Description
Book SynopsisNever before translated into English, this official history of the reign of King T’aejo—founder of Korea’s illustrious Chosŏn dynasty (1392–1910 CE)—is a unique resource for reconstructing life in late-fourteenth-century Korea. It includes a wealth of detail not just about politics and war but also religion, astronomy, and the arts.
Trade ReviewAnother masterpiece from Choi Byonghyon. Integrating a remarkably wide range of expertise in classical Chinese, Korean history, Confucianism, geography, and East Asian political structures, Choi offers an accessible translation for modern readers and a model for the rest of the vast ‘veritable records’ of the Chosŏn Dynasty. This book brings to life King T’aejo’s Sinicizing and yet profoundly Korean late fourteenth-century world. Readers can follow T’aejo and his court through the hopes and challenges of the dynasty’s founding era, including national reconstruction, state formation and legitimacy, ideological transformation, and the nature of leadership.
The Annals of King T’aejo is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Korean and East Asian history. -- Byung-Kook Kim, Korea University
A welcome addition to an expanding list of Korean primary sources in English. Scholars, students, and general readers alike will find
The Annals of King T’aejo a must to understand the transition from Koryŏ to Chosŏn Korea. -- Edward J. Shultz, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
