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Updated: May 17, 2025
"Hunting with the falcon was one of Taijo's favourite sports. One day, while in the woods, his bird flew so far ahead that its young master lost sight of it. Hurrying on to find it, Taijo discovered a hut beside the path, into which he saw the falcon fly. "Entering the hut, the youth found a white-bearded hermit priest, who lived here alone and unknown to the outside world.
You can easily see that in this relationship he must have had a large influence both over the king and over the people. "Being a brave man and courageous fighter, Taijo was idolized by his soldiers. He was also very popular with all the people because he was always strictly honest and just in all his dealings with them.
The deposed ruler plotted and planned all kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored to his old position of authority. Taijo heard of some of his plots, and finally did that which would for ever extinguish the authority of the old king or any of his family. He removed from the temple the tablets on which were inscribed the names of the king's ancestors.
Wang Ken did not say right here, what he might have said with truth, that in Korean families girls are considered of very little consequence. But in this case Taijo's daughter proved to be of much help in making her father the king of Cho-sen. "One of these daughters was married to the reigning king. Thus Taijo became father-in-law to his sovereign.
He rapidly rose through the various grades, until he finally held the chief command of the army as lieutenant-general. "Of course Taijo did not reach this high station in a month, nor in a year, but many years went by before he attained such an exalted place. Meanwhile he married and had children. Several of these children were daughters."
Nevertheless, he ordered Taijo, at the head of his forces, to attack the Chinese. Upon this, Taijo thus addressed his soldiers: "'Although the order from the king must be obeyed, yet the attack upon the Ming soldiers, with so small an army as ours, is like casting an egg against a rock, and no one of us will return alive. I do not tell you this from any fear of death, but our king is too haughty.
For this reason he chose a name which well expressed its outward position toward the rising sun and his own inward feelings, Cho-sen, or Morning Calm. This is still the official name of our country. "But to come back to our story of Taijo. At the time of his birth, the rulers of the country were very unpopular because of their wickedness and oppression of the people.
There was much suffering on account of the misrule, and the people longed for a deliverer who should restore prosperity to Cho-sen. "Such a deliverer appeared in the person of Taijo. It is said that even as a boy he surpassed his fellows in goodness, intelligence, and skill in all sorts of boyish games."
For a moment Taijo was speechless with surprise in the presence of the wise old hermit. "Seeing his embarrassment, the old man spoke to him in these words: "'What benefit is it for a youth of your abilities to be seeking a stray falcon? A throne is a richer prize. Betake yourself at once to the capital.
"Now Taijo knew how to take a hint as well as any boy, so he immediately left the hut of the hermit, forsaking his falcon, and went to Sunto, then the capital of the kingdom. "As I have already told you, Taijo was a wise youth. He did not rush headlong into the accomplishment of the purpose hinted at by the hermit.
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