Certificate of Meritorious Subject for Won Gyun

This is a document presented by the King to Won Gyun, a high-ranking military officer during the mid-Joseon Period. It is part of the rewards presented by King Seonjo to the 18 officials who rendered distinguished services during the Japanese invasion in the late 16th Century. Won Gyun, Yi Sun-sin, and Gwon Yul were designated as Grade-1 reward recipients from Grades 1, 2, and 3. The document has the following content: Grade-1 recipient, his parents, wife, and children having their official rank raised by three notches; having the official rank of the recipient’s nephews raised by two notches if the recipient had no children; having the reward inherited by the eldest of the recipient’s descendants, and; being presented with 13 servants, 150 gyeol (1 gyeol = 115,447.5㎡) of land, 10 silver coins, a pil (1 pil = length 16.35m, width 32.7㎝) of silk fabric, and a horse raised for the King.