Age of Steam and Steel: Gameplay Thread

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Dongji (Winter Solstice) of the fourth year of his reign (1837 CE) the following:

Nobi Reform Act, 4 Heonjong

It is far past time to restore the nobi system to its original, noble, and ancient purpose of giving people a way to repay their debts to society or specific individuals.

Is is thereby ordered that beginning in the auspicious eighth year of our reign (1841 CE) that upon reaching adulthood in their twentieth year of life, the children of nobi shall be emancipated from any obligation of service arising from the status of their parents as nobi.

This act does not emancipate any children of nobi who reach adulthood before the eighth year of our reign.

This act does not affect any other law by which a person may enter nobi status as a means of repaying a debt to society or a specific individual, nor any other law which provides a means to leave nobi status.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Seollol of the fifth year of his reign (1838) the following:

Survey and Census Act, 5 Heonjong

For the planning purposes of the government and commerce of the realm, the following is ordered:

1. Within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, there is to be established a Bureau of Survey.

2. The Bureau of Survey is to undertake a grand survey of the realm to include the ownership, leasing, area, and usage of land. Once the initial survey has been completed, the bureau shall conduct annual updates so that reports can be issued
before the start of Baemdal (the fourth month of the Korean calendar) on
crop acreage planted for the current year, as well as crops, timber, and fish harvested in the previous year.

3. Within the Ministry of State, there is to be established a Bureau of the Census.

4. The Bureau of the Census is undertake an initial census during the seventh year of our reign, two years from now, so as to provide for a population register. It also is to keep track of births, deaths, marriages, and population movements so that our officials can update the population register established by the census so that population information may be used to plan for the commonweal of the realm. To verify that information, an additional decennial census shall be taken every ten years.

Industrial Promotion Act, 5 Heonjong

For the well being of both our realm and our subjects, it is desirable to promote certain industries by making it easier for industrious individuals to obtain financing for their pursuits when they will enhance the commonweal of the realm. To that end it is ordered:

1. The Ministry of Commerce shall promulgate and periodically revise a list of favored industries.

2. The Bank of Joseon shall be encouraged to make loans for such industries by the provision of a subsidy of interest payments by those who take out such loans. The subsidy shall be the lesser of five per cent per annum of the outstanding principal of the loan and half of the interest paid. Subsidized loans must be collateralized by the project for which they were taken out, and shall be for a term of no more than thirty years. Once granted, the subsidy for a given loan shall remain in effect for the term of the loan, even if a new loan for that project would not be eligible for a subsidy.

Edict Concerning Basic Foodstuffs, 5 Heonjong
1. The Edict Concerning the Export of Basic Foodstuffs, 4 Heonjong is made permanent, but at a duty rate of 1 nyang per 16 gwan of grains or lentils.

2. Once the population register established under the Survey and Census Act, 5 Heonjong is ready, each household is to receive a monthly bounty of 1 gwan of rice per person in the household, and an annual bounty of 1 gwan of pat (팥 adzuki beans) and 1 gwan of kong (콩 soybeans) per person in the household. Such bounties shall be available at the beginning of each month or year respectively and withdrawn from a government silo located in that household's county anytime during that time period. Any bounty not withdrawn in a timely fashion shall be forfeited. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries shall ensure that the ministry silos of each county have sufficient supply to provide for the bounties allocated to that county to be distributed. Foreign subjects are not eligible to receive bounties under this act.

Edict Concerning Trade with Manchuria, 5 Heonjong
For purposes of trade with those portions of Manchuria that may be under Joseon administration, no import or export duties shall be imposed.

Regulation Concerning Favored Joseon Industries
For the purposes of the Industrial Promotion Act, 5 Heonjong the following industries are eligible for loan subsidies:
1. Machine tool production
2. Woodworking tool production
3. Steam engine production
4. Cloth making machinery production
5. Iron, steel, and bronze production
6. Shipbuilding
7. Porcelain production

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Samjinal of the fifth year of his reign (1838) the following:

Expeditionary Forces Act, 5 Heonjong

When Joseon military forces operate outside the boundaries of Joseon, the following shall be expected of their conduct:

1. They shall refrain from fraternizing with the local population.

2. Except for the confiscation or destruction of property as ordered by military commanders for military purposes, they shall not molest the civilian population of the areas they operate in.

3. The civil law of areas in which military forces are operating shall be that in force before our forces were present. If military necessity should require the formation of a military government to perform civilian functions, the existing civil law shall be followed except where it is judged that doing so would impair military capabilities.

Railway Construction Regulation
1. For the purposes of the Industrial Promotion Act, 5 Heonjong the production of railway engines, railway carriages, railway equipment, and rails are eligible for loan subsidies.

2. Construction by the Cheoldogug of the Busan to Daegu, Nampo to Pyeongyang, and Seoul to Kaesong railways is authorized.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An Open Letter from Queen Regent Sunwon of Joseon

Forces of the Joseon Kingdom have entered Manchuria to bring the murderous Prince of Beizi to justice. While given the turmoil that has befallen the Middle Kingdom in the last few years, it was not surprising that some would seek to test whether the late Yangsheng Emperor retained the Mandate of Heaven, it was surprising that any who would hope to succeed to that mandate would so egregiously violate filial piety by plotting to murder their cousin.

Moreover, it would appear that our intervention was well timed, as the massing of the murderer's army so near our border and so far from his ostensible rivals can only mean he was intending to bring the ravages of war to the Joseon realm and seize our resources to prosecute his nefarious designs.

We have learned many things about the cowardly prince's plots from the people and papers left behind in his abandoned palace in Shenyang. We call upon those forced to serve him to come to us for succor from his paranoid panics and help us to restore peace to the Middle Kingdom that has gone so long without it. Our enemies are not the Han people or the Manchu people, but fear, hunger, and impiety. The sooner peace is restored, the sooner the bountiful blessings of Heaven can be again enjoyed by a land securely under the governance of an emperor that enjoys the Mandate of Heaven.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Chilseok of the fifth year of his reign (1838) the following:

Dumanju Act, 5 Heonjong
1. There is to be organized a tenth province of the Joseon Realm consisting of such territory acquired by the Joseon Realm north of the Duman River to be called Dumanju (투멘주).

2. A city to be named Hwanhang (환항 "Hwan Port") is be founded to serve as the capital of Dumanju at in the vicinity of the village of Haesamwi (해삼위 "future Vladivostok" ). Until such time as sufficient infrastructure is in place for Hwanhang to serve as the capital of Dumanju, the province is to governed from the city of Raseon, Hamgyeong.

Additional Railway Routes Act, 5 Heonjong
The following routes are to be added to the routes to be planned under the Edict Concerning Railways, 3 Heonjong:

• Wonsan to Hamheung
• Hamheung to Raeson
• Raeson to Hwanhang
• Raeson to Manpo
• Manpo to Sinuiju
• Suwon to Gongju
• Seoul to Wonju
• Wonju to Donghae
• Seoul to Haeju
• Sariwon to Haeju
• Daejeon to Jeonju

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Joseon-Scandinavian Treaty of Amity

The Kingdom of Joseon and the Kingdom of Scandinavia, hereafter referred to as the signatories, agree to the following:
I . The signatories, recognizing the benefits of a mutually friendly relationship, agree to undertake no actions which would infringe the sovereignty of the other.
II . The signatories agree to render aid to one another's merchantmen in need of aid on the high seas.
III . To further their existing commercial relationship, the signatories commit to keep bilateral tariffs to a minimum.

xGustaf Algernon Stierneld, Utrikesstatsminister

Queen Regent Sunwon on behalf of her grandson King Heonjong

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Treaty of Kolkata

The realms of France and Joseon pledge to the promotion of peace and amity between our subjects.

Among the measures taken to so promote amity shall be measures to promote commercial intercourse.

To that end, French ships and merchants shall be permitted to trade at the Joseon ports of Incheon, Gunsan, and Mokpo while Joseon ships and merchants shall be permitted to trade at the French ports of Mumbai in Maharashtra, Kolkata in Bengal, and Yangon in Burma.

The navies of France and Joseon will cooperate to protect the commercial vessels of both realms.

In the event of storms or other dangers, our commercial vessels shall be able to seek shelter and succor in the harbors of either of our realms.

x Queen Regent Sunwon on behalf of her grandson King Heonjong

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Joseon-Zhongguo Treaty of Prosperity

1. The border between the lands recognised as belonging to the realm of Joseon and those belonging to that of the Middle Kingdom shall follow the Yalu River from the Yellow Sea upstream until it meets the blue line marked on the map which it shall follow until it reaches the Whale Sea.

2. Outer Manchuria will be held by the Joseon realm as a duchy of the Middle Kingdom, the boundary between Inner and Outer Manchuria being the Songhua River.

3. The full might of the Joseon realm shall be committed to securing Manchuria as a part of the Middle Kingdom.

4. The right of Korean traders to conduct trade within the Middle Kingdom shall be maintained as normal.



x Queen Regent Sunwon on behalf of her grandson King Heonjong

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An Open Letter from the Queen Regent of Joseon to the Prince of Beizi

Prince,

It should be clear to you now that your murderous plot against your cousin has failed to gain you the Mandate of Heaven. However, you may still be of service to the Manchu people and to the Middle Kingdom. Abandon your folly and seek shelter in such land as will suffer your presence. Thus you would help bring the Chinese Civil War to a quick and merciful end. While it is regrettable that would mean that a murderer would escape justice in this life, the sooner you abandon this pointless war, the more lives will be saved, and thus find favor under Heaven. I am content to know that Heaven will surely see to your just punishment whether it be in this life or the next, though I must admit I cannot say whether the Youfú Emperor would be similarly content.

Know this, O Prince, you face a momentous decision. The safety of the Joseon people requires that I reject and oppose any effort to place a murderous cur in command of a neighboring land. That is why I reacted against your illegitimate rule even before consulting with the Youfú Emperor. There shall never be peace between us so long as you seek to rule any part of Manchuria, not even if you should find the support of some other power. However, I cannot in good conscience engage in a war solely to bring you to justice in this life, so thus if you will not torment the Manchus with your vile presence, I shall leave you to peacefully ruminate over the consequences of your folly for so long as you shall live.

Queen Regent Sunwon

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Seollol of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following acts for the better organization of his government:

Ministry of State Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Minister of State shall be the Prime Minister, serving as first among equals. Any government function not specifically assigned by law to a particular ministry or bureau shall be the responsibility of the Minister of State or such ministry or bureau to which he allocates the function.

2. All diplomatic functions except those with the Emperor of the Middle Kingdom shall be transferred from the Ministry of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. The governors of the ten provinces shall report to the Minister of State.

4. Ministry of State shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Records, the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Celestial Relations, and the Bureau of Public Safety.

4. The Bureau of Records shall maintain the government archives so that needful records can be preserved and consulted as needed.

5. The Bureau of the Census shall undertake those functions specified by section 4 of the Survey and Census Act, 5 Heonjong.

6. The Bureau of Celestial Relations shall handle all diplomatic functions with the Middle Kingdom, but consular functions shall be handled by the Bureau of Consular Services of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and intelligence functions by the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

7. The Bureau of Public Safety shall employ vigilants to guard the government buildings, lands, roads, and servants, to investigate crimes committed against the Joseon state and the king's subjects, to fight and prevent fires and other natural disasters, and to serve in such other manners that will improve the safety of the commonweal.

Ministry of Personnel Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Personnel shall manage the civil service, which shall consist of those non-military personnel of the government other than those positions appointed directly by the king. Civil positions directed appointed by the king shall include ministers, bureau chiefs, provincial governors, and provincial subministers, plus those positions so specified in other acts or edicts.

2. The Ministry of Personnel shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Examination, the Bureau of Assignment, and the Bureau of Audit.

3. The Bureau of Examination shall administer examinations to ascertain the fitness of Joseon subjects for the civil service. It shall do so by means of a general examination and specific examinations. The general examination shall be similar to the existing gwageo in that it shall ascertain the ability of an examinee to apply the principles of the Thirteen Classics to government administration, save that it will be conducted in the Joseon language using the eonmun script, and that clarity of language instead of literary style shall be ajudged. Specific examinations shall ascertain the abilities of an examinee in specific skills relevant to particular posts.

4. The Bureau of Assignment shall for each open position in the civil service select those applicants who are qualified based upon their examination grades and experience. The superior for that position shall select from the pool of qualified applicants, giving priority to persons of the closest grade.

5. The Bureau of Audit shall periodically review each member of the civil service to judge his qualifications and performance and determine whether he should be recommended for promotion, transfer, retention, or dismissal. Those with twenty or more years of government service shall be provided with a pension if dismissed. No member of the civil service shall be dismissed from the civil service without the concurrence of either that member or his superior. No member of the civil service shall be promoted or transferred save by the concurrence of both that member and the superior of the proposed new posting.

Ministry of Justice Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Justice shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Codification, The Bureau of Justiciars, the Bureau of Criminal Prosecution, the Bureau of Criminal Defense, the Bureau of Prisons,and the Bureau of Mercy.

2. The Bureau of Codification shall prepare a criminal code compiling the criminal law of Joseon. Once the code is approved, the bureau shall annually propose such amendments to the criminal code as it judges necessary to incorporate either punishments established in newly passed acts or edicts or to improve the administration of criminal justice.

3. The Bureau of Justiciars shall, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, appoint justiciars to preside over the Supreme Criminal Court, the provincial Criminal Courts, and the county Criminal Courts. Each justicar shall also hire subsidiary personnel such as bailiffs, marshalls, and clerks deemed necessary for the operation of his court, save that for courts with multiple justicars, the chief justicar of that court shall do so for the entire court.

4. The Bureau of Criminal Prosecution shall, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, appoint royal attorneys for each criminal court to prosecute cases before the various criminal courts accusing defendants of a violation of the law, even if the presumed victim declines to press a case.

5. The Bureau of Criminal Defense shall, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, appoint royal defense counsels for each criminal court to assist defendants accused of a violation of law, save that defendants may choose to obtain other counsel.

6. The Bureau of Prisons shall be transferred from the Ministry of Prisons and Mines and shall operate such prisons, jails, and work camps as may be needed for the administration of criminal justice. It's primary purposes shall be the removal of dangerous criminals from society and the reform of those entrusted to its charge so that will be less likely to return to crime upon release. Work camps should, to the greatest practical extent, provide prisoners with skills they can use after release.

7. The Bureau of Mercy shall periodically review the cases of those remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons to see if the convicted have sufficiently reformed as to warrant a remission of sentence, via pardon, commutation of sentence, or parole.

Ministry of War Act, 6 Heonjong
1. In addition to the military forces of the Joseon realm, the Ministry of War shall consist of the following civil bureaux: the Bureau of Supply, the Bureau of Arsenals, the Bureau of Military Personnel, the Bureau of Military Veterans, and the Bureau of Military Intelligence.

2. The Bureau of Supply shall procure the victuals, uniforms, and non-military equipment needed by the army and see to it that it is supplied in a timely manner to the army.

3. The Bureau of Arsenals shall establish, maintain, and operate arsenals to produce the arms, ammunition, gunpowder, explosives, and other military provisions needed by the armed forces. In peacetime, it shall ideally maintain sufficient excess capacity in the arsenals so as to be able to supply the needs of the military in wartime. Moreover, it shall establish such armories as needed to be able to both see to the supply of military provisions to the armed forces and provide a reserve of military provisions for the armed forces in the initial stages of a conflict until the arsenals could change from peacetime to wartime operation.

4. The Bureau of Military Personnel, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, shall see to the rank and assignment of military personnel in accordance with their ability and experience, save that general officers and regimental commanders shall be appointed by the king.

5. The Bureau of Military Veterans shall see to the provision of homesteads to retired enlisted personnel with thirty years of peacetime military service, with a period of wartime service shall be counted as twice the length of equivalent peacetime service.

6. The Bureau of Military Intelligence shall determine the military capabilities and techniques of foreign militaries and prevent our own being learned by hostile powers.

7. The Royal Military Academy at Seoul shall have at least 1,000 cadets and be organized into a Regiment of Cadets, officered by the instructors of the academy, that shall be available to serve as part of the capital garrison.

Ministry of Rites Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Rites shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Court Ritual, the Bureau of Arts, and the Bureau of Publication.

2. The Bureau of Court Ritual shall consist of such artists as necessary to perform the dances, dramas, and music needed for the edification of the royal court.

3. The Bureau of Arts shall establish academies to train persons in the various fine arts, including dance, music, drama, painting, ceramics, and calligraphy.

4. The Bureau of Publication shall prepare and print authorized editions of the Yongbieocheonga, the Thirteen Classics, the Palman Daejanggyeong, the Bible, and such other principal spiritual texts used by devotees of spiritual disciplines practiced by the Joseon people. They shall be written in the Joseon language using the eonmun script. The texts shall be prepared after consulting with scholars of those traditions to ensure they faithfully represent the original texts.

5. For recognized spiritual traditions, the head of that tradition within the Joseon realm shall be deemed equivalent to a bureau chief of the Ministry of Ritual for purposes of precedence at court functions.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Joseon language name of this ministry shall now be 외무 사역 instead of 야만인 사역.

2. There shall be established within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the following bureaux: the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Diplomatic Intelligence, and the Bureau of Foreign Languages. Ambassadors shall be deemed of rank equal to bureau chiefs for purposes of pay and precedence.

3. The Bureau of Consular Affairs shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining consulates in foreign cities where trading privileges for Joseon merchants have been obtained and for monitoring and interacting with consulates in Jon cities where trading privileges for foreign merchants have been allowed.

4. The Bureau of Foreign Intelligence shall be responsible for acquiring information about the intentions and capabilities of foreign governments and leading personalities thereof.

5. The Bureau of Foreign Languages shall provide translation services as needed by the king and his government. It shall also establish one or more academies for the study of foreign languages.

Ministry of the Navy Act, 6 Heonjong
1. In addition to the naval forces of the Joseon realm, the Ministry of the Navy shall consist of the following civil bureaux: the Bureau of Naval Supply, the Bureau of Docks and Yards, the Bureau of Ships, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, the Bureau of Naval Veterans, and the Bureau of Navy Intelligence.

2. The Bureau of Naval Supply shall procure the victuals, uniforms, and equipment needed by the navy and ensure that they are supplied in a timely manner to the navy. Arms and ammunition shall be procured from the Bureau of Arsenals of the Ministry of War unless urgency or inability require they be obtained otherwise.

3. The Bureau of Docks and Yards shall establish, maintain, and operate the naval docks and yards where the ships of the navy shall be kept functioning while in commission, or ready to be put into service while in ordinary.

4. The Bureau of Ships shall design and have constructed or acquired the ships needed by the navy and the coast guard.

5. The Bureau of Naval Personnel, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, shall see to the rank and assignment of naval personnel in accordance with their ability and experience, save that admirals and ship captains shall be appointed by the king.

6. The Bureau of Naval Veterans shall see to the provision of pensions to retired enlisted personnel with twenty-five years of peacetime naval service, save that a period of wartime service shall be counted as twice the length of equivalent peacetime service.

7. The Bureau of Military Intelligence shall determine the military capabilities and techniques of foreign militaries and prevent our own being learned by hostile powers.

8. The Royal Naval Academy at Busan shall have at least 1,000 aspirants and be organized into a Regiment of Aspirants.

Ministry of Finance Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Finance shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of the Treasury, the Bureau of Revenue, the Bureau of the Mint, the Bureau of Banking, and the Bureau of Pensions.

2. The Bureau of the Treasury shall be responsible for the storage and investment of public funds, and for the financing of any public debt.

3. The Bureau of Revenue shall be responsible for the collection of tax revenues whose collection is not otherwise delegated to a different bureau or ministry by law.

4. The Bureau of the Mint shall be responsible for the production of coins as specified in the Coinage Act, 4 Heonjong. It shall also investigate the production of counterfeit coins and have authority to arrest those accused of counterfeiting.

5. The Bureau of Banking shall supervise the Bank of Joseon established by the Edict Establishing a Central Bank, 4 Heonjong and grant charters to private banks meeting such standards of fiduciary responsibility deemed necessary by either the bureau or the Bank of Joseon. Branches of foreign banks shall be allowed to operate in Joseon cities open to foreign merchants of the same nationality provided that Joseon banks have the same privilege in cities in that nation that are open to Joseon merchants.

6. The Bureau of Pensions shall be responsible for the payment of pensions to those retired from any branch of government service, and their widows and surviving minor children.

Ministry of Public Works Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Public Works shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Government Buildings, the Bureau of Water Engineering, and the Bureau of Military Engineering.

2. The Bureau of Government Buildings shall have primary responsibility for acquiring, building, and maintaining such structures as may be needed by the government to perform its functions. It shall coordinate with those who will be making use of such buildings to ensure the buildings provided by the bureau are sufficient to the need and shall minimize costs to the government.

3. The Bureau of Water Engineering shall be in charge of all public works involving harbors, rivers, canals, bridges, reservoirs, waterworks, sewers, and any other work dependent upon or impacting the waters of the Joseon realm. As necessary, it shall coordinate its activities principally with the Ministries of the Navy, of Natural Resources, of Commerce, of Transportation, and of Health.

4. The Bureau of Military Engineering shall be in charge of the construction of defensive installations. As necessary, it shall coordinate its activities principally with the Ministries of War and of the Navy.

5. The ministry shall operate one or more academies to train persons in the art and science of engineering so as to ensure there are sufficient talented engineers for its needs and those of the Joseon realm as a whole.

Ministry of Natural Resources Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing is renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources (천연 자원 사역).

2. The ministry shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Agriculture, the Bureau of Forestry, the Bureau of Fisheries, the Bureau of Mining, the Bureau of Natural Reserves, and the Bureau of Survey.

3. The Bureau of Agriculture shall conduct scholarship into the current state of agriculture in the Joseon realm and how it might be improved, providing both reports on its findings and publications and instruction readily available to the people of the Joseon realm.

4. The Bureau of Forestry shall conduct scholarship into the current state of forestry in the Joseon realm and how it might be improved, providing both reports on its findings and publications and instruction readily available to the people of the Joseon realm.

5. The Bureau of Fisheries shall conduct scholarship into the current state of fishing and aquaculture in the Joseon realm and how it might be improved, providing both reports on its findings and publications and instruction readily available to the people of the Joseon realm.

6. The Bureau of Mining shall conduct scholarship into the current state of agriculture in the Joseon realm and how it might be improved, providing both reports on its findings and publications and instruction readily available to the people of the Joseon realm. Moreover, it shall prepare for the sale of those mines currently held by the Bureau of Mines of the Ministry of Mines and Prisons to private ownership since improvements in mine engineering make the use of penal labor for the operation of mines less desirable.

7. The Bureau of Natural Reserves shall operate silos and storehouses. The silos shall be operated in accordance with section 2 of the Edict Concerning Basic Foodstuffs, 5 Heonjong. The storehouses shall hold such ores, metals, or other non-perishable natural resources as determined to be needed to supply the military and commercial needs of the Joseon realm in the event of a temporary disruption to either their supply or demand due to war, embargo, natural disaster, or other causes.

8. The Bureau of Survey shall perform the duties specified in section 2 of the Survey and Census Act, 5 Heonjong. Moreover, it shall prepare maps of both domestic and foreign lands and seas.

Ministry of Commerce Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Commerce shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Trade Stabilization, the Bureau of Weights and Measures, the Bureau of Standards, and the Bureau of Commercial Intelligence

2. The Bureau of Trade Stabilization shall determine and administer import duties in accordance with the Edict on Import Duties, 2 Heonjong. It shall also administer any export duties such as those imposed by the Edict Concerning Basic Foodstuffs, 5 Heonjong.

3. The Bureau of Weights and Measures shall see to it that official copies of the the official standards of weights and measures are readily available at the cost of production, so that a uniform standard of weights and measures are readily available to all.

4. The Bureau of Standards shall perform the functions assigned in the Edict Concerning Commercial Standards, 4 Heonjong.

5. The Bureau of Commercial Intelligence shall seek to make available knowledge of foreign commercial methods, practices, and laws that could be used to improve the commerce of the Joseon Realm.

Ministry of Transportation Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of Transportation shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Harbors and Canals, the Bureau of Roads, and the Bureau of Railways.

2. The Bureau of Harbors and Canals shall manage the harbors and canals of Joseon to maximize the ease of waterborne transportation while minimizing the impact upon the commercial, agricultural, or health needs of the people of Joseon.

3. The Bureau of Roads shall manage the road system of Joseon.

4. The Bureau of Railways shall manage the railway system of the Joseon realm.

(additional acts in this proclamation in the next post)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

(continued from previous post)

Ministry of Education Act, 6 Heonjong
1. There shall be established a Ministry of Education (교육 사역), which shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Schools, the Bureau of Colleges, the Bureau of Academies, the Bureau of Universities, and the Bureau of Eonmun.

2. The Bureau of Schools shall establish schools for the primary education of boys in their sixth to eleventh years of life. They shall be instructed in the use of mathematics and eonmun, the basics of history, ethics, and the arts, and in the martial techniques of taekgyeon (unarmed martial arts), ssireum (wrestling), gungsul (archery), geomsul (swordsmanship), and changsul (spearmanship). Instruction shall be free and compulsory, with attendance required for a minimum of 120 days per year, and each school shall be open at least 180 days per year.

3. The Bureau of Colleges shall establish colleges for the secondary education of boys in the twelfth to seventeenth years of life. They shall be free to attend, but not compulsory. The curriculum of the colleges shall be tailored to the needs of their students and be intended to prepare them for various vocations or crafts, or for tertiary education.

4. The Bureau of Academies shall establish academies for the tertiary education of young men in various professions. They shall not be generally free to attend as the schools and colleges are, but a year's instruction may be paid for by the exchange of three years of government service in that profession after attendance. They shall manage the academies in conjunction with the ministries likely to employ their graduates.

5. The Bureau of Universities shall establish universities for the tertiary education of young men in the arts and sciences.

6. The Bureau of Eonmun shall be the successor to the Ministry of Eonmun.

Ministry of Mines and Prisons Disestablishment Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The mines of the Bureau of Mines shall be transferred to the Bureau of Mining established by the Ministry of Natural Resources Act, 6 Heonjong.

2. The Bureau of Prisons shall be transferred to the Ministry of Justice as specified by the Ministry of Justice Act, 6 Heonjong.

3. All other functions and personnel of the Ministry of Mines and Prisons shall be transferred to the Ministry of State for termination or reassignment. Members of the civil service whose posts in the Ministry of Mines and Prisons are eliminated will be offered the choice between transfer or early retirement.

Ministry of State Security Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Ministry of State Security shall consist of the following bureaux: the Bureau of Inspection, the Bureau of Counterintelligence, the Bureau of Codes and Ciphers, and the Bureau of Central Intelligence.

2. The Bureau of Inspection shall be the successor to the Ministry of Inspection established by section 1 of the Edict Concerning Propriety, 2 Heonjong.

3. The Bureau of Counterintelligence shall investigate and counter attempts to subvert the members of the government service by either foreign governments or private persons.

4. The Bureau of Codes and Ciphers shall provide codes and ciphers needed by the government and decode and decipher such codes and ciphers as might be used others make use of.

5. The Bureau of Central Intelligence shall coordinate the activities of the Bureau of Military Intelligence, the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence, the Bureau of Naval Intelligence, the Bureau of Commercial Intelligence, the Bureau of Counterintelligence, and the Bureau of Codes and Ciphers.

Ministry of Health Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The organization of ministry as established in the Edict Creating the Ministry of Health, 4 Heonjong is confirmed.

2. In addition, there shall be established within the ministry a Bureau of Public Health that shall track the spread of communicable diseases and have the authority to declare quarantines to contain them. Moreover, the bureau shall provide inoculations against such diseases at no cost to the recipients and may require their acceptance.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Daeboreum of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following act for the organization of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria:

Outer Manchuria Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The boundaries of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria are those specified by the Joseon-Zhongguo Treaty of Prosperity.

2. The administrative capital of the duchy shall be the city of Ningguta.

3. The criminal and civil law of the duchy shall be that of the Middle Kingdom as supplemented by that of the Joseon realm and of those laws specific to the duchy.

4. The administrative law of the duchy shall be that of the Joseon realm as supplemented by acts and regulations enacted specifically for the duchy and those of the Middle Kingdom.

5. The primary official language of the duchy shall be the Manchu language written in the Manchu script, with the Guanhua language written in the Hanja script and the Joseon language written in the Eonmun script, being secondary official languages.

6. As much as possible, the duchy shall be administered as if it were an eleventh Joseon province, save that its governors and subministers shall also report to the appropriate officials of the Middle Kingdom.

7. The flag of the duchy shall be of a blue dragon grasping a taegeuk in its jaws on a white field such as the following:

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Meoseumnal of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following act for the improvement of the Province of Dumanju:

Dumanju Settlement Act, 6 Heonjong
1. The Bureau of Survey shall give priority to surveying Dumanju so that it may be fully incorporated into the Joseon realm.

2. The Bureau of Water Engineering shall for the next ten years give priority to projects on the Duman River and its tributaries.

3. The Bureau of Roads shall for the next ten years give priority to road-building projects in Dumanju.

4. Homesteads assigned to newly retired army enlisted personnel shall be located in Dumanju.

5. Where land is taken for the use of the Bureau of Railways or any other government project, the affected person shall be given the option to instead of being paid the cash value of the land, receiving twice the acreage in Dumanju and receiving assistance in moving there.

6. For the next ten years, there shall be no tax assessed on buildings or other land improvements in Dumanju. In the following ten years such taxes shall be phased back in at the rate of one-tenth of the base tax per year.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Samjinnal of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following:

Coinage Act, 6 Heonjong
1. This act supersedes the Coinage Act, 4 Heonjong.

2. The Bureau of the Mint shall establish a mint for the production of brass cast coins in the capital of each province. Mints shall be established at Seoul and Daegu for the production of milled silver and gold coins.

3. All coins produced by the Bureau of the Mint shall carry inscriptions of the denomination and year of minting using the eonmun script and Arabic numerals.

4. The Bureau of the Mint is directed to produce the following coins:

Brass Coins Brass coins shall consist of at least 8 parts copper to 1 part alloy, the alloy to be of 8 parts zinc to 1 part tin. Brass coins shall be minted using the cast cash method in the denominations of 1, 2, and 3 mun, with at least 1 don (3.75g) of brass per mun. The raised rim of such coins shall bear the inscription Joseon realm (권 조선) and the year of mintage, for example (6 헌종) incised into the rim, with the denomination raised in the field with the the number of mun (1, 2, or 3) above the square hole and the word mun (문) below the hole and the hanja characters 通寶 (tongbao) placed to the left and right of the square hole. Silver Coins The Bureau is directed to acquire the equipment necessary to begin production of milled silver coins. Once acquired it is to use the equipment to produce round silver coins with milled edges, which shall bear the image of a mugunghwa flower on one side and a dragon on the other. Silver coins for domestic use shall consist of at least eight parts silver to one part brass. They shall be minted in denominations of 1 don, 2 don, 3 don, 1/2 nyang, and 1 nyang, containing the stated amount of coin silver. (1 nyang = 1 tael = 10 don = 37.5 g ≈ 11 Spanish or Mexican silver reales) For purposes of international trade, the mint is authorized to mint coins similar to Spanish and Mexican silver dollars containing at least nine parts silver to one part brass, weighing 7 don 2 pun. The denomination shall be known as the won (원) and fractional coins of ½ won, ¼ won, and ⅛ won may be minted in addition to the 1 won. To facilitate their use in international trade, the hanja character 圓 for the denomination shall be used in addition to the eonmun character 원. The won and foreign coinage of similar weight and fineness may used for the payment of customs duties at the rate of 1 won equaling 7 don. Gold Coins Since there is now sufficient silver coinage for domestic trade, the mint may now engage in the minting of gold coins containing at least eight parts gold to one part brass. Gold coins shall be shaped as rounded octagons with milled edges, and shall bear the image of a mugunghwa flower on one side and a taegeuk surrounded by the eight trigrams on the other. They shall be minted in denominations of 1 don, 2 don, 3 don, 1/2 nyang, and 1 nyang, containing the stated amount of coin gold.

5. The brass mun, the silver don, and the silver nyang shall be the standard coinage of the Joseon realm. The standard of account shall be the silver nyang, with one thousand brass mun equal to one silver nyang or ten silver don. Only the brass mun, the silver don, and the silver nyang shall be legal tender for all debts private or public. The silver won, the gold don, and the gold nyang shall be minted only upon the request of a person, using silver or gold that person presents to be minted and with that person paying the cost of minting.

6. The Ministry of Finance may by regulation establish the value in silver nyang of gold nyang and of foreign gold or silver coinage in the paying of customs duties or other taxes, fees, or fines, but shall not be required to accept such coins save as specified previously for silver won and dollars for the payment of customs duties.

7. It shall be legal to produce coins of equivalent fineness, weight, and shape as the coins specified in this act, provided they do not use the designs specified herein or any similar design. The production of coins that use the designs specified herein shall be punishable by a fine equal to double the value of said coins if the coins are of true weight and fineness and by death if they are deficient in either weight or fineness. Despite being of true weight and fineness, such private coins shall not be a legal tender for any debt, public or private.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 정부의 선포
Proclamations of the Government of Joseon

(Source: self-made)

The Bureau of Railways announces that in this year of 6 Heonjong, in addition to maintaining the current railways of:

• Seoul to Incheon
• Seoul to Kaesong
• Busan to Daegu
• Nampo to Pyeongyang

there shall be constructed the following railways:

• Seoul to Suwon
• Raeson to Hoeryeong
• Pyeongyang to Sariwon
• Pyeongyang to Kangdong (western leg of the Pyeongyang to Wonsan route)
• Daegu to Gimcheon (southeastern leg of the Daegu to Daejong route)

Moreover, the following shall be added to the bureau's planning list:

• Raeson to Yanji to Junggyeong
• Junggyeong to Ningguta, Outer Manchuria
• Junggyeong to Chunggang to Sinuiju
• Jeonju to Gunsan
• Donghae to Gangneung to Sokcho to Wonsan

The railway from Pyeongyang to Wonsan shall be routed via Kangdong and Gowan.

The railway from Hamheung to Raeson shall be routed via Seongjin and Cheongjin.

The railway from Seoul to Haeju shall be routed via Kaesong.

With the aforementioned additions, and with the insertion of additional waypoints the planning list of the Bureau of Railways will be:
Line 1: Seoul to Incheon
Line 2: Seoul to Suwon to Gongju to Daejong to Gimcheong to Daegu to Busan
Line 21: Daejong to Jeonju to Gunsan

Line 3: Seoul to Wonju to Donghae

Line 4: Seoul to Kaesong to Sariwon to Pyeongyang to Anju to Kanggye to Manpo to Chunggang to Junggyeong to Ningguta, Outer Manchuria
Line 41: Kaesong to Haeju to Sariwon
Line 42: Line 42W & (Manpo to Chunggang of Line 4) & Line 42E
Line 42W: Sinuiji to Manpo
Line 42E: Chunggang to Hyesan to Musan to Hoeryeong to Raeson

Line 50: Nampo to Pyeongyang to Kangdong to Gowan

Line 60: Donghae to Gangneung to Sokcho to Wonsan to Gowon to Hamheung to Seongjin to Cheongjin to Raeson to Hwanhang

Line 70: Sinuiji to Anju to Kangdong to Gowon

(Italics indicate railways that should be in operation by the end of the year. The above is not an exhaustive list of railway stations.)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Hanshik of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following:

Luxury Excise Act, 6 Heonjong
1. This act supersedes all previous excises that may have been previously enacted on the goods specified herein. Excises shall be imposed upon goods, either domestic or foreign, at the point of entry into the commerce of Joseon and be paid by the producer of domestic goods before offering them for sale within Joseon, or by the importer of foreign goods before bringing them inside the customs territory of the Joseon realm.

2. For ease of the collection of these or any other excise, the Bureau of Revenue may license warehouses which may acquire goods subject to excise without excise having been paid, and which shall then submit to the Bureau of Revenue the excise due upon selling the good within the customs territory of the Joseon realm. The Bureau may authorize the licensed warehouse to retain no more than one part in eight of the excise due as recompense for assisting in the administration of the excise. Such licenses may, at the discretion of the Bureau of Revenue, be for specific goods or all goods subject to excise, shall be issued on an annual basis,and shall require payment to the bureau of an administrative fee of no less than the cost of administering licenses, and no more than triple such cost.

3. The imposition of an excise under this act shall not imply the legality of any good that is illegal under the laws in force in the Kingdom of Joseon, the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, or of any of the grand duchies recognized under the Overseas Duchies Act, 6 Heonjong.

4. On molasses, the excise shall be one don in silver coin per doe (≈ 1.8 L) of molasses. On white or brown sugar, the excise shall be one nyang in silver coin per gwan (≈ 3.75 kg) of sugar.

5. On tobacco and other herbs typically enjoyed by smoking, snuff, or consumption, the excise shall be three nyang in silver coin per gwan of tobacco or similar herbs.

6. On opium, the excise shall be one nyang in silver coin per geun (≈ 375 g) of opium.

7. On fermented alcoholic beverages, including but not limited to beer, wine, cider, where the alcohol content is due purely to fermentation, the excise shall be one nyang in silver coin per seok (≈ 180 L) of beverage.

8. For distilled alcoholic beverages, the excise shall be one nyang in silver coin per mal (≈ 18 L) of beverage times the alcohol by volume percentage of the beverage.

Overseas Duchies Act, 6 Heonjong

1. This act supersedes the Edict Concerning the Batanes, 4 Heonjong.

2. As proclaimed by treaty or other means, there shall be established grand duchies beyond the Joseon mainland which shall have autonomy in local matters, but military, navigation, and trade matters shall be subject to Joseon law and regulation. The Joseon realm shall provide assistance to the grand duchies to help them develop their culture, commerce, and defense against both private and state aggressors.

3. The ruler of each grand duchy shall be referred to in the Joseon language as a Grand Duke (대공 Daegong), and by such term as is deemed most appropriate in the local indigenous language by the grand duke thereof.

4. This act in no way applies to the Duchy of Outer Manchuria held by the Joseon realm as a fief of Zhuongguo.

5. There shall be established a Bureau of Ducal Relations within the Ministry of State that shall be the principal bureau for managing interactions with grand duchies subject to Joseon suzerainty.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 정부의 선포
Proclamations of the Government of Joseon

(Source: self-made)

Regulation Concerning Favored Joseon Industries
For the purposes of the Industrial Promotion Act, 5 Heonjong the following industries are henceforth eligible for loan subsidies:
1. Production of machine tools
2. Production of powered woodworking tools
3. Production of steam engines
4. Production of powered carding, spinning, or weaving equipment
5. Production of iron, steel, bronze, or other alloys
6. Production of railway engines, railway carriages, railway equipment, and rails
7. Shipbuilding
8. Whaling for whale oil, ambergris, and other whale products other than whale meat
9. Production of porcelain and celadon
10. Production of cement

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Dano of the sixth year of his reign (1839) the following:

Guano Islands Act, 6 Heonjong
1. Whenever any subject of the Joseon realm discovers a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key, not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other government, and not occupied by the subjects of any other government, and takes peaceable possession thereof, and occupies the same, such island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the Minister of State, be considered as appertaining to the Joseon realm.

2. The discoverer shall, as soon as practicable, give notice verified by affidavit, to the Ministry of State, of such discovery, occupation, and possession, describing the island, rock, or key, and the latitude and longitude thereof, as near as may be, and showing that such possession was taken in the name of the Joseon realm; and shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the Ministry of State that such island, rock, or key was not, at the time of the discovery thereof, or of the taking possession and occupation thereof by the claimants, in the possession or occupation of any other government or of the subjects of any other government, before the same shall be considered as appertaining to the Joseon realm.

3. If the discoverer dies before perfecting proof of discovery or fully complying with the provisions of section 2 of this act, his widow, heir, executor, or administrator shall be entitled to the benefits of such discovery, upon complying with the provisions of this act. Nothing herein shall be held to impair any rights of discovery or any assignment by a discoverer previously recognized by the Joseon realm.

4. The discoverer, or his assigns, being subjects of the Joseon realm, may be allowed, at the pleasure of the Minister of State, the exclusive right of occupying such island, rocks, or keys, for the purpose of obtaining guano, and of selling and delivering the same to subjects of the Joseon realm, to be used therein, and may be allowed to charge and receive for every ton thereof delivered alongside a vessel, in proper tubs, within reach of ship’s tackle, a sum not exceeding one don of coin silver per dan (≈ 37.5kg) for the best quality, or half that for every dan taken while in its native place of deposit.

5. No guano shall be taken from any island, rock, or key mentioned in section 1 of this act, except for the use of the subjects of the Joseon realm or of persons resident therein. The discoverer, or his widow, heir, executor, administrator, or assigns, shall enter into bond, in such penalty and with such sureties as may be required by the Minister of State, to deliver the guano to subjects of the Joseon realm, for the purpose of being used therein, and to none others, and at the price prescribed, and to provide all necessary facilities for that purpose within a time to be fixed in the bond; and any breach of the provisions thereof shall be deemed a forfeiture of all rights accruing under and by virtue of this act.

6. The introduction of guano from such islands, rocks, or keys shall be regulated as in the coasting trade between different parts of the Joseon realm, and the same laws shall govern the vessels concerned therein.

7. All acts done, and offenses or crimes committed, on any island, rock, or key mentioned in section 1 of this act, by persons who may land thereon, or in the waters adjacent thereto, shall be deemed committed on the high seas, on board a merchant ship or vessel belonging to the Joseon realm; and shall be punished according to the laws of the Joseon realm relating to such ships or vessels and offenses on the high seas, which laws for the purpose aforesaid are extended over such islands, rocks, and keys.

8. The Minister of the Navy is authorized, at his discretion, to employ the marine and naval forces of the Joseon realm to protect the rights of the discoverer or of his widow, heir, executor, administrator, or assigns.

9. Nothing in this act shall be construed as obliging the Joseon realm to retain possession of the islands, rocks, or keys, after the guano shall have been removed from the same.

(OOC: Yes, I just enacted a minimal restatement of the Guano Islands Act [48 USC 1411-1419] into Joseon law. Embrace the anachronism!)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Seollol of the seventh year of his reign (1840) the following:

Local Government Act, 7 Heonjong
1. The ten provinces (도 do) of the Joseon Kingdom and their capitals shall be as follows:

• Chungcheong (충청) [capital Gongju (공주)]
• Dumanju (투멘주) [capital Hwanhang (환항)]
• Gangwon (강원) [capital Wonju (원주)]
• Gyeonggi (경기) [capital Hanseong (한성)]
• Gyeongsang (경상) [capital Daegu (대구)]
• Hamgyeong (함경) [capital Hamheung (함흥)]
• Hwanghae (황해) [capital Haeju (해주)]
• Jeju (제주) [capital Jeju City (제주시)]
• Jeolla (전라) [capital Jeonju (전주)]
• Pyeongan (평안) [capital Pyeongyan (평양)]

The provinces shall be administered by governors (지사 jisa) who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the king. (For clarity or other reasons they may also be referred to as provincial governors [도지사 dojisa].)They will report to the Minister of State, but may appeal to the king if they disagree with a decision of the Minister of State. To assist him, each governor shall have a deputy governor (부지사 bujisa) who shall be a member of the civil service.

2. Each province shall be subdivided into second-level territories called districts (구 gu). Predominantly rural districts shall also be called counties (군 gun). Predominantly urban districts shall also be called cities (시 si). The administration of each district shall be placed in the responsibility of a district governor (구지사 gujisa) who shall be a member of the civil service. Districts and district boundaries shall be created, disestablished, or altered at the discretion of the Minister of State for ease of administration, save that changes shall always take effect at the beginning of a year and have been promulgated at least three months in advance.

3. Each district shall be subdivided into third-level territories called townships (면 myeon). Urban townships that are located in counties shall also be called towns (읍 eup). Urban townships that are located in cities shall also be called neighborhoods (동 dong). The administration of each district shall be placed in the responsibility of a township governor (면지사 myeonjisa) who shall be a member of the civil service. Townships and township boundaries shall be created, disestablished, or altered at the discretion of the provincial governor for ease of administration, save that changes shall always take effect at the beginning of a year and have been promulgated at least two months in advance.

4. The national capital of Seoul (서울) shall consist of the royal palaces, temples, barracks, and other structures essential to the operation of the royal court located in Hanseong. The administration of each district shall be placed in the responsibility of a capital governor (서울지사 Seouljisa) who shall be appointed by be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the king. To assist him, the capital governor shall have a deputy capital governor (부서울지사 bu-Seouljisa) who shall be a part of the civil service. The capital shall be directly administered as if it were a province, except that for ease of administration, the Minister of State may order particular government functions to be handled as if it were a neighborhood of the city of Hanseong or a city of the province of Gyeonggi.

5. Townships may optionally have one or more villages (리 ri) recognized within them for ease of administration, but are not required to have any, or to be completely subdivided into villages for villages to exist in the district. Villages and village boundaries shall be created, disestablished, or altered at the discretion of the provincial governor for ease of administration, save that changes shall always take effect at the beginning of a year and have been promulgated at least one month in advance.

Local Ministries Act, 7 Heonjong
1. This act supersedes the relevant portions of the Edict Concerning the Ministries and Provinces,  2 Heonjong, after which that edict will have been completely superseded by later legislation.

2. Those in charge of ministry functions at the provincial level shall be known as provincial ministers (도장관 dojanggwan), and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the king. They shall oversee ministry performance within a particular province and shall be subordinate to both their minister and their governor. They shall attempt to resolve conflicting instructions from their superiors and if unable to secure harmony from their superiors shall bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of State for resolution.

2. Those in charge of ministry functions at the provincial level shall be known as provincial ministers (도장관 dojanggwan), and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the king. They shall oversee ministry performance within a particular province and shall be subordinate to both their minister and their governor. They shall attempt to resolve conflicting instructions from his superiors and if unable to secure harmony from his superiors shall bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of State for resolution. To assist him, each provincial minister shall have a deputy provincial minister(부도장관 budoajnggwan) who shall be a member of the civil service.

3. Those in charge of ministry functions at the district level shall be known as district ministers (구장관 gujanggwan), and shall be members of the civil service. They shall oversee ministry performance within a particular district and shall be subordinate to both their provincial minister and their district governor. They shall attempt to resolve conflicting instructions from his superiors and if unable to secure harmony from his superiors shall bring the matter to the attention of his provincial governor for resolution.

4. Those in charge of ministry functions at the township level shall be known as township ministers (면장관 myeongjanggwan), and shall be members of the civil service. They shall oversee ministry performance within a particular township and shall be subordinate to both their district minister and their township governor. They shall attempt to resolve conflicting instructions from his superiors and if unable to secure harmony from his superiors shall bring the matter to the attention of his district governor for resolution.

Criminal Courts Act, 7 Heonjong
1. The county Criminal Courts referred to in the Ministry of Justice Act, 6 Heonjong are to be called district Criminal Courts, with a district Criminal Court to be established in each district. They shall have original jurisdiction over misdemeanors only.

2. The provincial Criminal Courts referred to in the Ministry of Justice Act, 6 Heonjong shall be established in each province and shall have original jurisdiction in all felonies and appellate jurisdiction over the district Criminal Courts. Each provincial Criminal Court shall have at least three justicars.

3. The Supreme Criminal Court referred to in the Ministry of Justice Act, 6 Heonjong shall have appellate jurisdiction over the provincial Criminal Courts, and consist of one justicar from each of the ten provinces, plus a Chief Justicar who may be from any province.

4. In the case of criminal cases arising in the criminal courts of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, the Supreme Criminal Court shall have appellate jurisdiction only in cases arising under the laws of the Joseon realm or of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria. Cases arising under the laws of Zhungguo shall instead be appealed to the appropriate court established by Zhungguo to hear such appeals, save that if no such court be established, the Supreme Criminal Court may hear appeals.

5. Criminal courts that consist of multiple justicars may establish procedures for when cases should be heard by a single justicar, a panel of justicars, or by all of the justicars of that court, save that in any appellate case, there shall never be less than three justicars assigned.

6. In any criminal case in which a sentence of death has been handed down, sentence may not be executed until all appeals have been exhausted and a writ of execution has been issued by the Minister of Justice and sealed by the Minister of State.

Civil Courts Act, 7 Heonjong
1. There shall be established a Bureau of Torts within the Ministry of Commerce. The bureau, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, shall appoint judges to preside over the Supreme Civil Court, the provincial Civil Courts, and the district Civil Courts. Each judge shall also hire subsidiary personnel such as bailiffs, marshals, and clerks deemed necessary for the operation of his court, save that for courts with multiple judges, the chief justice of that court shall do so for the entire court.

2. There is to be established a district Civil Court in each district. They shall have original jurisdiction in cases with less than one hundred nyang in silver coin in dispute.

3. There is to be established a provincial Civil Court in each province. They shall have original jurisdiction in cases with one hundred nyang or more in silver coin in dispute and appellate jurisdiction over the district Civil Courts. Each provincial Civil Court shall have at least three judges.

4. The Supreme Civil Court shall have appellate jurisdiction over the provincial Civil Courts, and consist of one judge from each of the ten provinces, plus one from the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, plus a Chief Judge who may be from any province.

5. In the case of civil cases arising in the civil courts of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, the Supreme Civil Court shall have final appellate jurisdiction only in cases arising under the laws of the Joseon realm or of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria. Cases arising under the laws of Zhungguo may be appealed to the appropriate court established by Zhungguo to hear such appeals, save that if no such court be established, the Supreme Civil Court shall have final jurisdiction. If the case involves only the civil law of Zhungguo, a civil appellant from the Civil Court of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria may choose to appeal directly to the appropriate court established by Zhungguo to hear such appeals or to the Supreme Civil Court.

6. Civil courts that consist of multiple judges may establish procedures for when cases should be heard by a single judge, a panel of judges, or by all of the judges of that court, save that in any appellate case, there shall never be less than three judges assigned.

Chancery Courts Act, 7 Heonjong
1. There shall be established a Bureau of Probate within the Ministry of State. The bureau, in conjunction with the Ministry of Personnel, shall appoint chancellors to preside over the Supreme Chancery Court, the provincial Chancery Courts, and the district Chancery Courts. Each chancellor shall also hire subsidiary personnel such as bailiffs, marshals, and clerks deemed necessary for the operation of his court, save that for courts with multiple chancellors, the chief chancellor of that court shall do so for the entire court.

2. There is to be established a district Chancery Court in each district. They shall have original jurisdiction in overseeing estates and trusts that hold real property solely within that district at their establishment.

3. There is to be established a provincial Chancery Court in each province. They shall have original jurisdiction in overseeing estates and trusts that hold real property solely within that province at their establishment, but not within a single district, and appellate jurisdiction over the district Chancery Courts. Each provincial Civil Chancery Court shall have at least three chancellors.

4. The Supreme Chancery Court shall have appellate jurisdiction over the provincial Chancery Courts, and consist of one chancellor from each of the ten provinces, plus one from the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, plus a Chief Chancellor who may be from any province. In the case of estates and trusts with real property in multiple provinces, the Supreme Chancery Court shall assign which provincial Chancery Court shall oversee the estate or trust.

5. In the case of chancery cases arising in the chancery courts of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria, the Supreme Civil Court shall have final appellate jurisdiction only in cases arising under the laws of the Joseon realm or of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria. Cases arising under the laws of Zhungguo may be appealed to the appropriate court established by Zhungguo to hear such appeals, save that if no such court be established, the Supreme Chancery Court shall have final jurisdiction. If the case involves only the chancery law of Zhungguo, a chancery appellant from the Chancery Court of the Duchy of Outer Manchuria may choose to appeal directly to the appropriate court established by Zhungguo to hear such appeals or to the Supreme Chancery Court.

6. Chancery courts that consist of multiple chancellors may establish procedures for when cases should be heard by a single chancellor, a panel of chancellors, or by all of the chancellors of that court, save that in any appellate proceeding., there shall never be less than three chancellors assigned.

7. In addition to overseeing the administration of estates and trusts, all transfers of real property shall be recorded by the county chancery court of the county in which the real property is located.

Township Councils Act, 7 Heonjong
1. To obtain input from the people of each township, it is ordained that each subject who has his principal household within that district and who owns taxable property located in that township worth at least 10 gwan of coin silver (100 nyang of coin silver) and has reached at least his thirtieth year of life (age 29 or greater by Western reckoning) shall be deemed an elector of the township council.

2. Each township shall establish a council consisting of seven councilors elected by the electors  of that township on an annual basis from among the electors of that township.

3. The township council shall at its first meeting of the year choose from among its members a township mayor (면장 myeonjang) to serve as the leader of the council and be the member of the council who regularly interacts with the township governor (면지사 myeonjisa)  of that township.

4. The township council shall advise the township minister of the concerns and suggestions that the people of that township have concerning the good governance of the township.  They shall not be punished in any manner for bringing such concerns or suggestions to the attention of the township minister.

5. Subject to such regulations as the Minister of State may promulgate, a township governor may delegate the supervision of certain government functions and policies for that township to the township council, with the understanding that such delegation may not be for a term of greater than one year.

6.  To compensate them for their service, councilors shall receive a stipend of one don of silver coin per month, but neither they nor any members of their households shall be eligible for any other remuneration from the government during their service as councilors.

(post edited to make a small technical correction)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 정부의 선포
Proclamations of the Government of Joseon

(Source: self-made)

The Bureau of Railways announces that in this year of 7 Heonjong, in addition to maintaining the current railways, there shall be constructed the following railways:

• Suwon to Gongju
• Gincheong to Daejong
• Hanseong (aka Seoul) to Wonju
• Kaesong to Sariwon
• Pyeongyang to Anju
• Hoeryeong  to Musan

With the aforementioned constructions, the list of operating and planned railways of the Bureau of Railways will be:
Line 1: Hanseong (aka Seoul) to Incheon
Line 2: Hanseong (aka Seoul) to Suwon to Gongju to Daejong to Gimcheong to Daegu to Busan
Line 21: Daejong to Jeonju to Gunsan

Line 3:Hanseong (aka Seoul) to Wonju to Donghae

Line 4: Hanseong (aka Seoul) to Kaesong to Sariwon to Pyeongyang to Anju to Kanggye to Manpo to Chunggang to Junggyeong to Ningguta, Outer Manchuria
Line 41: Kaesong to Haeju to Sariwon
Line 42: Line 42W & (Manpo to Chunggang of Line 4) & Line 42E
Line 42W: Sinuiji to Manpo
Line 42E: Chunggang to Hyesan to Musan to Hoeryeong to Raeson

Line 50: Nampo to Pyeongyang to Kangdong to Gowan

Line 60: Donghae to Gangneung to Sokcho to Wonsan to Gowon to Hamheung to Seongjin to Cheongjin to Raeson to Hwanhang

Line 70: Sinuiji to Anju to Kangdong to Gowon

(Italics indicate railways that should be in operation by the end of the year. The above is not an exhaustive list of railway stations.)


The Bureau of Public Health announces that in this year of 7 Heonjong, the Joseon realm shall begin an eight-year plan to eliminate the scourge of smallpox from the realm.

1. Effective immediately, all persons entering the Joseon realm or any entrepôt, protectorate, or grand duchy subject to the suzerainty of the Joseon realm, shall either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox before entry into the Joseon customs territory.

2. All military and civil servants of the Joseon realm shall by the end of this year shall either  present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

3.  By the end of the year 8 Heonjong, all students attending any institution under the purview of the Bureau of Schools shall for themselves and all members of their immediate household either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

3.  By the end of the year 9 Heonjong, all students attending any institution under the purview of the Bureau of Colleges shall for themselves and all members of their immediate household either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

4.  By the end of the year 10 Heonjong, all students attending any institution under the purview of the Bureau of Academies or the Bureau of Universities shall for themselves and all members of their immediate household either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

5. By the end of the year 11 Heonjong, any person receiving bounties of grain or lentils under the Edict Concerning Basic Foodstuffs, 5 Heonjong shall for themselves and all members of their immediate household either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

6. By the end of the year 14 Heonjong, any person resident in the Joseon realm shall for themselves and all members of their immediate household either present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox.

7. Vaccinations shall be provided free of charge by the Bureau of Public Health to all residents and visitors to the Joseon realm, with priority being  given to those who are required by this regulation to present proof of having been vaccinated against smallpox, present proof of having suffered from smallpox, or be vaccinated against smallpox by the end of that current year.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 정부의 선포
Proclamations of the Government of Joseon

(Source: self-made)

The Bureau of Ducal Relations is pleased to announce that in this year of 7 Heonjong, grand duchies acknowledging the suzerainty of the Joseon realm have been recognized in the Heonjong Islands. (Known to the Spanish who formerly claimed those islands without having any actual presence there as the Caroline Islands.) From west to east, these are the Grand Duchies of Pallau (팔라우), of Yapeu (야프) of Chukeu (추크), of Ponpei (폰페이), and of Koseula-e (코스라에).

As far as precedence in court functions, these grand duchies along with the existing Grand Duchy of Bataneseu (바타네스), shall be ranked according to the date the grand duke thereof acknowledged the suzerainty of the Joseon realm.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

조선 법원 선포
Proclamations of the Court of Joseon

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Queen Regent Sunwon in accordance with the advice of the advisors of her grandson King Heonjong, announces on this Daeboreum of the seventh year of his reign (1840) the following:

Games and Fairs Act, 7 Heonjong
1. There is to be established a Bureau of Festivals in the Ministry of Rites, whose purpose shall be to organize annual competitions celebrating the physical, artistic, and agricultural achievements by the people of the Joseon realm.

2. In each district, there shall be games held held at its principal city ending on Dano in which prizes shall be given for the best performance in the following physical events:

• 1 jeong sprint (~109 m)
• 2 jeong sprint (~218 m)
• 1 jeong hurdles(~109 m)
• 1 ri hurdles (~ 393 m)
• 1 ri run (~ 393 m)
• 2 ri run (~ 785 m)
• 5 ri run (~ 1963 m)
• 10 ri run (~ 3727 m)
• 20 ri run (~ 7854 m)
• long jump
• taekgyeon (unarmed martial arts)
• ssireum (wrestling)
• gungsul (archery)
• geomsul (swordsmanship)
• changsul (spearmanship)
• weightlifting

2. In each district, there shall be a fair held at its principal city ending on Chuseok in which prizes shall be given for the best of various kinds of horticultural produce and, for the best of various animal breeds.

3. In each district, there shall be a festival held held at its principal city ending on Jungyangjeol in which prizes shall be given for the best of various culinary dishes, and various forms of art.

4. In each province, there shall be games held at its capital ending  on Chilseok where the top performers of the district games of that province held earlier that year shall be invited to participate.

5. In each province, there shall be a fair held at its capital ending on Jungyangjeol where the top performers of the district fairs of that province held earlier that year be invited to participate.

6. In each province, there shall be a festival held at its capital ending on the tenth day of the tenth month where the top performers of the district festivals of that province held earlier that year shall be invited to participate.

7. There shall be games held at Hanseong ending on the eleventh day of the eleventh month where the top performers of the provincial games held earlier that year shall be invited to participate.

8.There shall be a fair held at Hanseong ending on the eleventh day of the eleventh month where the top performers of the provincial fairs held earlier that year be invited to participate.

9. There shall be a festival at Hanseong held on the twelfth day of the twelfth month where the top performers of the provincial festivals of that province held earlier that year shall be invited to participate.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An open letter from Queen Regent Sunwon and King Heonjong

Let it be known by all sovereigns and potentates that, while the King of Joseon has not yet reached an age at which the regency can be terminated, he has attained sufficient wisdom and experience that henceforth all diplomatic missives shall be signed by the king and countersigned by the regent.

King Heonjong

Queen Regent Sunwon

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An open letter concerning the Pirates of Willemstad

It appears that the arrogance of the Dutch colonialists knows few bounds. The "diplomats" of the OAK-F responded to a proposal of ours by not merely rejecting it, as is of course the prerogative of any power, but by insulting our realm as a "pagan, backwards Kingdom".

One would think their expulsion from Dejima a few decades ago and their recent losses against the Xoufu emperor and the Tokugawa shogun would have taught them that the powers of the Orient are neither the divided principalities of the Indies, nor the primitives of the Austral continent. However, it would appear that the pirates of Willemstad are as humble as they are intelligent.

Since they think us worthy only of contempt, we shall return the favor. Effectively immediately, ships holding allegiance to the failing oak of the Dutch colonialists are barred from Joseon ports. Joseon merchants are barred from entering into or remaining in ports controlled by the OAK-F. We recognize only one legitimate Dutch government, that which is based in Amsterdam, though we take no position on what the form of that government should be, as we are humble enough to recognize that the disposition of the Mandate of Heaven for the Netherlands is not ours to determine.

King Heonjong

Queen Regent Sunwon

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

An award for excellence in composition

A jaunty little martial tune was performed at court last night and I have decided to give the composer a personal reward of eight hundred nyang of silver coin for entertaining the court so well.

King Heonjong

We are marching to Batavia, Batavia, Batavia
We are marching to Batavia
Batavia, Hooorah!

You sing with me, I'll sing with you and so we will sing together
So we will sing together
So we will sing together
Sing with me, I'll sing with you and so we will sing together
As we march along.

We are marching to Batavia, Batavia, Batavia
We are marching to Batavia
Batavia, Hooorah!

행진하고 있습니다 바타비아, 바타비아, 바타비아로.
행진하고 있습니다 바타비아로
바타비아, 후라!