Do Hyeon-shin; Midas Books: 411 pp., 23,000 won
During the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), crowns were supposed to be passed on to the eldest sons of the kings. But only one fourth of 27 Joseon kings were eldest sons. Then how did others ascend to the throne?
The book explores how the Joseon royal heirs could survive the hard academic trainings and become kings. They were supposed to spend most of their time studying except for attending official events.
The royal heirs attended “seoyeon,” or lectures for crown princes that took place four times a day. The lectures mostly taught Confucian scriptures and historical classics and the princes regularly took the exams.
Even after they came to the throne, they continued to study and discussed the scriptures with their high-ranking servants.
King Seongjong was an avid student who didn’t skip a single class for six years when he was a crown prince. Even after he took the throne, Seongjong frequently attended the royal lectures.
The book says the power of the great kings is attributed to their harsh training and studies during the 500-year kingdom, which laid its foundations and led to the educational fever in present society.
— CHUNG AH-YOUNG