At this time the Kings of Pèkché, father and son, both together knocked their foreheads on the ground and made representation, saying:—"The immense bounty of the honourable country is more weighty than Heaven and Earth. What day, (IX. 31.) what hour shall we presume to forget it? The sage sovereign dwells above, illustrious as the sun and moon; thy servants now dwell below, solid as a mountain or hill, and will always be thy western frontier land, never to the last showing double hearts."
A.D. 252. 52nd year, Autumn, 9th month, 10th day. Kutyö and the others came along with Chikuma Nagahiko and presented a seven-branched[1] sword and a seven-little-one[2]-mirror, with various other objects of great value. They addressed the Empress, saying:—"West of thy servants' country there is a river-source which issues from Mount Chölsan[3] in Kong-na. It is distant seven days' journey. It need not be approached, but one should drink of this water, and so having gotten the iron of this mountain, wait upon the sage Court for all ages." Moreover, he[4] addressed his grandson, Prince Chhim-nyu,[5] saying:—"The honourable country east of the sea with which we are now in communication has been opened to us by Heaven. Therefore does it bestow on us Celestial bounty, and dividing off the land west of the sea, has granted it to us. Consequently the foundation of our land is confirmed for ever. Thou shouldst cultivate well its friendship, and having collected our national products, wait on it with tribute without ceasing. Henceforth, grudging not even our lives, let us continue to send yearly tribute."
A.D. 255. (IX. 32.) 55th year. Syoko, King of Pèkché, died.[6]
A.D. 256. 56th year. Kusyu, son of the King of Pèkché, was set up as king.[7]
- ↑ The traditional kana rendering is nana-saya, i.e. a "seven-sheathed sword," which is nonsense. Seven-branched is not much better.
- ↑ It is not clear what is meant by nanatsuko (七子), perhaps with seven projections round the rim. See above, p. 44.
- ↑ Iron mountain. All this about iron is merely symbolical of constancy.
- ↑ The King of Pèkché.
- ↑ Came to the throne A.D. 384.
- ↑ The "Tongkam" places his death in A.D. 375.
- ↑ The traditional kana rendering of 王 is Kokishi, a word I do not recognize as Corean. But nearly all Corean words relating to official matters have become obsolete, being replaced by Chinese terms.
