Choe Seung-ro’s Twenty-eight Articles

Choe Seung-ro presented King Seongjong with an assessment of the five previous reigns and twenty-eight articles on Confucian government.

"Buddhism is the root of cultivating oneself; Confucianism is the source of governing the state. Self-cultivation is for the next life; governing the state is today’s task." Choe urged the king to scale back Buddhist ceremonies that burdened the people, send governors to curb the regional lords, and adopt Chinese institutions while keeping native customs.

Twenty-two of the articles survive. Seongjong sent governors to the twelve mok and curtailed the Lantern and Palgwan festivals accordingly. Choe, of Silla head-rank-six origin, is credited with laying the foundations of Goryeo’s Confucian state.