King Heongang憲康王

King Heongang ascended the throne. His name was Jeong (晸), and he was the crown prince of King Gyeongmun. His mother was Queen Munui, and his queen was Lady Uimyeong. The king was clever and quick by nature and loved to look at books, and whatever his eyes passed over once he recited with his mouth. When he came to the throne he made Wihong of the rank of ichan sangdaedeung and Yegyeom of the rank of daeachan sijung, and within and without he greatly pardoned all but those held for capital crimes.

In the second year, in spring, the second month, a fast was given for the monks at Hwangnyongsa, and the hundred high seats were set out for the expounding of the scriptures, and the king went there himself and listened. In autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was sent into the Tang to present the products of this land.

In the third year, in spring, the first month, our Great King Taejo was born in Songak-gun (松岳郡).

In the fourth year, in summer, the fourth month, Xizong of the Tang sent an envoy and invested the king as commissioner bearing the tally, grand minister with honors equal to the three offices, acting grand commandant, grand governor and commander of all military affairs of Gyerimju, and King of Silla.

In autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was to be sent to pay court to the Tang, but they heard word that the brigand Huang Chao had risen, and so it was stopped. In the eighth month an envoy of the country of Japan arrived, and the king drew him in and saw him at the Joweonjeon.

In the fifth year, in spring, the second month, he went to the National Academy and commanded the baksa and those below them to expound.

In the third month he went round the ju and the commanderies in the east of the country. Four men, and no one knew where they had come from, came before the king's carriage and sang and danced. Their shapes were such as to startle, and their clothes and head cloths were strange, and the people of that time called them the spirits of the mountains and the sea. — The Gogi says this was a matter of the first year of the king's reign.

In summer, the sixth month, Sinhong of the rank of ilgilchan revolted and was put to death. In winter, the tenth month, he went to the Junye gate and watched the archery. In the eleventh month he hunted on the plain of Hyeolseong.

In the sixth year, in spring, the second month, Taebaek trespassed on the moon. Yegyeom the sijung withdrew, and Mingong the ichan was made sijung.

In autumn, the eighth month, Ungju presented a fair stalk of grain.

On the ninth day of the ninth month the king went up the Wolsangnu with those about him and looked out on the four sides. The houses of the people of the capital stood one against another, and the sound of song and piping went on without a break. The king looked round at Mingong the sijung and said, "I hear that these days among the people the roofs are covered with tile and not with thatch, and the rice is cooked with charcoal and not with firewood. Is it so?"

Mingong answered, "I too have heard that it is so." Then he said, "Since your majesty came to the throne the yin and the yang have been in accord, the wind and the rain have been mild, there has been a full harvest year by year and the people have food enough, the borders are quiet and still and the marketplaces are merry. This is what your holy virtue has brought about."

The king was glad and said, "This is the strength of you lords who help me. What virtue is there in me?"

In the seventh year, in spring, the third month, a feast was given to the many subjects at the Imhaejeon. When the wine was at its height the king played the geomungo, and those about him each offered up words of song, and they took their delight to the full and then broke up.

In the eighth year, in summer, the fourth month, the king of the country of Japan sent an envoy and presented three hundred nyang of yellow gold and ten bright pearls. In winter, the twelfth month, a woman of Gomi district bore three sons at one birth.

In the ninth year, in spring, the second month, the king went to Samnangsa and commanded the civil officials each to compose one poem.

In the eleventh year, in spring, the second month, a tiger came into the courtyard of the palace. In the third month Choe Chiwon came back. In winter, on the imja day of the tenth month, Taebaek was seen by day. An envoy was sent into the Tang to offer congratulations on the breaking of the brigand Huang Chao.

In the twelfth year, in spring, the northern garrison reported, "Men of the barbarian country came into the garrison, hung a slip of wood on a tree, and went back." Then they took it and presented it, and on that wood fifteen characters were written, saying, "The men of the country of Boro and the country of Heuksu together turn toward the country of Silla and would join with it in peace."

In summer, the sixth month, the king was unwell, and he pardoned the prisoners in the jails within the country. He also set out the hundred high seats at Hwangnyongsa for the expounding of the scriptures.

In autumn, on the fifth day of the seventh month, he died. He was given the posthumous name Heongang (憲康), and he was buried southeast of Borisa.