Silla. But Dan reached Yunzhou, heard that the king had died, and so went back.

In autumn, the seventh month, the king changed his name to Junghui (重熙). In the eighth month Yangyeol, a student who had before gone into Tang to serve in the guard, was given the post of sosu of Duhil. At first, when Dezong went out to Fengtian, Yangyeol followed him in his trouble and had merit, and the Emperor gave him the office of you zanshan dafu and sent him back; and so the king chose him and used him.

In the second year, in spring, the second month, the king paid his respects at the shrine of the founder. Two separate shrines were set up for King Taejong the Great and King Munmu the Great. The Great King the founder, together with the king's great-great-grandfather King Myeongdeok the Great, his great-grandfather King Wonseong the Great, his grandfather King Hyechung the Great, and his father King Soseong the Great, were made the five shrines. Eonseung the byeongburyeong was made sasin of the Eoryongseong, and not long after he was made sangdaedeung. There was a great pardon.

In summer, the fifth month, on the first day imsul, the sun should have been eclipsed and was not.

In autumn, the ninth month, Hyeonghok went into the moon, and stars fell like rain. Mujinju presented a red crow, and Uduju presented a white pheasant.

In winter, the tenth month, it was bitterly cold, and the pines and the bamboos all died. The country of Tamna sent an envoy to present tribute.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, the king sacrificed in person at the Singung. In summer, the fourth month, the daughter of Kim Bubyeok the achan was brought into the rear palace.

In autumn, the seventh month, the earth shook. In the eighth month Haeinsa was founded on Mount Gaya. Samnyangju presented a red crow.

In winter, the twelfth month, Gyunjeong was given the rank of daeachan and made a prince for the time being, to be sent as a hostage to the state of Wa; but Gyunjeong declined it.

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, the king went out to the southern fields and looked at the barley. In autumn, the seventh month, envoys were exchanged with the country of Japan and friendship was made. In winter, the tenth month, the earth shook.

In the fifth year, in spring, the first month, Suseung, of the rank of ichan, was made sijung. In summer, the fifth month, the country of Japan sent an envoy and presented three hundred nyang of gold.

In autumn, the seventh month, there was a great review of the troops on the bank of the Alcheon. Samnyangju presented a white magpie. Imhaejeon was built anew, and Mansubang was newly raised in the eastern palace. In Nansan county of Uduju a stone that had lain flat stood up. The water of Bupo in Sodae county of Ungcheonju turned to blood.

In the ninth month the two pagodas of Mangdeoksa struck against each other.

In the sixth year, in spring, the first month, the king's mother of the Kim clan was invested as Great Queen, and his consort of the Bak clan as Queen.

In this year Dezong of Tang died, and Shunzong sent Yuan Jifang, the bingbu langzhong and also yushi dafu, to announce the death. He also invested the king as grand minister with honors equal to the three offices, acting grand commandant, bearing the tally as grand governor, in charge of all military affairs of Gyerimju, prefect of Gyerimju, and also bearing the tally as commissioner of the Ninghai army, Pillar of State and King of Silla. The king's mother of the Suk clan was made Grand Consort, and his wife of the Bak clan was made queen.

In autumn, the eighth month, more than twenty articles of official form were promulgated and shown. In winter, the eleventh month, the earth shook.

In the seventh year, in spring, the third month, an envoy from the country of Japan arrived, and the king received him at Joweonjeon.

An edict was handed down forbidding the founding of new Buddhist temples and allowing only repair and mending. It also forbade the using of brocade and embroidery for the service of the Buddha and the making of vessels out of gold and silver, and the offices concerned were to make this widely known and carry it out.

Xianzong of Tang let Kim Heonchung, the prince who had been serving in the guard, go back to his country, and further gave him the office of shi mishu jian. In autumn, the eighth month, an envoy was sent into Tang to present tribute.

In the eighth year, in spring, the first month, Kim Heonchang the ichan was made sijung. In the second month the king sat in Sungnyejeon and watched the music. In autumn, the eighth month, heavy snow fell.

In the ninth year, in spring, the second month, an envoy from the country of Japan arrived, and the king treated him with deep courtesy. Kim Yeokgi was sent into Tang to present tribute. Yeokgi reported to the Emperor.

"In the sixteenth year of Zhenyuan, by edict my late lord Kim Junong was invested as King of Silla, his mother of the Sin clan as Grand Consort, and his wife of the Suk clan as Queen. But Wei Dan, the envoy of investiture, reached the middle of the road, heard that the king had died, and turned back, and so that letter of investiture is in the zhongshusheng. Now that I am going back to my country, I bow down and beg that it be given to me to carry home."

An edict was made. "The letters of investiture for Kim Junong and the rest are to be received by the honglusi (鴻臚寺), the Court of State Ceremonial, from the zhongshusheng, and when they come to the honglusi they are to be handed over to Kim Yeokgi, that he may bear them back to his country."

Gate halberds were also bestowed on Eonseung, the king's uncle, and on his younger brother Chunggong and the rest, and his own country was ordered to give them according to the rule. Envoys were sent out along twelve roads, and the boundaries of the lands of the various districts and towns were divided and fixed. In autumn, the seventh month, on the first day sinsa, the sun was eclipsed.

In the tenth year, in spring, the first month, the moon trespassed on Pilseong.

In summer, the sixth month, the salt storehouse of Seohyeongsanseong cried out, and the sound was like an ox. At Byeoksa a toad ate a snake.

In autumn, the seventh month, Kim Yukjin the daeachan was sent into Tang to give thanks for favour and to present the products of that land. There was a great drought.

Eonseung, the king's uncle, and his younger brother Je-ong the ichan led troops into the palace, raised a revolt, and killed the king. Chemyeong, the king's younger brother, was attending and guarding the king, and he was killed with him. The king was given after his death the posthumous name Aejang (哀莊).