The compilation of Goryeo histories in the early Joseon Dynasty was intended to reveal the end of Goryeo and emphasize Joseon’s legitimacy. In doing so, Taejong and Sejong sought to establish the identity of the Joseon Dynasty and emphasize the superiority of the new dynasty, which is important as a political and ideological endeavor.
The compilation of histories of Goryeo in the early Joseon Dynasty was an effort to demonstrate the inevitability of Goryeo’s destruction and the legitimacy of the Joseon Dynasty’s founding. In various ways, the compilers sought to highlight the differences between Goryeo and Joseon and to convince people of the superiority of Joseon over Goryeo. This was also an important political tool for establishing the legitimacy of the Joseon dynasty and consolidating the authority of the newly emerging dynasty.
At the behest of King Taejo, a history of Goryeo was compiled from sources that had been written at the end of Goryeo, but it was criticized for being written by a non-royal compiler. This was indicative of the subjectivity that could occur in the process of writing history at the time, and sparked an important debate about how historians could maintain objectivity. In response, King Taejong ordered a rewrite of the history of Goryeo. This was more than just a rewrite, but a historical narrative that reflected the values and ideology of the new dynasty.
The controversy continued through the reign of King Sejong, with some arguing for the inclusion of Goryeo terminology and others for rewriting it in accordance with Confucianism, but by the reign of King Moonjong, the compilation of the Goryeo History was completed. During this process, Sejong, who was interested in historical research, understood that the scriptures were the fundamentals of scholarship, while historical books embodied scholarship in reality, and built up his understanding of both scriptures and historical books through competitions with scholars from around the country. This deepened Sejong’s appreciation of the importance of compiling history books, and he understood that they were not just records, but an important means of establishing the dynasty’s identity and passing on lessons to future generations.
In this atmosphere, King Sejong ordered the compilation of the Cradle of Peace, a history of the rise and fall of China and Korea, and the scholars of the House of Hyunjeon organized Chinese history up to the Yuan Dynasty and Korean history up to the Goryeo Dynasty. In the process of compiling the book, they divided the countries into orthodox and unorthodox according to the Juchean view of history, “Juchean Tongam Kangmok,” but they did not follow the Kangmok style in terms of compilation format. In addition, they emphasized the wars and foreign affairs between countries, the chaos at the end of the country and the cleanup of the chaos at the beginning of the new country, unlike existing history books, in order to reveal that the fate of a country is determined by the right politics. This narrative style reflected the political situation in Joseon at the time and was intended to emphasize the legitimacy and superiority of the new dynasty.
In addition to the purpose of running the country well by mirroring the rise and fall of the state, this method of compilation was also intended to lay the foundation for the new state. This intention was centered in the “State Dynasty” section of the Classic. The compilers of this section viewed Goryeo politics from a Confucian perspective, exposing various problems, including the abolition of Buddhist thought, and argued for a change to a Confucian society. Although the Yi Sunggye’s abilities and accomplishments were captured, they were insufficient to justify the founding of the Joseon Dynasty, so Sejong ordered the compilation of the Yongbiercheonga, which emphasized the excellence of the Joseon Dynasty against the backdrop of historical facts. The idea was to demonstrate the dynasty’s excellence and authenticity through a variety of sources, both scriptural and historical.
Sejong’s efforts can be seen as an attempt to establish the ideological foundations of the Joseon dynasty beyond just compiling a history book. “By singing the founding myths of the Joseon Dynasty, the Yongbiercheonga praised the feats of the rational world and reinforced the legitimacy of the Joseon Dynasty. The compilation of these histories and scriptures has remained an important source of scholarship for later generations of scholars, contributing greatly to our understanding of Joseon history and culture.
In conclusion, the compilation of historical texts about Goryeo in the early Joseon Dynasty was not simply a matter of documenting the past, but an important political and ideological endeavor that established and legitimized the identity of the new dynasty. In doing so, the Joseon Dynasty played an important role in justifying its raison d’être and signaling to the people the beginning of a new era. The compilation of these histories remains an important topic of study today, helping us to understand the political and social conditions of Joseon at the time.
