Songs of the Dragons

Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven, translated by James Hoyt (1979), was a compilation of 125 cantos compiled to establish the legitimacy of King Sejong's lineage. King Sejong (1397-1450), 4th king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) ordered the compilation to extol the merits of the Yi (Lee) lineage in the new dynasty, and printed the compilation with the newly-made hangeul script made for all people of the nation to easily read. Songs of the Dragons was the first book to be printed in Sejong's new "alphabet".  

Three Reasons for the Compilation

(1) Extolling the great accomplishments of the six generation of founders of the new Yi, or Chosun/Joseon Dynasty. The heroic actions of the Six Ancestors are compared to the flights of dragons symbolic of the throne, hence the title of the work. Of the Six Ancestors, only two actually sat on the throne of Korea. The other four generations of the House, preceding the establishment of the dynasty, are designated as chamnyong, or "submerged dragons," and their residences as chamjo, or "submerged palaces," after Chinese usage. [When Yi Seong-gye took the throne, he had to justify through ancestry that he was eligible for the throne. Ancestry was of need traceable back by at least four generations; thus, when Yi Seong-gye established his Dynasty, he brought with him the bones of his four primary ancestors.]

• The ancestors of the Yi family lived in Jeonju, Jeolla-do, and their prominence dates from Mokcho (Yi An-sa, d. 1274), the First Ancestor, who served the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) in various capacities in a number of provinces. Mokcho's descendant in the fourth generation, Yi Seong-gye, became King Taejo, the founder of the Yi Dynasty after overthrowing the Goryeo Dynasty.
• The Second Ancestor, Ikcho (Yi Haeng-ni), was noted for his difficulties with the Jurchen tribesmen in the North.
• The Third Ancestor, Tojo (Yi Ch'un, e. 1342), a skillful bowman.
• The Fourth Ancestor, Hwanjo (Yi Cha-ch'un, 1315-1361), based the growing power of his family on the imminent collapse of the Mongol empire in China (1368) and the concomitant weakening of the Mongolized dynasty of Korea.
• The Fifth Ancestor, Taejo (Yi Seong-gye, 1335-1408), wielding military power as a result of his expeditions against both the Jurchen tribesmen and Japanese freebooters and for espousing a program of land reform and alliance with the Ming, he established himself as king and ruled until his abdication in 1398.
• Chongjo, an ineffectual son of Taejo and who was a caretaker-king during a period of rivalry over succession (1399-1400), does not merit qualification to be listed as one of the Ancestors of the dynasty.
• The Sixth Ancestor, Taejong (1401-1418), completed the work of establishing a firm dynasty, which would last until 1910.

First four kings of the Yi/Lee Dynasty / Joseon Dynasty:

1.   Fifth Ancestor: Taejo (r. 1392-1398)
2.   Jeongjong (1398-1400)
3.   Sixth Ancestor: Taejong (1400-1418)
4.   The Great King Sejong (1418-1450)

(2) Providing inspiration for King Sejong and subsequent kings on the Yi line by recalling the vicissitudes and tenacity of the Six Ancestors. No less than 15 of the 125 cantos end with the hortatory refrain, "Let Your Majesty not forget this!"

(3) Proclaiming to the world that the accession of the Yi family to power was in accordance with the Chinese concept of the Mandate of Heaven. This concept of the Mandate of Heaven is an ancient one, formulated by Tun Chung-shu (2nd century BC), who declared that when a ruler commits unjust acts, Heaven shows its displeasure by such calamities as earthquakes, famines, and floods. If these warnings are not heeded, Heaven seeks to admonish rulers by means of such portents as eclipses and comets. If these are not needed, the ruler loses the Mandate, and Heaven selects another to mount the throne. The attainment of the Mandate of Heaven's divine plan is the much repeated theme of Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven, and the word "Heaven" in the title refers to Heavenly favors bestowed upon the six heroes. The writing of the work is, in short, a written legitimization of the Yi rule.

CONTENTS

All of the cantos are focused on the assertion that the Six Ancestors have the favor of Heaven. The earlier cantos speak of the exploits of the first four Ancestors, aiming to support the Fifth Ancestor Taejo, who took the throne. The cantos XXVII to XCV (68 or 54% of the cantos!) were of the exploits of King Taejo, how mighty he was and how he repeatedly saved the country through his valorous deeds in battle or in the hunt. No cantos were given to Jeongjong (1398-1400), the ineffectual son of Taejo who ruled briefly during a period of political instability and fighting for the throne. Cantos XCVII to CIX (13 cantos) were dedicated to the Sixth Ancestor, Taejong (1400-1418). Those 13 cantos primarily reflected the time of instability and mostly sang of assassination plots and recognition of loyalty. Cantos CX to the end of the songs, Canto CXXV, sang of the merits and righteousness of the Great King Sejong, the Sixth Ancestor. These cantos were a series of admonishments. Admonishments:

• to not forget the hardships of his Ancestors and to be steadfast in purpose
• to not forget the contrast between the magnificence of his palace and the crudeness of his Ancestor's shelter
• to not forget the contrast of his embroidered belt of office with the crude armor of his Ancestors
• to not forget his Ancestor's hunger as he dines of the finest of food and richest of drinks
• to not forget his Ancestor's fierce battles as he presides over a brilliant and peaceful court
• to rule with clemency, an important quality of kingship
• to have compassion
• to be humble lest he become a tool of conniving ministers
• to act in a manner befitting a king
• to overcome with benevolence the plot of evil ones
• to maintain a strong economic basis for the state
• to be forgiving to his advisors as was Taejong
• to respect scholarship and beware of trouble-makers
• to evade slander mongers and those who embroider the truth
• to despise Buddhism and revere Confucianism
• to emulate the Flying Dragons

Opening canto - the opening assertion of the Six Ancestors aka dragons flying in the Heavens, the symbolic statement that the Heavens validates their auspicious right to be elevated above men and below the space of universe authority. Reference the meaning of "king" in Chinese character.

meaning of the Chinese character "wang" or "king"

King Taejo, found of the Yi Dynasty, is valorous in war and in the hunt. He is powerful, righteous, blest by the Heavens, and therefore deserves the role of king and ruler/caretaker of the nation.

The last canto, the canto that affirms King Sejong, the fourth king of the dynasty, as the right to continue to rule, as based on the righteous foundation of the Six Ancestors.

Final Comments

Songs of the Dragons was the first book to be printed in the newly developed hangeul writing. Printing was executed with wooden block in October 1447, about two years after its compilation, and 550 copies were presented to various ministers. The editions that are presently extant include those printed in 1612, 1659 and 1735.

The compilation is now recognized as a monument to the cultural independence of Korea from China, a most important source for the study of the Korean language, and the beginning of Korean national consciousness and of vernacular literature.

For more information regarding the translation, reference a 1977 JSTOR preview of the book, by Peter H. Lee.