Compilation of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty begins

Also called: Joseon Wangjo Sillok, Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty

Under King Taejong the Annals of King Taejo were compiled, beginning the practice of compiling each king’s annals after his death. They cover 472 years, from Taejo to Cheoljong, in chronological form.

After a king died, his successor set up an annals office that gathered the historians’ drafts (sacho), the Office of Annals’ daily records (sijeonggi), the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat and more to compile that king’s annals. Beginning with the Annals of King Taejo, completed in 1413 under Taejong, the series ran to the Annals of King Cheoljong. Not even the king could read the drafts or the annals, to keep the record impartial.

Finished annals were stored at the Chunchugwan and in archives at Chungju, Jeonju and Seongju. When only the Jeonju copy survived the Imjin War, it was reprinted and kept at the Chunchugwan and in mountain archives (Taebaeksan, Odaesan, Myohyangsan — later Jeoksangsan — and Manisan — later Jeongjoksan).

A vast day-by-day record of politics, economy, society and even natural phenomena, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 1997. The annals of Gojong and Sunjong, compiled under Japanese rule, are usually excluded.