Post by sageuk on May 13, 2021 19:32:48 GMT -5
In Samguk Sagi and as depicted in the Wang Guhn series, Queen Jinseong is considered the monarch who caused the decline of the Silla Dynasty by partaking in depravities and allowing corruption to run rampant. A Silla historian named Richard McBride II, however, using evidence in the form of written words by Choe Chiwon, who was alive during her reign, questions this. He isn't the first one to bring this up, but his paper goes in depth into depth that Jinseong actually inherited the problems Silla was having attributed to her since they were already going on before she took the throne. Choe Chiwon wrote a memorial following her nephew's succession to the throne making a description of her and her reign, the translation of which was provided by Professor McBride's paper, Blaming the Victim Reconsidering Queen Chinsŏng and the Decline of Silla.
Choe Chiwon actually appears in the show by the way.
Blaming_the_Victim_Reconsidering_Queen_C.pdf (588.51 KB)
(T'an is the queen's personal name though other sources say its Man or Manhon)
It should be pointed out that while this memorial is technically being "spoken" by her successor, Choe Chiwon is the one who wrote it. McBride notes that there is possibly rhetoric in the memorial in order to make the Silla royal family look good, but it is notable that this account of Queen Jinseong is more positive compared to Samguk Sagi compiler Kim Busik's portrayal, which was made years after that time.
Choe Chiwon actually appears in the show by the way.
Blaming_the_Victim_Reconsidering_Queen_C.pdf (588.51 KB)
Your servant [King Hyogong] says:The previous authority known to serve as ruler of this country was your servant T’an 坦 [Queen Chinsŏng] my father’s younger sister. From your servant’s deceased father, the posthumous Grand Mentor (贈大傅/贈太傅), your servant Chŏng 晸 [King Hŏn’gang] and his younger brother, your servant Hwang 晃 [King Chŏnggang] have all passed away in order, my aunt, by your authority, guarded our vassal service. By illness and accident, we have succeeded each
other on the first day of the sixth month of the fourth year of the Qianning reign period, she earnestly resigned from her vassal duties and caused me, your servant, to take charge. Govern-ment officials and the common people repeatedly implored [that I ascend the throne], and I, your servant, also firmly declined their request because I do not yet desire to comply and succeed [to the throne]. Therefore, [May Your Majesty,] blocking the passions of the multitude, return [it, the throne] to me from far way. I, your servant, humbly take into consideration my own utter insignifi-cance and have erroneously inherited my family’s ancestral altars and look down on a frozen valley with an ap-prehensive spirit. Looking up to cloud-filled Heaven, the reflection bends. Many thanks.
I, your servant, have heard that it is difficult to advance and easy to backslide, which is the functional mind of the Confucian gentleman. Being swayed by the public and selflessness, in fact, the arrayed strength of people in antiquity, those who verbally boast are an extremely great throng, and those who personally practice are rather rare. And yet, your servant T’an’s will was to eagerly es-tablish people, and her speech was profound and she upbraided herself: “Considering the case of fire being produced from wood; and yet if the fire is ferocious, then the wood will burn. Water buoys up a ship; and yet if the water is violent, the ship will cap-size. Our country is in a great famine. It has given rise to petty thieves searching for each other. They originally indulge in the av-arice of jackals and wolves [evil person/vicious tyrant] and gradu-ally boast the aspiration of a swan [person with noble aspirations]. Their lot are hidden vicious rats that steal. When [we] first heard that they had pilfered our deep purse, seizing the opportunity they swarm like bees. They hurriedly see to destroying fortresses and robbing settlements. Eventually they cause smoke and dust to sur-round the territory. Wind and rain do not come at the appointed time. Groups of armed bandits (Rong) increase and set [things] ablaze in the Eastern Tomb Mounds. Remaining granules cannot be planted in the Southern Fields. In addition, if you restore the dragon-and-tiger shaped tally, they will go immerse themselves in a distant ravine. When the phoenix-emblazoned [imperial] commissioners come they will be stopped in the middle of the road, they will be an insult to imperial favor, and they will not be able to extend sincerity! In fact, because there are many violations, I reso-lutely fear that they will increase! I have carefully considered your three commands and reverence them. I have decided to intend to at once take my leave and retire.”
Right then, all the officials in our country came forward as a wall and our royal family approached like clouds, crying, and en-treated her saying, “Natural disasters are on the move, and land di-visions are difficult to avoid. By means of this, reproaching myself, I do not yet see its appropriateness and will await to receive your Imperial Majesty’s command [to ascend the throne].
I politely declined the royal rank title unwaveringly and, fur thermore, with compassion, it exceeded ten risings [by the crowd]. The rite exceeded the three declinings [of the throne; viz. the req-uisite behavior of declining the throne three times before accept-ing it]. My aunt T’an addressed the ministers, cried, and spoke the following words: “Looking back, this whole region is different than those three regions. The reason why is because [my country] changed our official court dress and adopted the imperial calen-dar. We look up to and abide by the [dictates] of Your August Country. We bend to and are woven in tight with the noblemen (or high officials) and barbarian countries. For this reason, the Jade Emperor bestowed a poem on our first ancestor, which said, “The etiquette of your country is superior. The
Songs and Documents are preserved in [every] house.” Furthermore, the imperial emis-sary Yuan Jifang came and [composed] a poem recording the gov-ernmental affairs of Kyerim [Silla], which said, “Not only do [the people of Silla] beautify the teachings of the Songs and Docu- ments
, but additionally there is no clamor of military drums [i.e. the country is at peace]. The calm rule of the ancient, wise noble-men resides in this place. And yet, now the commanderies and communities have all become dens of thieves. The mountains and rivers are all scenes of warfare. How is it that natural disasters tend to flow to the shores of [our country] Haedong? The whole reason is ignorance and stupidity that gives rise to these armed bandits. Their offenses cannot be tolerated and [they must be] punished. From the standpoint of principle, we should re resigned. I hope it will cause the whole country to be roused to humility [to concede, o yield]. If there are but two people of the same mind, they will draw [others] and advance toward it. Do not imitate negligently re-ceiving [my royal command].”
I, your servant, humbly consider that my aunt T’an lacked self-ish motives and had few appetites. Due to her many illnesses [weak constitution], she was fond of her leisure time. She spoke only when the time was right, and her ambition could not be wrested from her. If I showed refusing the request to embrace this position of authority, in the end, I would chase after the tracks of casting off my shoes.
I, your servant, was made [the heir apparent] of the [royal] fam-ily, was supplied with merit, and relied on the gate [of my fore-bears; i.e. the grace of my parents]. I will undertake [my new re-sponsibilities] with remembrance. As for [Duke] Mu of Song’s being able to recommend the worthy, living and dy-ing are widely different. When Xie An had the opportu-nity to be nominated grand councilor, starting and ending were additionally eschewed. And yet, moreover, supervising military af-fairs is rather close/near, and all the thieves are very shrewd. Pol-ishing the lead [writing memorials] and intricate matters are not yet removed. Leaking nets and ferocious behavior are even more severe. Later, employing water, there are no tiny boats and on land there have cut off luxuriant carts so that we cannot dispatch our lower-ranking officials in advance, and look up to and put on dis-play our loyalty and sincerity. Outside of even and crosswise is-lands, we gallop as spirits on the winds of residual indignation. On the edge of the Qin emperor’s bridge I drip my gallbladder [ex-haust my loyalty] in the billows of the court and imperial family.
Your servant, humbly limit my authority and am unworthy of the honor of being entrusted with a barbarian [kingdom]. I am un-able to hasten to the imperial court and I am extremely hopeful of your imperial favor and excessively apprehensive.
other on the first day of the sixth month of the fourth year of the Qianning reign period, she earnestly resigned from her vassal duties and caused me, your servant, to take charge. Govern-ment officials and the common people repeatedly implored [that I ascend the throne], and I, your servant, also firmly declined their request because I do not yet desire to comply and succeed [to the throne]. Therefore, [May Your Majesty,] blocking the passions of the multitude, return [it, the throne] to me from far way. I, your servant, humbly take into consideration my own utter insignifi-cance and have erroneously inherited my family’s ancestral altars and look down on a frozen valley with an ap-prehensive spirit. Looking up to cloud-filled Heaven, the reflection bends. Many thanks.
I, your servant, have heard that it is difficult to advance and easy to backslide, which is the functional mind of the Confucian gentleman. Being swayed by the public and selflessness, in fact, the arrayed strength of people in antiquity, those who verbally boast are an extremely great throng, and those who personally practice are rather rare. And yet, your servant T’an’s will was to eagerly es-tablish people, and her speech was profound and she upbraided herself: “Considering the case of fire being produced from wood; and yet if the fire is ferocious, then the wood will burn. Water buoys up a ship; and yet if the water is violent, the ship will cap-size. Our country is in a great famine. It has given rise to petty thieves searching for each other. They originally indulge in the av-arice of jackals and wolves [evil person/vicious tyrant] and gradu-ally boast the aspiration of a swan [person with noble aspirations]. Their lot are hidden vicious rats that steal. When [we] first heard that they had pilfered our deep purse, seizing the opportunity they swarm like bees. They hurriedly see to destroying fortresses and robbing settlements. Eventually they cause smoke and dust to sur-round the territory. Wind and rain do not come at the appointed time. Groups of armed bandits (Rong) increase and set [things] ablaze in the Eastern Tomb Mounds. Remaining granules cannot be planted in the Southern Fields. In addition, if you restore the dragon-and-tiger shaped tally, they will go immerse themselves in a distant ravine. When the phoenix-emblazoned [imperial] commissioners come they will be stopped in the middle of the road, they will be an insult to imperial favor, and they will not be able to extend sincerity! In fact, because there are many violations, I reso-lutely fear that they will increase! I have carefully considered your three commands and reverence them. I have decided to intend to at once take my leave and retire.”
Right then, all the officials in our country came forward as a wall and our royal family approached like clouds, crying, and en-treated her saying, “Natural disasters are on the move, and land di-visions are difficult to avoid. By means of this, reproaching myself, I do not yet see its appropriateness and will await to receive your Imperial Majesty’s command [to ascend the throne].
I politely declined the royal rank title unwaveringly and, fur thermore, with compassion, it exceeded ten risings [by the crowd]. The rite exceeded the three declinings [of the throne; viz. the req-uisite behavior of declining the throne three times before accept-ing it]. My aunt T’an addressed the ministers, cried, and spoke the following words: “Looking back, this whole region is different than those three regions. The reason why is because [my country] changed our official court dress and adopted the imperial calen-dar. We look up to and abide by the [dictates] of Your August Country. We bend to and are woven in tight with the noblemen (or high officials) and barbarian countries. For this reason, the Jade Emperor bestowed a poem on our first ancestor, which said, “The etiquette of your country is superior. The
Songs and Documents are preserved in [every] house.” Furthermore, the imperial emis-sary Yuan Jifang came and [composed] a poem recording the gov-ernmental affairs of Kyerim [Silla], which said, “Not only do [the people of Silla] beautify the teachings of the Songs and Docu- ments
, but additionally there is no clamor of military drums [i.e. the country is at peace]. The calm rule of the ancient, wise noble-men resides in this place. And yet, now the commanderies and communities have all become dens of thieves. The mountains and rivers are all scenes of warfare. How is it that natural disasters tend to flow to the shores of [our country] Haedong? The whole reason is ignorance and stupidity that gives rise to these armed bandits. Their offenses cannot be tolerated and [they must be] punished. From the standpoint of principle, we should re resigned. I hope it will cause the whole country to be roused to humility [to concede, o yield]. If there are but two people of the same mind, they will draw [others] and advance toward it. Do not imitate negligently re-ceiving [my royal command].”
I, your servant, humbly consider that my aunt T’an lacked self-ish motives and had few appetites. Due to her many illnesses [weak constitution], she was fond of her leisure time. She spoke only when the time was right, and her ambition could not be wrested from her. If I showed refusing the request to embrace this position of authority, in the end, I would chase after the tracks of casting off my shoes.
I, your servant, was made [the heir apparent] of the [royal] fam-ily, was supplied with merit, and relied on the gate [of my fore-bears; i.e. the grace of my parents]. I will undertake [my new re-sponsibilities] with remembrance. As for [Duke] Mu of Song’s being able to recommend the worthy, living and dy-ing are widely different. When Xie An had the opportu-nity to be nominated grand councilor, starting and ending were additionally eschewed. And yet, moreover, supervising military af-fairs is rather close/near, and all the thieves are very shrewd. Pol-ishing the lead [writing memorials] and intricate matters are not yet removed. Leaking nets and ferocious behavior are even more severe. Later, employing water, there are no tiny boats and on land there have cut off luxuriant carts so that we cannot dispatch our lower-ranking officials in advance, and look up to and put on dis-play our loyalty and sincerity. Outside of even and crosswise is-lands, we gallop as spirits on the winds of residual indignation. On the edge of the Qin emperor’s bridge I drip my gallbladder [ex-haust my loyalty] in the billows of the court and imperial family.
Your servant, humbly limit my authority and am unworthy of the honor of being entrusted with a barbarian [kingdom]. I am un-able to hasten to the imperial court and I am extremely hopeful of your imperial favor and excessively apprehensive.
(T'an is the queen's personal name though other sources say its Man or Manhon)
It should be pointed out that while this memorial is technically being "spoken" by her successor, Choe Chiwon is the one who wrote it. McBride notes that there is possibly rhetoric in the memorial in order to make the Silla royal family look good, but it is notable that this account of Queen Jinseong is more positive compared to Samguk Sagi compiler Kim Busik's portrayal, which was made years after that time.
