Ilseongnok (Korean: 일성록), known as The Records of Daily Reflections[1] or Diary of Self-examination in English, is a daily record of court events. The extant records cover the last 150 years of the Joseon dynasty, from 1760 to 1910.[2]
Ilseongnok began as the personal diary of King Jeongjo, and was collected even before he ascended the throne in 1776. He wrote personal reflections and thoughts in the diary. In 1781, he expressed interest in having his diary be made available to and continued by his successors. He reportedly considered calling the text either Ilseongnok, Wolgyerok (월계록; 月計錄), or Ilwoltongpyeon (일월통편; 日月通編; combined meaning of the two previous names), but decided against the latter name because it was already used by another text.[2] In 1785[6] or 1786,[2] he converted it into an official daily journal of state affairs.[6][2] The journal was maintained with the help of officials from Kyujanggak, the royal library.[1]
^ abMemory of the World: The Treasures That Record our History from 1700 BC to the Present Day (1st ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. 2012. p. 286. ISBN978-92-3-104237-9.
