The Veritable Records of Jungjong (Korean: 《중종공희휘문소무흠인성효대왕실록》; Hanja: 中宗恭僖徽文昭武欽仁誠孝大王實錄), or simply Jungjong Sillok (《중종실록》; Hanja: 中宗實錄), records historical events from September of the lunar year 1506 to December of the lunar year 1544 during the reign of Jungjong of Joseon. It consists of 105 volumes in 102 books and forms part of the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Its running title (pansimje) is Jungjong Daewang Sillok (《중종대왕실록》; Hanja: 中宗大王實錄).
Overview
The Veritable Records of Jungjong is a record, in annalistic format, of historical facts concerning the overall state affairs of the Jungjong era, covering a total of 38 years and 3 months, from September of the lunar year 1506 (the 1st year of Jungjong's reign) to December of the lunar year 1544 (the 39th year of Jungjong's reign). It consists of 105 volumes in 102 books and forms part of the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty. Its full official title is Jungjong Gonghui Hwimun Somu Heumin Seonghyo Daewang Sillok, and its running title (pansimje)1 is Jungjong Daewang Sillok. Meanwhile, although Jungjong's reign lasted until November of the lunar year 1544, the Jungjong Sillok includes entries up to December of the lunar year 1544, after the accession of Injong. The Injong Sillok begins with entries from January of the lunar year 1545 (the 1st year of Injong's reign).2
In February of the lunar year 1545, a proposal was made that, once the Ming envoys who were attending Jungjong's jolgok rites returned home, an office should be established for compiling the Sillok, and Injong approved it.3 However, Injong died in July of that same lunar year, and compilation of the Sillok was suspended. It was not until 1546 (the 1st year of Myeongjong's reign) that a Sillok office was established and compilation began simultaneously with the Injong Sillok.
During the compilation, in December of the lunar year 1547 (the 2nd year of Myeongjong's reign), Right State Councillor Jeong Sun-bong, who served as chief compiler (chongjaegwan) of the Sillok office, requested to resign on the grounds that opinions on matters after the Gimyo Purge were so divided that right and wrong could not be determined, and that he himself had withdrawn from office at that time and had only returned after a long interval.4 Sin Gwang-han, a senior official (dangsang) of the Sillok office, also requested to resign for the same reason, and both requests were approved.5 Subsequently, Sim Yeon-won was appointed as chief compiler, followed by Yi Gi, who was appointed to that post. Yi Gi, too, resigned as chief compiler the following year, in 1548 (the 3rd year of Myeongjong's reign), citing matters related to the Gimyo Purge.6
After overcoming these many difficulties, compilation of the Jungjong Sillok was finally completed in October of the lunar year 1550 (the 5th year of Myeongjong's reign),7 and in March of the following lunar year, a feast was granted to the compilers of the Sillok.8
The compilers of the Sillok totaled 134 persons: three supervisors (gamsa), including Yi Gi, Jeong Sun-bong, and Sim Yeon-won; 12 chief compilers (jisa) in total; 25 deputy compilers (dongjisa); 45 compilation editors (pyeonsugwan); 17 reviewers (gijugwan); and 37 recording officials (gisagwan).9
Characteristics
- Other Sillok generally use the "non-accession year reckoning" (yunyeon chingwonbeop), in which the year of a king's accession is designated as the accession year and the following year as the 1st year. However, because Yeonsangun was deposed, the Jungjong Sillok uses the "accession year reckoning" (jeungwinyeon chingwonbeop), in which the year Jungjong ascended the throne is counted as the 1st year.9
- Usually, entries covering four to five months were compiled into one volume, but there are also cases where two to three months were combined into one volume, or eleven months were combined into one volume.
- In terms of content, most entries consist of records of remonstrances (sanggye) by censors and of Jungjong's participation in royal lectures (gyeongyeon).
- Unlike earlier Sillok, many editorial commentaries (saron) and fine annotations (sejoo) were included.
- Editorial commentaries (saron): Typically about ten or so appear in each volume, but in some cases more than 35 are included. Their content differs sharply before and after the Gimyo Purge: before the purge, many concern overall state affairs, while after the purge they mainly concern evaluations of individuals. Moreover, evaluations of individuals before the purge criticize the Hungu faction and praise the Sarim faction, but the evaluations changed after the purge.
- Fine annotations (sejoo):10 These include the full details of incidents, supplementary explanations, personal information, explanations of terms, and notable particulars. Among them, the explanations of terms are an important source for understanding the regional dialects and colloquial names of the time, as well as distinctive institutions.
- The content concerning foreign relations differs greatly from that of the Annals of Yeonsangun: it contains many entries relating to Ming relations connected with the revision of the Jongye (the record of the Joseon royal genealogy in Ming records). Also, unlike the Annals of Yeonsangun, which has many entries on tribute from the Jurchens and Japanese, the Jungjong Sillok contains many entries on their incursions across the borders.
Evaluation
After its completion, the Jungjong Sillok was doubted for its impartiality on the grounds that the events of the Gimyo Purge were not recorded properly.9
- The Seonjo Sillok states that the Jungjong Sillok omitted some matters. It records that Nam Gon sought to associate with Jo Gwang-jo, but was refused; resenting this, he smeared honey on leaves in the shape of the characters "Juchoweonwang"12 so that insects would gnaw them, and then disguised it as if it had occurred naturally, thereby slandering Jo.13
- Yi Geung-ik's Yeonryeo Silgisul states that the compilation of the Jungjong Sillok was entrusted to treacherous officials, and that it records many matters differently from the facts.14
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