King Dongseong東城王

King Dongseong (東城王) was named Modae (牟大), and he was the son of Gonji, the younger brother of King Munju. His courage was beyond that of other men, and he shot well, hitting the mark a hundred times in a hundred shots. When King Samgeun died he ascended the throne.

In the fourth year, in spring, the first month, Jinno was made byeonggwan jwapyeong and given charge as well of the affairs of soldiers and horses within and without. In autumn, the ninth month, Malgal fell upon Hansanseong and broke it, and they carried off more than three hundred households and went back. In winter, the tenth month, great snow fell more than a jang deep.

In the fifth year, in spring, the king went out to hunt and came to Hansanseong, and he comforted the soldiers and the people there and did not go back for ten days. In summer, the fourth month, he hunted north of Ungjin and took a holy deer.

In the sixth year, in spring, the second month, the king heard that Daocheng, Taizu (Grand Progenitor) of Southern Qi, had invested Georyeon of Goguryeo as grand general of the fleet cavalry. He sent an envoy with a memorial asking to be counted among those within, and it was allowed. In autumn, the seventh month, Sa Yaksa the naebeop jwapyeong was sent to Southern Qi with tribute, but Yaksa met troops of Goguryeo in the middle of the West Sea and could not go on.

In the seventh year, in summer, the fifth month, an envoy was sent to pay a courtesy visit to Silla.

In the eighth year, in spring, the second month, Jakga was made wisa jwapyeong. In the third month an envoy was sent to Southern Qi with tribute. In autumn, the seventh month, the palace halls were built anew and Uduseong was raised. In winter, the tenth month, there was a great review of the troops south of the palace.

In the tenth year Wei sent troops to attack, but they were beaten by Baekje.

In the eleventh year, in autumn, the harvest was very great. A man of a seaside village in the south of the country offered a stalk of rice whose ears had grown together. In winter, the tenth month, the king set up an altar and sacrificed to heaven and earth. In the eleventh month he feasted his many officials in the Namdang.

In the twelfth year, in autumn, the seventh month, men of the northern district fifteen years old and upward were called up, and Sahyeonseong and Isanseong were built. In the ninth month the king hunted on the Sabi plain in the west of the country. Yeondol was made dalsol. In winter, the eleventh month, no ice formed.

In the thirteenth year, in summer, the sixth month, the water of the Ungcheon rose, and more than two hundred houses of the royal capital were swept away and sunk. In autumn, the seventh month, the people were hungry, and more than six hundred households fled into Silla.

In the fourteenth year, in spring, the third month, snow fell. In summer, the fourth month, a great wind blew and tore up trees. In winter, the tenth month, the king hunted at Umyeonggok and shot a deer with his own hand.

In the fifteenth year, in spring, the third month, the king sent an envoy to Silla to ask for a marriage, and the king of Silla sent him the daughter of Biji, who held the rank of ichan.

In the sixteenth year, in autumn, the seventh month, Goguryeo and Silla fought on the plain of Salsu. Silla could not overcome them and drew back to hold Gyeonaseong. Goguryeo surrounded it, and the king sent three thousand troops to the rescue and broke the siege.

In the seventeenth year, in summer, the fifth month, on the first day, a gapsul day, the sun was eclipsed. In autumn, the eighth month, Goguryeo came and surrounded Chiyangseong. The king sent an envoy to Silla to ask for help, and the king of Silla ordered the general Deokji to lead troops and save it, and the troops of Goguryeo drew back and went home.

In the nineteenth year, in summer, the fifth month, Jinno the byeonggwan jwapyeong died, and Yeondol the dalsol was made byeonggwan jwapyeong. In summer, the sixth month, a great rain fell, and the houses of the people were swept away and broken.

In the twentieth year the bridge at Ungjin was set up. In autumn, the seventh month, Sajeongseong was built, and Bita the hansol was set to guard it.

In the eighth month the king, because Tamna did not keep up its tribute and taxes, went to punish it himself and came as far as Mujinju. When Tamna heard of it, they sent an envoy to beg pardon, and he stopped.

In the twenty-first year, in summer, there was a great drought. The people starved and ate one another, and robbers rose in numbers. The officials asked that the granaries be opened to relieve and save them, but the king did not listen. Two thousand men of Hansan fled into Goguryeo. In winter, the tenth month, there was a great pestilence.

In the twenty-second year, in spring, Imnyugak was raised east of the palace, five jang in height, and a pond was dug and rare birds were kept there. An official who remonstrated sent up a memorial, but no answer was given, and the king, fearing that others would remonstrate again, shut the palace gate.

Kim Busik comments.

Good medicine is bitter in the mouth but good for the illness, and loyal words go against the ear but are good for what one does. For this reason the bright rulers of old emptied themselves and asked about government, and received remonstrance with a gentle face. They feared even so that men would not speak, and they hung up a drum for those who dared remonstrate and set up a post for words of blame, and did not leave off.

Now King Modae did not look at the writings of remonstrance that came up to him, and he shut the gate as well to keep them out. The Zhuangzi says, "To see a fault and not mend it, and to hear remonstrance and grow worse, is called fierceness." Is this not said of King Modae?

In summer, the fourth month, the king hunted at Uduseong, met rain and hail, and stopped. In the fifth month there was a drought. The king feasted with those about him at Imnyugak, and they were merry to the full all night long.

In the twenty-third year, in spring, the first month, an old woman of the royal capital turned into a fox and went away. Two tigers fought on Namsan, and men tried to catch them but could not. In the third month frost fell and harmed the barley. From summer, the fifth month, until autumn no rain fell.

In the seventh month a palisade was set at Tanhyeon to make ready against Silla. In the eighth month Garimseong was built, and Jakga the wisa jwapyeong was set to guard it.

In winter, the tenth month, the king hunted on the plain east of Sabi. In the eleventh month he hunted on the plain north of Ungcheon, and he hunted again on the plain west of Sabi, but heavy snow stopped him and he lodged at the village of Mapo.

At the first, when the king set Jakga to guard Garimseong, Jakga did not wish to go and pleaded illness, but the king would not allow it. For this he bore a grudge against the king. When it came to this, he sent a man to stab the king, and in the twelfth month the king died. He was given the posthumous name King Dongseong (東城王).