Reviews
Selecting a king representative of the era, the text unfolds around major events while also providing excellent explanations of the kings' daily lives, the preparation process for ascending the throne, and the hardships they faced. Those interested in history will enjoy this.
Can a single day's actions determine everything? As stated in the preface, the author intended to focus on the king's "day." He identifies the unique identity of this book, which distinguishes it from other books on Joseon history, as a perspective centered on the "day." However, ironically, this book deviates significantly from its original intent. Descriptions directly related to the king's day amount to perhaps only two sections throughout the entire book. The king's daily life is discussed
Humans have a natural tendency to want to hide their own flaws whenever possible. In that respect, the Joseon Dynasty is truly fascinating and even inspires respect. When looking at various records, such as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, one is left wondering, as if it were a riddle, how they came to possess such ideas. Thanks to these diverse records, we are able to read a wide variety of history books based on them today. I also have a strong interest in history; history books make up more
Since I love history, I am always drawn to and reach for history books whenever they come out. So, history books are always a "yes" to me. Perhaps my high school Korean history teacher had a significant influence on this. Of course, I had liked history before then, but because my teacher was so cool (please don't misunderstand, she was a female teacher...), I think that was the catalyst that sparked my interest in Korean history and history in general. To be honest, since I have encountered the
I remember the author's name. As a contributor to the Chosun Ilbo, I recall occasionally reading his articles. While this book, *A King's Day*, realistically portrays the daily routines of the Kings of Joseon from dawn to night, it also sheds light on special days—days of destiny—that are remembered by later generations as historical events. Examples include the day Taejo Yi Seong-gye overthrew Goryeo and established Joseon, the days when Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun were driven from the throne,
Reading *A Day in the Life of a King*... Amidst massive historical shifts, the catalysts for those changes are often very brief moments or trivial events. This book introduces the daily lives of kings, the clashes between ruler and subject, and the routines of the monarch that ultimately changed history. Throughout the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty, there were many pivotal turning points that we have experienced indirectly through various media. The days preceding major events—such as Yi
I had a general understanding of a king's daily routine, as told to us through countless history books and epic historical dramas. While watching these dramas, I sometimes believed they were actual historical events; however, I now find myself increasingly focusing on and questioning whether the historical narratives we know are truly factual. *A King's Day* tells the commonly known stories of kings through the lens of a single day. After briefly introducing the king's life—starting with the
I was flustered by an unexpected incident that occurred before I could even get around to reading this book, but after many twists and turns, I finally managed to read it. Perhaps because I had been looking forward to it so much, it was more interesting and captivating than any other history book I had read; I found myself reading it non-stop with sparkling eyes. This book is a historical account of the "decisive days" of kings. When reading literature, one often wonders if a single volume is
I believe it is deeply meaningful to look back on a king's day today, now that the competition among the 2012 presidential candidates has concluded and the winner has been announced. This book examines the lives, destinies, and events of the 27 kings of Joseon from various angles, spanning from the founding of the Joseon Dynasty by Taejo Yi Seong-gye on July 17, 1392, to the fall of the Korean Empire due to the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty on August 29, 1910. The prologue, "In Search of a
After reading *A Day in the Life of a King*, I realized that our country is a nation with a long history recognized globally. Although we may not be in the best shape in every respect, we demonstrate economic power that hovers around the top 10 in the world, and we also show distinct prowess in various sports competitions and international tournaments. It is truly a small but formidable nation. Because these achievements were accomplished by overcoming various hardships, such as the Japanese
Lee Han-woo: A King's Day
*A King's Day: The Secret History Unwritten by the Annals and Historians* is a history book that compresses everything about the king—the supreme ruler in history—into a single day, including his character, power, and circumstances. Journalist Lee Han-woo, who has spent ten years thoroughly reading the *Annals of the Joseon Dynasty* to research monarchical leadership, presents everything about the king—the key figure who determines history—through the theme of a single day's routine. The book allows readers to examine the daily lives of Joseon's controversial kings at a glance, covering everything from a morning cough to intimate nighttime private lives, and from covert poisonings to bloody coups. The author first focuses on the days that provided the decisive turning points in shaping Joseon history. He examines the day of Taejo Yi Seong-gye on the day of the nation's founding, while vividly reconstructing the days of decision made by Joseon kings who had to demonstrate political acumen in confrontation with their ministers. Furthermore, he meticulously examines the king's day at the sites where coronation ceremonies, training in royal studies, the establishment of temple names, discussions on filial piety and impiety, and royal marriages took place. It will serve as an opportunity to re-examine the framework of Joseon history through the ‘days’ of the kings.
Korean title: 왕의 하루
Korean author: 이한우
Korean publisher: 김영사
ISBN-13: 9788934960690
Reviews
Selecting a king representative of the era, the text unfolds around major events while also providing excellent explanations of the kings' daily lives, the preparation process for ascending the throne, and the hardships they faced. Those interested in history will enjoy this.
Can a single day's actions determine everything? As stated in the preface, the author intended to focus on the king's "day." He identifies the unique identity of this book, which distinguishes it from other books on Joseon history, as a perspective centered on the "day." However, ironically, this book deviates significantly from its original intent. Descriptions directly related to the king's day amount to perhaps only two sections throughout the entire book. The king's daily life is discussed
Humans have a natural tendency to want to hide their own flaws whenever possible. In that respect, the Joseon Dynasty is truly fascinating and even inspires respect. When looking at various records, such as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, one is left wondering, as if it were a riddle, how they came to possess such ideas. Thanks to these diverse records, we are able to read a wide variety of history books based on them today. I also have a strong interest in history; history books make up more
Since I love history, I am always drawn to and reach for history books whenever they come out. So, history books are always a "yes" to me. Perhaps my high school Korean history teacher had a significant influence on this. Of course, I had liked history before then, but because my teacher was so cool (please don't misunderstand, she was a female teacher...), I think that was the catalyst that sparked my interest in Korean history and history in general. To be honest, since I have encountered the
I remember the author's name. As a contributor to the Chosun Ilbo, I recall occasionally reading his articles. While this book, *A King's Day*, realistically portrays the daily routines of the Kings of Joseon from dawn to night, it also sheds light on special days—days of destiny—that are remembered by later generations as historical events. Examples include the day Taejo Yi Seong-gye overthrew Goryeo and established Joseon, the days when Yeonsangun and Gwanghaegun were driven from the throne,
Reading *A Day in the Life of a King*... Amidst massive historical shifts, the catalysts for those changes are often very brief moments or trivial events. This book introduces the daily lives of kings, the clashes between ruler and subject, and the routines of the monarch that ultimately changed history. Throughout the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty, there were many pivotal turning points that we have experienced indirectly through various media. The days preceding major events—such as Yi
I had a general understanding of a king's daily routine, as told to us through countless history books and epic historical dramas. While watching these dramas, I sometimes believed they were actual historical events; however, I now find myself increasingly focusing on and questioning whether the historical narratives we know are truly factual. *A King's Day* tells the commonly known stories of kings through the lens of a single day. After briefly introducing the king's life—starting with the
I was flustered by an unexpected incident that occurred before I could even get around to reading this book, but after many twists and turns, I finally managed to read it. Perhaps because I had been looking forward to it so much, it was more interesting and captivating than any other history book I had read; I found myself reading it non-stop with sparkling eyes. This book is a historical account of the "decisive days" of kings. When reading literature, one often wonders if a single volume is
I believe it is deeply meaningful to look back on a king's day today, now that the competition among the 2012 presidential candidates has concluded and the winner has been announced. This book examines the lives, destinies, and events of the 27 kings of Joseon from various angles, spanning from the founding of the Joseon Dynasty by Taejo Yi Seong-gye on July 17, 1392, to the fall of the Korean Empire due to the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty on August 29, 1910. The prologue, "In Search of a
After reading *A Day in the Life of a King*, I realized that our country is a nation with a long history recognized globally. Although we may not be in the best shape in every respect, we demonstrate economic power that hovers around the top 10 in the world, and we also show distinct prowess in various sports competitions and international tournaments. It is truly a small but formidable nation. Because these achievements were accomplished by overcoming various hardships, such as the Japanese
