King Jeongjo own Composition for advice to Jaechan Kim, Calligraphic Works by Himself

Jeongjo’s seven-word line poem to the previous magistrate Jaechan Kim who was appointed to the higher position of Seongcheonbusa in 1785 (year 9 of Jeongjo). It is also found in 『Hongjaejeonseo』. A red peony and blue silk that appear in the first paragraph, line four symbolize night duty at the palace. In the second paragraph line three and four, he borrowed an old phrase from Wang Huiji of Jin dynasty. When Wang was asked by his boss how the work was, he rested his chin on the scepter and wackily said, “the west mountain refreshes me every morning.” By citing this phrase, Jeongjo asked him not to develop a taste for the arts and be negligent to his work. The stamp has Hongjae and Mangiji written on it.

* Text and annotation
成都伯錢席口占  /  Recited in a farewell party of sending Seongdobaek

分淸方可近煙霞  /  One’s duty must be pure to enjoy mountain and water
峽裏官居淨似家 / Cleanness of official life in the mountain valley must be like a house.
紅藥靑綾多宿債  /  As we are indebted to red peonies and blue silk
好敎留看一年花  /  Stay there for a year and enjoy the bloom. 

翩翩五馬出西頻 / Five running horses go out to the west often
一府三年兩閣臣  /  In three years, two officials go to one province.
笏外樓臺饒爽塏  /  Although there will be many open spaces outside scepter, 
風流倘不妨治民/  Don’t make the art and music disturb the duty of governing the people. 
乙巳 夏  /  Year Eulsa (1785, year 9 of Jeongjo), Summer