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PART I.—THE OLD SYSTTEM.
I.—THE GOVERNMENT.
The General Government The old system of government, which, with one or two changes and additions, had prevailed since the foundation of the dynasty, was modelled on that of the Ming Emperors of China (1386-1643). The King was, in theory, absolute. To assist him in governing he had a Cabinet, as it is commonly translated, the Eui-chyeng Pu (議政府), consisting of three high officers—the Prime Minister, Lyeng-eui-chyeng (領議政), and the Senior and Junior Ministers of State, Choa (左) and U (右) Eui-chyeng. These three were known collectively as the Sam Kong (三公), or Three Dukes (Ia).
- [All public offices, a-mun (衙門), in Corea and all official posts were classified according to degrees of rank, p'eum (品, of which there were nine, each degree being divided into two classes, primary and secondary. For convenience sake they are indicated here by figures and letters, so that Ia, for example, denotes the first class of the first rank. (See Part II.)]
Subordinate to these high Ministers
Adminstrative work was conducted
In addition to these venerable offices,
