Taejong's Fall from Horseback

Taejong, the third king of Joseon, once fell from his horse while enjoying a hunt. Embarrassed, Taejong looked around and ordered, "Do not let the royal scribes know of this incident." However, a scribe, possessing the utmost integrity in historical record-keeping of the era, documented the king's embarrassing accident and his command verbatim. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty clearly state, 'The king fell from his horse but was not injured. He commanded that the scribes not be informed.' This is an interesting anecdote that showcases the profound philosophy and independence of Joseon's record-keeping culture, demonstrating that even a king with absolute power could not arbitrarily manipulate historical records.