The Royal Lecture and Confucian Politics in Early Yi Korea

The royal lecture was an institution of Confucian indoctrination that purported to make the king a better ruler by teaching him the moral principles of government. Introduced into Korea in the twelfth century from Sung China, this institution remained little more than a ritual in the Koryŏ period. With the founding of the Yi dynasty, the royal lecture began to develop into full maturity thanks to the rise of Neo-Confucianism. By the last quarter of the fifteenth century, it became an institution of intensive indoctrination and a major forum of political consultation. Its curriculum encompassed the Confucian classics and histories. The king attended three sessions every day. At the end of each, he discussed important matters of government with an assortment of officials, ranging from senior officials to academicians and censors. Its format and operation faciliated wide consultation on state affairs and contributed to increasing conformity to Confucian political doctrines. The new apparatus also upset the balance of power in government and disrupted the decision-making process of the Yi government.