NEW HANSEONG - 9 October Seongchi 2 (2024), marked the first anniversary of King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450) of the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon (황명조선국) being posthumously honoured and venerated as Emperor Sejong the Great (short form: 세종대제; long form: 세종장헌영문예무인성명효대황제) by the Emperor-in-Council of the Myeonghan Realm.
Yi Do (이도), known posthumously as Sejong the Great (세종대왕), was the fourth king of Joseon who reigned from 1418 to 1450. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Confucian kingship, earning even the title of 'Sage King from the East China Sea' (해동요순).
Sejong made significant contributions to science and technology. His achievements include creating the Hangul (한글) alphabet—which substantially reduced illiteracy, promoting agricultural innovations, supporting traditional Korean medicine through the compilation of medical encyclopaedia Uibang yuch'aek (의방유취), and developing new technologies such as the advanced astronomical clock, known as the Jagyeokru (자격루). Additionally, under Sejong's military command, Joseon launched the Gihae Expedition (기해 동정) in 1419 that dealt a devastative blow on Japanese pirates who were prevalent at the time.
A devout Confucian, Sejong believed that Confucian values were essential for good governance. The outstanding monarch thus emphasised the importance of education, morality, and social harmony. He established a national academy to train civil servants, and he encouraged the use of Confucian ideals in government and society. Nonetheless, Sejong remained compassionate and open-minded enough to take the opinions of others, even those who disagreed with him, seriously. His role model is one that every subsequent Confucian monarch should emulate.
Moon Bi-un appointed Defence Secretary
30 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - On 29 September Seongchi 2, Moon Bi-un (문비운), a veteran digital soldier, running on The Constitutionalists' ticket, was elected unopposed as Member of the Central Assembly for the constituency of the State of New Chungcheong in a By-election. He was immediately appointed Secretary of Defence and Interim Director of the Federal Intelligence Service by HE Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC according to Article V(4) of the Constitution of the Realm. The following is the Maiden Speech delivered to the House of Representatives by The Rt Hon Moon Bi-un MCA in full:
Lord Speaker, Prime Minister, and Members of the Central Assembly,
Today, I stand here with you to share my vision for the future of our great micronation in this Maiden Speech. You know, I’ve always been a strong advocate for our family values—these values are the very foundation of our culture, and they make us proud! We must defend traditional family concepts. This isn’t just for ourselves; it’s for our children and for generations to come. Families are our safe havens, they’re where morals are nurtured. We need to ensure our kids grow up in a stable and loving environment—it's so important!
Now, we’re facing unprecedented challenges, especially from uncivilised invaders. We need a strong digital army like never before, to protect our national security and safeguard the rights of every citizen. Converts from barbarianism are a tremendous asset to our society, but we must make sure this process is fair and transparent—no one can cross that line! And let me tell you, we must strictly adhere to our Constitution. The power of government comes from Heaven, mediated by HM The Emperor, and expressed in the popular vote, and that will never change! Every citizen has the right to know that their government is bound by the law, not making arbitrary decisions.
Finally, I want to emphasise that our freedom of speech and conscience is the very foundation of this honourable Realm! This isn’t just a personal right; it’s the guarantee of truth for our entire society. We must encourage open dialogue, not suppress different voices. Every citizen has the right to express their opinions, and together, we can face challenges and find solutions. So colleagues, let’s work together to defend our values and ensure our micronation continues to thrive in the future! Thank you all! You are the best!
God Bless the Myeonghan Realm!
The Rt Hon Moon Bi-un MCA
Two Women Among Nine Sages Canonised by Supreme Patriarch on Confucius's Birthday
28 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - As the Realm celebrates the Birthday of Sage Confucius, harmony be upon him, on 28 September Seongchi 2, His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch, with the approval of His Majesty The Emperor, and the advice and consent of the Congregation for the Causes of Sages of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages, solemnly declares the following individuals, who had lived heroic lives and left behind teachings deserving of careful study and reflection, to be Sages of Confucianism and venerated in the Imperial Shrine of Confucius:
Sage Wang Gan (왕간; 王艮, 1483-1541), harmony be upon him, pen name Simjae (심재; 心齋), was a Neo-Confucian teacher who founded the Taijeou School of Learning (태주학파; 泰州學派) in the Myeong Empire—the first Enlightenment movement in Continental East Asia. Despite growing up poor and unable to finish his studies, he became a dedicated student of Confucian texts. Inspired by his teacher Wang Yangmyeong (왕양명; 王陽明), he focused on teaching ordinary people and emphasized the importance of practice, no less than theory, for all to become sages. He aimed to make Confucianism more accessible and promoted self-cultivation for social change. After Yangmyeong's death, he opened his doors and taught the common people; hundreds of peasants, fishermen, artisans, and salt-mongers came to listen to him. His atypical character, marked by his modest origins, passion for reform, and desire to make Confucianism accessible to all, was considered revolutionary at the time.
Sage Yi Hwang (이황; 李滉; 1501–1570), harmony be upon him, pen name Toegye (退溪, 퇴계), together with his younger contemporary Sage Yi I, and future academic opponent Sage Jeong Jedu, was one of the three most prominent Neo-Confucian philosophers in the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon. He excelled in Confucian studies, served in various government roles, and later focused on philosophical pursuits. He established the Dosan Academy (도산서원; 陶山書院), was respectfully called the 'Confucius of the East [the Korean Peninsula],' and stressed moral principles over material power. His notable works include the Ten Diagrams of Sagely Learning (성학십도; 聖學十圖), reflecting on nature and human existence.
Sage An Gyun (안균; 顏鈞; 1504-1596), harmony be upon him, pen name Sannong (산농; 山農) was a Neo-Confucian philosopher, educator, knight-errant, and military strategist in the late Myeong Empire, and a distant descendant of Sage An Yeon (안연; 顏淵), Sage Confucius's closest disciple. An's teachings focused on explaining Confucian concepts, particularly Wang Yangmyeong's 'extension of conscience.' His work, like that of his master Wang Gan, aimed to make Confucianism more accessible to the common people by distilling difficult and sophisticated doctrines into poems and buzzwords. Throughout his long life of over ninety years, An survived wrongful political persecutions twice and played a decisive role as a military strategist for the Myeong navy, and helping to deliver crushing defeats to Japanese pirates along the coast.
Sage Na Yeobang (나여방; 羅汝芳; 1515–1588), harmony be upon him, pen name Geungye (근계; 近溪) was a respected Neo-Confucian scholar-official in the late Myeong Empire. He was a disciple of An Gyun and similarly emphasised educating the common people. Inspired by his grandmaster Wang Yangmyeong, Na held discussions with peasants and promoted community compacts. He rescued An Gyun from prison and taught everyone that a simple approach can achieve a proper conscience. Following Wang Yangmyeog's teachings, Na advocated practicing conscience in everyday life without overthinking or excessive study, in the light of the fact that most of the masses were illiterate. He also taught the importance of fearing God as an essential ingredient to effective moral self-cultivation.
Sage Yi I (이이; 李珥; 1536 – 1584), harmony be upon him, pen name Yulgok (율곡; 栗谷) was a Joseon Neo-Confucian scholar. His mother was the famous calligraphist, Shin Saimdang (신사임당; 申師任堂; 1504-1551). He showed exceptional intelligence at young age, learning to read at three and excelling in his studies. Yi demonstrated deep devotion to his parents, praying for his mother's healing, and offering his own blood to his sick father. Some of his notable works include Seonghakjipyo (성학집요 聖學輯要); Gyeokmongyogyeol (격몽요결; 擊蒙要訣); Donghomundap (동호문답; 東湖問答); Gijasilgi (기자실기; 箕子實記); Gyeongyeonilgi (경연일기; 經筵日記); and Suneon (순언; 醇言).
Sage Jeong Jedu (정제두; 鄭齊斗; 1649–1736), harmony be upon him, pen name Hagok (하곡; 霞谷; 1649–1736) was one of the three most important Neo-Confucian philosophers of Joseon Korea, alongside with Sages Yi Hwang and Yi I. He was renowned for blending Wang Yangmyeong Neo-Confucianism in the Korean Peninsula, becoming a leading figure in eighteenth-century Joseon Korea's Yangmyeong philosophy, despite it being fiercely attacked by Yi Hwang and his followers as unorthodox. Jeong's synthesis reconciled Wang Yangmyeong and Ju Hui's Neo-Confucianisms, incorporating ideas of conscience and fundamental heartmind that influenced Korean emotive and ethical language. Today, continental East Asians often still refer to yangsim (conscience) and bonsim (fundamental heartmind) as embodying true goodwill and emphasise emotional connections in daily conversations.
Sage Im Yunjidang (임윤지당; 任允摯堂; 1721–1793), harmony be upon her, was a talented female Neo-Confucian philosopher from the Joseon period. Having survived the death of her father, husband, and child during her teenage years and her twenties, she dedicated her time to Confucian scholarship, and defended the potential for a woman to become a sage, and argued that men and women did not differ in their human nature by interpretations of Confucianism values in moral self-cultivation and human nature. Yunjidang Yugo (윤지당유고 (允摯堂遺稿) has been handed down to nowadays. Im was was woke enough to sum up the following perennial truths in a short passage: 'The way of the man is to be strong. The way of the woman is to be gentle. Each being has its own principle. That is why the tasks of the female Sage Taesa (태사) and her husband the Sage King Mun of Ju (주 문왕) had been different, and had to be different. Their divergences are nothing more than manifestations of the same Principle of Nature. They are the same in that both fulfilled the original nature of the man and the woman, which together represents the oneness of the Principle. Were King Mun born a woman and Taesa a man, they would also have to fulfil their exchanged roles. If a woman does not wish to be like Taesa and Taeim (태임), mother of Sage King Mun, it would amount to her own self-injury and self-abandonment.'
Sage Jeong Yak-yong (정약용; 丁若鏞; 1762 – 1836), harmony be upon him, pen name Dasan (다산; 茶山) was a late Joseon agronomist, Neo-Confucian Silkhak (실학; 實學; 'practical learning') philosopher, and poet. A core member of Catholic Christian family that Queen Dowager Jeongsun violently persecuted, Jeong was exiled to the Southern county of Gangjin for 18 years. Jeong published several books over various areas, including his best-known The Heartmind Manual for Pastoring the People (목민심서; 牧民心書). His writings revived the importance of the Confucian belief in God (Shangje; 上帝) and argued that a Confucian government should pragmatically solve the problems of poverty through local magistrates acting with integrity and fairness.
Sage Kang Jeongildang (강정일당; 姜靜一堂; 1772–1832), harmony be upon her, was a pioneering Joseon female Neo-Confucian philosopher who established herself as an original thinker. Her surviving works, which include philosophical poetry and personal letters to her husband, provide a profound insight into her pursuit of the Confucian ideal of becoming a female sage amidst poverty and hardship. These writings offer valuable lessons on moral cultivation through everyday challenges, emphasizing the significance of familial relationships in Confucian self-cultivation and moral life. After her death, her widower, who respected her literary work, published her collected works in Jeongildang-yugo (정일당유고, 靜一堂遺稿; 1836). One of her most memorable and wise poems reads: 'Female virtue is of prime importance. Submissiveness is a duty. This is the way of a woman. You should follow it diligently.'
Above: Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok unprecedentedly canonised nine sages on behalf of the Myeonghan Realm.
Supreme Court Hands Down Landmark Religious Liberty Ruling
21 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 20 September Seongchi 2 (2024), the Court of Emperor's Bench, Federal High Court of the Supreme Court of Justice, handed down the Realm's first judicial ruling, establishing unequivocally the power of ordinary courts to conduct constitutional judicial review of legislation and administrative action, and delineating the proper ambit of religious liberty. Lord Muk LC, Acting Lord Chief Justice, wrote a number of memorable passages in the judgment, with the following two being particularly important:
[14] This esteemed Court stands as a steadfast guardian of our Constitution. It serves as a crucial check on any arbitrary or capricious action of public authorities. As delineated in Article I, the rule of law and constitutionalism are fundamental tenets of our Realm, thus necessitating vigilant judicial scrutiny over the actions of all branches of government. While the Supreme Patriarch and the Supreme Council wield considerable influence, they are not exempt from judicial review. According to Article IX, this Court must assess the compatibility of legislative and executive actions with the Constitution, declaring any inconsistencies null and void. The constitutional jurisdiction of this Court is unequivocal. It has the authority to review the Prohibition issued by the Respondent, subject to further appeals in the Federal Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court.
[28] The freedom of religion is an inherent entitlement of the individual to protection, within reasonable boundaries, from external coercion in matters of supernatural belief by governmental entities. This entitlement should be recognised in the legal framework of any civilised society, including ours, of course. However, the freedom of religion is not a carte blanche to embrace falsehood, nor a purported entitlement to deviate from objective truth. Error non habet ius. The Confucian nature of the Realm entails a natural duty to safeguard the fundamental human rights to freedom from spiritual poison and a healthy conscience, both of which are crucial for exercising the right to know the Truth. The Supreme Council, while consistently refraining from coercing people to become Confucians, has acknowledged its obligation to hinder, to the extent feasible, the public practice and dissemination of erroneous cults, in the interests of the common good.
The judicial review challenges the decision of the Supreme Patriarch to prohibit a Protestant preacher from intruding and proselytising at a meeting of senior clerics of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages, the central governing body of the Confucian religion in the Realm.
The Supreme Counselors found her interruption intolerable and decided to advise the future Supreme Patriarch of the Realm - spiritual leader of all Confucians in the Confucian communion - to issue the Prohibition once he is elected and crowned.
The Applicant Protestant preacher argued that the Prohibition violated her freedom of religion under the Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
There were concerns raised about the judge's impartiality due to his Confucian background, but it was deemed necessary for him, the only federal judge of the Realm, to preside over the case, or else the fundamental right of access to justice and hence the rule of law would be severely compromised.
The Respondent, the Supreme Patriarch of the Realm, argued that the Prohibition was justified as the Applicant's denomination was not a lawful religion in the Realm, contrary to Article I(6) of the Constitution.
The Court of Emperor's Bench asserted its constitutional jurisdiction to review the Prohibition despite the Respondent's claim that decisions of the Supreme Patriarch are not reviewable.
The interpretation of the Constitution regarding lawful religions was debated, with the Respondent emphasising the protection of Confucianism as the 'national soul' of the Realm.
The court considered the compatibility of the content of Applicant's proselytising with Confucianism in assessing the legality of her religion, and decided to defer to the expertise of the Supreme Patriarch over matters of doctrine and morals.
The Court ultimately ruled in favor of the Respondent, upholding the Prohibition as proportionate and awarding costs in his favour.
World's First Cancellation of Cancel Culture Act Passed
19 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - The Central Assembly uninamously enacted and HM The Emperor promulgated the world's first Cancellation of Cancel Culture Act sponsored by HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC as part of The Constitutionalists' General Election promise. A smiling Prime Minister Baek remarked, 'Cancel culture seeks to cancel people whose opinions the cancellers do not like. Today onwards, we are going to cancel cancel culture and all these barbaric cancellers. This new law is set to become a shining example of how uncivilised behaviour can be suppressed and how the freedom of expression can be restored in an age when modern barbarism has become rampant in both micronational and macronational worlds.' The following Questions and Answers sums up important features of the new statute:
1. What is considered cancel conduct?
Cancel conduct is when one person communicates or acts against another person because he disagrees with the other person's opinion or viewpoint. This communication or behavior leads others to reject, exclude, or harm the person they disagree with financially.
2. Can legal action be taken against cancel conduct?
Suppose a Myeonghan citizen believes that he is a victim of cancel conduct as defined in Section 1. In that case, he can file a lawsuit in the Federal High Court of the Supreme Court of Justice against the person who started the cancel conduct. If the court rules in favour of the person filing the lawsuit, he can also get an order against anyone else who shared the harmful content online, claiming legally enforceable compensation from them.
3. How can cancel conduct be deterred?
If the person filing the lawsuit successfully gets the order mentioned in Question 2, he can choose to make it (including the Court-sanctioned list of cancellers) public to discourage similar behaviour in the future.
Happy Chuseok
16 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGDEOK PALACE - The Imperial Household Agency has released a message from HM The Emperor in celebration of Chuseok, Seongchi 2:
Sons and Daughters,
Chuseok (추석) is a festival that always hold a special place in our hearts as a time to reflect on the importance of family, community, and the enduring values that have shaped our civilisation for millennia.
At the center of Chuseok, as it is celebrated in the Myeonghan Realm, is the symbolism of the full moon, which has long been associated with completeness and harmony in the Confucian tradition. Just as the full moon shines bright and round in the night sky, so too does the spirit of family unity and togetherness illuminate our lives during this special time.
The full moon reminds us of life's cyclical nature, the interconnectedness of all things, and the importance of maintaining balance and harmony in our relationships.
During this festival, as we gather with our loved ones to share traditional foods, exchange gifts, and admire the beauty of the full moon, let us take a moment to appreciate the blessings of family and the richness of our cultural heritage. Let us remember the teachings of Sage Confucius on filial piety, humble respect for elders, merciful love for juniors, and the importance of fostering strong familial bonds that transcend time and space.
As we gaze upon the full moon and bask in its gentle glow, let us be inspired to nurture our relationships, cherish our loved ones, and uphold the values of humaneness and justice that have guided us throughout history. May Chuseok's spirit remind us of the enduring strength of our families and the profound wisdom of our beloved ancestors.
On this joyous occasion, I extend my warmest wishes to all of you for a happy and meaningful Chuseok. May the full moon shine brightly upon us, illuminating our path with love, harmony, and prosperity.
God Bless the Myeonghan Realm.
State Opening of the Central Assembly and
The Emperor's Speech
10 September Seongchi 2 (2024)
Above: On 25 August Seongchi 2 (2024), the newly crowned and enthroned Seongchi Emperor delivered the Constitutionalist (Ibheondang) Government's first Emperor's Speech to Federal Councillors and Members of the House of Representatives of the Central Assembly. The Speech is part of the State Opening of the Central Assembly ceremony, which marks the start of the legislative year.
What is the Emperor's Speech (개원연설)?
The Emperor's Speech, officially called Speech from the Throne, sets out the Constitutionalist (Ibheondang) Government's priorities for the months ahead, following the party's general election victory in November Seongchi 1 (2023).
Who Wrote the Emperor's Speech?
The speech was written by the Cabinet of His Majesty's Government, led by His Excellency The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief. The Prime Minister is elected by and accountable to the popularly elected House of Representatives. As an impartial constitutional monarch, the Seongchi Emperor merely delivered the Speech in a neutral tone to avoid any impression of political endorsement.
The length of the speech depends on the number of proposed laws and policy objectives, and usually lasts about five to 10 minutes. The 2024 Emperor's Speech outlined the draft laws which the Constitutionalists plan to introduce in the coming weeks.
What was the content of the Emperor's Speech 2024?
The following is the full transcript of the Emperor's Speech delivered by HM The Emperor, accompanied by HM The Empress Consort, to the Central Assembly on 25 August Seongchi 2 (2024):
My Lords, Federal Councillors, and Members of the Central Assembly,
I am honoured to deliver the first Emperor's Speech in the tradition of the sage monarchs Yo (요순), Sun (순), Gija (기자), and Sejong the Great (세종대제). My Government will uphold the Divine Principle (천리) and strive to ensure every citizen's happiness, health, and peaceful life.
My Ministers will work to actualise every citizen's potential to become a person of noble character and safeguard our position as a leader in Confucian civilisation. They will assist the Supreme Patriarch in disseminating knowledge about moral self-cultivation to citizens and others to promote humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom in the Realm and beyond, according to the teachings of Sage Mencius.
My Government will introduce legislation to protect citizens' fundamental right to a secure Realm against threats such as terrorism, extremism, and foreign interference. Our security forces will be given a legal structure to promote peace and pre-empt conflict.
My Ministers will bring forward new legislative frameworks to protect the dignity of human beings from conception to natural death, free from any interference from abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide, as well as affirm the sacredness of male and female biological sexuality, which represents the cosmic forces of eum and yang in heaven and on earth.
My Government will propose a statute to empower the Commission of Vigilance to eradicate corruption and safeguard the fundamental human right to clean government. My Ministers will introduce new legal frameworks, such as the Contracts Act, Torts Act, and Equity Act, to facilitate free and safe business activities, commercial exchange, investment, and economic development.
My Government will introduce the Crimes Act to punish those who infringe on others' rights to personal security and property ownership to keep our communities safe from crime.
My Ministers will prioritise social harmony by actively discouraging litigation as a primary means of dispute resolution. However, they will also defend the rule of law and constitutionalism by introducing legislation that will provide appropriate structures for the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Tribunal of Propriety Law. New laws will also ensure procedural justice in administrative, civil, and criminal litigation.
Further legislation will be introduced to protect the legal profession's independence and establish predictable principles that govern the interpretation of legislation and the application of case law.
My Government will work to pre-emptively annihilate politically correct ideology that threatens our democracy and freedom of conscience. My Ministers’ legislative proposals, such as the Cancellation of Cancel Culture Act and the Prohibition of WOKE Act, will preventively eradicate cancel culture, hate mobs, gender ideology, and critical race theory. The Meritocracy, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act will crack down on abusive educational and employment practices that undermine the importance of merit and hard work with heavy fines.
My Government will invest in strong families, the bedrock of a thriving society, by maintaining a small government that returns power to families and local communities. The institution of marriage between man and woman will be reinforced with all the state support it needs. Parents of children below 18 will be responsible for their children's life decisions.
My Ministers will strengthen our federation and the distinct identity of our Realm. They will bar individuals who do not identify with our Confucian Constitution, nor abandon their toxic political and social ideologies from claiming asylum or applying for citizenship.
I pray that the Lord God of Sovereign Heaven may bless your counsels.
Above: His Grace The Duke of Yeongguk, Lord Muk LC PC, who concurrently serves as Lord Chancellor, Secretary of Justice, President of the Federal Council, and Lord President of the Federal Court of Appeal, carries with him the Lord Chancellor's Burse (Purse) with the Coat of Arms of the Realm. Muk was about to present the Emperor's Speech booklet to His Majesty on the occasion of the first State Opening of the Central Assembly. The Lord Chancellor's most important role is to defend the Constitution and the independence of the Supreme Court of Justice vis-a-vis His Majesty's Government, the Central Assembly, and other political institutions.
Coronation and Enthronement of Their Majesties The Emperor and The Empress
25 August Seongchi 2 (2024)
Above: A landmark in Myeonghan history—the newly crowned and enthroned Imperial Couple waving to cheering crowds from the balcony of Myeongdeok Palace, New Hanseong.
The Enthronement of the Emperor, called the Eogeuk Jeong-wi Jeonlye (어극 정위 전례), is a solemn and sacred ceremony of Continental East Asia and a gem of human civilisation that has been carried out for three millennia since the Ju Dynasty (1050-221 BC) until it was disrupted by wave after wave of imperialism and secularist republicanism during the twentieth century. The purpose of the Eogeuk ceremony, as commonly abbreviated, is to publicly demonstrate the new emperor's spiritual leadership as Cheongja (천자) (‘Son of Heaven’) and his duty to reign with moral integrity. Historically, pledging allegiance to the Cheongja is a religious obligation for all Confucians under Heaven.
A year ago, on 12 August Yunghui 116 (2023), Convenor of the Constituent Assembly Representative Yi Yu-ryak (이유략)) acceded to the throne as the constitutional monarch of the Myeonghan Realm upon public acclamation by Representatives of the Assembly. A seasoned Confucian philosopher in his own right, His Majesty chose 'Seongchi' (성치), taken from the chapter bearing the same title from the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety (효경), which means 'He Who Reigns Like A Sage' as his reign name, and has thereby been known as The Seongchi Emperor.
On 25 August Seongchi 2 (2024), a bright and sunny day, the long-anticipated Enthronement of Their Majesties, not held for more than a century since the demise of the Daehan Empire in 1910, finally took place in Myeongdeok Palace, New Hanseong and overseen by the Supreme Patriarch of the Myeonghan Realm. HM The Emperor unprecedentedly served as the Chief Celebrant of the Rite of Jecheon (제천) (Sacrifice of Praise to Heaven), the first sacred rite held by a reigning Confucian monarch in a century. Ancient Confucian emperors performed this sacrificial rite to communicate with and show respect to the Lord God of Sovereign Heaven (황천상제), the monotheistic deity worshipped by Confucians since Antiquity, who created and runs the universe, maintaining harmony between Heaven and Earth. This practice served as a gesture of humility on the monarch's part, that he, too, is accountable to a higher power and serves as a role model for his people.
A procession saw people lining the streets from the Palace to the Circular Mound Altar to glimpse the newly crowned Emperor and offer their blessings. This procession symbolised the Emperor's formal introduction to the people of Myeonghana and celebrated his coronation.
In attendance were all Ministers of His Majesty's Government, led by His Excellency The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, all Members of both Houses of the Central Assembly, as well as members of the Imperial Household. Guests of honour of the Enthronement ceremony include world leaders (in alphabetical order) His Imperial Majesty Aggelos I, Emperor of the Empire of Imvrassia; His Excellency Andrea Grava, President of the Republic of Ceneda; His Serene Highness Duke Arthur V of the Duchy of Marienbourg, and His Majesty King Tyler Mullins, King of the Free Nation of New Athens, whose majestic presence symbolised ever-stronger bonds and partnerships between their micronations and the Realm.
Above: HM The Emperor (seated), robed in traditional imperial vestments, accompanied by The Lord Muk LC PC, HG The Duke of Yeongguk and Lord Chancellor (middle), and The Lord Yang, HG The Archduke of Suguk and Speaker of the House of Representatives (left), moments before he was crowned by HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok PC with the Myeonlyugwan (면류관), or the Imperial Crown of the Realm.
Above: HM The Emperor, newly crowned and officially enthroned, facing the South majestically, as tradition requires.
Above: HM The Emperor, holding on his right hand the Imperial Mace, symbol of the legislative sovereignty of The Emperor-in-Central Assembly, and on his left hand the Hwassibyeok (화씨벽) (Hwassi's jade annulus), the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, which signifies the Realm’s legitimate inheritance of the orthodox Confucian imperial lineage. His sword, the Taegeuk Sword, represents justice and authority. The monarch was accompanied by The Rt Hon Lord Muk LC PC (left) and HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok (right).
Above: The Seongchi Emperor and Speaker Lord Yang (left) and The Rt Hon Min Jung-ho, Chairman of the Samhan conglomerate and backbench Member of the Central Assembly.
Above: Her Majesty Empress So-yong, enthroned, moments before her coronation by the Supreme Patriarch.
Above: Empress So-yong receives her Phoenix Crown from the Supreme Patriarch.
Above: Their Majesties The Emperor (right) and The Empress (left), crowned and enthroned.
Above: His Majesty reverently approaches the Circular Mound Altar, in preparation for the Rite of Jecheon (제천) (Sacrifice of Praise to be offered to God in Heaven on behalf of the entire Realm), in strict accordance with the recently promulgated Ritual Canon of the Myeonghan Realm ( (《대한예전》)), itself modelled after the ritual canons of the Myeong Empire and the Daehan Empire.
Above: His Majesty, as Chief Celebrant of the Rites of the Realm and the first Confucian monarch in a century, raises the Imperial Chalice in honour of God. The Circular Mound Altar was adorned with treasures, including the Hwassibyeok, the Ikseongwan (익선관) (the daily ceremonial crown of the Emperor) and the Seals of the Realm, the Emperor, and the Imperial House.
Above: Prime Minister Baek meets the press shortly before appearing before the newly enthroned Emperor. Baek remarked, 'Today, we gather to witness a momentous occasion - the coronation and enthronement of our beloved Emperor, a symbol of continuity and tradition in our great micronation. As your Prime Minister, I stand before you to express my unwavering support for our constitutional monarchy, which, with its rich lineage tracing back to the Sage Kings of old, serves as a unifying force that transcends political divides and fosters a distinct sense of Myeonghan identity. The Enthronement of their Majesties is not merely a ceremonial event, but a reaffirmation of the values and principles that bind us together as a Realm. It is a testament to the strength of our institutions and the resilience of our crowned democracy. The Monarchy embodies the values of duty, service, and sacrifice, inspiring us to strive for a better tomorrow. As we celebrate this historic moment, let us recommit ourselves to upholding the sagely values that define us as the world's premier Confucian micronation.'
Above: On behalf of the electorate, Prime Minister Baek Byeong-heon solemnly presents to the newly crowned and enthroned monarch a formal Congratulatory Message, and chanted 'Mansei' (만세; Long Live the Emperor) three times as required by tradition.
Above: According to Confucian tradition, the Emperor represents the sun or the active cosmic force of yang (양), whereas the Empress represents the moon or the passive cosmic force of eum (음); together, they symbolise the dignity and honour of the Myeonghan Realm as the Realm of Sages and Guardian of Human Civilisation, illuminating Heaven and Earth like never before.
Realm Celebrates Constitution Day
17 August Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - On 17 August, the Myeonghan Realm celebrates Constitution Day, which coincides with the Constitution Day of the Daehan Empire (1897-1910), its macronational predecessor. HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC delivered the following speech to the entire Realm:
My fellow Myeonghans, today marks an important milestone in our micronation's history - the first anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm adopted by our wonderful Constituent Assembly and promulgated by His Majesty, whose Seongchi era also began on this day last year. It's a great constitution. One of the best in the world. One of the best in all of human history.
Our Constitution is a shining example of democracy in action. It guarantees our citizens free speech, a free press, and the right to vote and to stand for elections. We're a great micronation because of it.
But let's remember what makes Myeonghanea truly great. The Myeonghan people are a Realm of Etiquette and Exemplary Character. You are hardworking, patriotic, and resilient Confucians. Together, we have overcome many challenges and emerged stronger every time. And we're not done yet. We will continue to work together to make our Realm even greater.
The sagely doctrines embodied in our Constitution protect us from ideological extremism. You know what Cultural Socialism is?
It's an extremist ideology that originated not in the former Soviet Union, but in modern North America and Western Europe that is all about disharmony.
Cultural Socialism pretends to be a universal truth that applies to everyone everywhere. But in reality, every word uttered by Sage Confucius is infinitely truer.
Cultural Socialism creates this "us vs them" mentality that pits whoever is named 'the oppressed' against whoever is dubbed 'the oppressor' on the basis of gender or race, rather than economic class, as in traditional socialism.
That's not how people should be thinking. We need harmony, not conflict; cooperation, not struggle, to restore the brilliance of human civilisation since its global meltdown dring the twentieth century.
Cultural Socialism is about destroying the values our ancestors and us hold dear. They want to tear down the nuclear family and biological-gender roles. That's a recipe for social instability and moral decay.
Can you believe what these Cultural Socialists are saying? They think they have it all figured out with their outdated and extremist way of thinking. They ignore the complexity of human nature and the diversity of human experience. Their analyses of society are oversimplified and inaccurate.
Watch out for Cultural Socialism. It's a tool used by the elites to control the masses. They create a false sense of grievance and victimhood, all so they can gain power and influence. Don't fall for it.
Free speech, so dearly safeguarded by our Constitution, is under attack by these Cultural Socialists. They want to censor and silence anyone who disagrees with them.
That's not what constitutional democracy is about. We need the freedom of conscience and thought to express our opinions, even if they offend the sensibilities of those who are on a very wrong path.
Now, our intelligence services know that some want to divide our micronation and sow discord. They want to tear down our constitutional institutions and undermine our young democracy.
But let me tell you, we will not let that happen. We will stand strong.
So on this special day, let's celebrate our Constitution, a diamond dome that shields our people from ideological onslaught. Let's celebrate the sages' teachings that delineate the Humane Way of Myeonghan democracy. And let's celebrate each other, as we work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.
Thank you. God bless the Myeonghan Realm.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
HE The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
Realm Celebrates First Anniversary of Constituent Assembly Closing
12 August Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - On 12 August Seongchi 2, the Realm celebrated the first anniversary of the closing of its Constituent Assembly on 12 August Yunghui 117, which adopted a Constitution that opposes modern moral decadence and decline of common sensibility while defending continental East Asia's Confucian roots.
After months of careful deliberation, debate, and design, the Constituent Assembly unanimously amended the National Constitution of the Daehan Empire (대한국 국제) promulgated by the Gwangmu Emperor on August 17, 1899, into the Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm. This decision also changed the official name of the polity from the Second Daehan Empire to the Myeonghan Realm, which translates to 'Luminous and Primacy Federation' in English. The name 'Myeong' comes from the Myeong Empire, the suzerain and a faithful ally of the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon, which was the predecessor of the Daehan Empire. 'Han' is a common name of three ancient states in the first century BC Korea, meaning 'primacy,' as well as the name adopted by the Daehan Empire.
The Constituent Assembly proclaimed its Convenor, the Confucian philosopher Yi Yu-ryak of the House of Later Yi, Emperor of the Myeonghans and his spouse, Representative Won So-yong, as Empress Consort by public acclamation. It also transferred its power to an Interim Central Assembly with a mandate that expired on December 31, Seongchi 1, which elected Chair of the Constituent Assembly Baek Byeong-heon as Interim Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief. Baek and his party, The Constitutionalists, would go on to win a General Election in November Seongchi 1, making him the first and incumbent Head of His Majesty's Government.
The venerable Constitution envisions the perpetuation of the Myeonghan Realm as a spiritual community organised in accordance with the Kingly Way of Humaneness (왕도). It sees the Realm as a source of civilisation and stability for the entire world.
The anniversary was marked with a series of events, including a speech delivered to a joint meeting of the Houses of the Central Assembly by HM The Emperor, who acceded to the Throne on this day last year. In his speech, His Majesty emphasised the importance of the Constitution and the values it upholds. 'The Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm stands for the preservation of sagely doctrines and the promotion of humaneness in all aspects of life, and this includes the protection of democracy and internationally recognised human rights,' said His Majesty. 'Myeonghans believe that by upholding these values, we can create a better world for all, we can all become sages.'
The celebration also included cultural performances and exhibitions showcasing the history and traditions of the Realm. Visitors were invited to take part in the festivities and learn more about the unique culture and values as the world's premier Confucian micronation. The Realm's Constitution, which restored the orthodox imperial lineage of the Daehan Empire, has been praised for its clear and concise language, citations of Confucian classics, respect for contemporary human rights treaties, as well as its emphasis on creating a stable and harmonious society. The Realm continues to aspire to serve as a refreshing source of inspiration for the inter-micronational world.
Supreme Patriarch Condemns Mockery of God in 2024 Olympics
6 August Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - The Sagely Father solemnly addressed the Realm, of which he is Primate and Spiritual Leader, on the blasphemous mockery of God at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics from his Chair in the New Seonggyungwan Basilica (신 성균관 대성전):
Dear Sons and Daughters,
It is with a heavy heart that I address the events of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The portrayal of a drag queen scene mocking our LORD Jesus Christ, the personification of the Divine Principle (천리) and Sangje (상제) Incarnate, as well as His Apostles at the first Eucharist, also known as the Last Supper, is deeply offensive and profoundly disrespectful to all God-fearers around the world, be they Confucians, Christians, or both, like most Myeonghans.
The Eucharist re-presents the profound sacrifice of the LORD God of Sovereign Heaven (황천상제) for his love of humanity. To mock this most sacred moment in a public and intermacronational forum wounds the hearts of believers; undermines the values of respect and dignity that should be upheld in all cultural expressions; and most significantly, blasphemes Heaven.
As it was written by Saint Paul, the namesake of Sage Paul (서광계), my 17th century Predecessor of Sweet Memory as Supreme Patriarch: 'Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows' (Galatians 6:7). Such acts of mockery is not merely disrespectful but unjust for they go against the reverence we rightly owe to the Almighty. Saint Paul also taught, 'If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.' (1 Corinthians 3:17) This reminds us that our expressions and actions should always honour and never defile what is holy.
Five centuries ago, Sage Wang Yangmyeong (왕양명) made it clear that the human heartmind has full access to heavenly principles, or the natural law, to the extent that the former and latter are one with each other. Now it is clearly inscribed in the heartminds of human beings that all things sacred must be treated with reverence and propriety (Romans 2:15).
Sage Confucius famously admonished us that 'to subdue one's self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety, an under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him.' We are obligated to 'look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety' (Analects 12).
It was also written in the venerable Confucian classic, the Book of Rites (《예기》), that 'the parrot can speak, and yet is nothing more than a bird; the ape can speak, and yet is nothing more than a beast. Here now is a man who observes no rules of propriety; is not his heart that of a beast?' We must therefore uphold the rules of propriety as framed by the Sages so that we may live with dignity as men but not brutes.
Intermacronational public events, especially those as significant as the Olympic Games, should foster unity, respect, and understanding among all peoples. When such events instead become platforms for mockery, disrespect, and even blasphemy, they fail to uphold these universal principles, and descend into inhumaneness, injustice, impropriety, foolishness, and faithlessness.
I call upon all individuals and communities to reflect on the impact of their actions and the messages they convey. Let us work together to create a culture that honours the dignity of every person and of LORD God of the Sovereign Heaven, the first cause of the Universe.
May the Olympic Games, once more, become a true symbol of peace, unity, and respect, reflecting the best of our shared human spirit. May God bless you all.
In unity and prayer,
The Sagely Father Jumang Polok
His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch of the Myeonghan Realm
First Grand Rite of Archery of the Realm Held
2 August Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - In the name of HM The Emperor (left), HS The Supreme Patriarch PC (right) and HG The Duke of Yeongguk LC PC (middle) of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages (유교 최고 평의회) organised the first Grand Rite of Archery or Daesaui (대사의) of the Realm, in accordance with the newly promulgated Ritual Canon of the Myeonghan Realm (《명한예전》), which was based on the ancient Book of Rites (《예기》), written over two millennia ago, and consists of detailed rubrics governing the five rites: auspicious rites (길례), congratulatory rites (가례), hosting rites (빈례), military rites (군례), and inauspicious rites (흉례).
HM The Emperor addressed participants of the Grand Rite: 'Alongside rituals (예), music (악), charioteering (어), calligraphy (서), and mathematics (수), archery (사) is one of the well-established Six Arts (육예) of the Confucian tradition. Each of the Six Arts is a way to cultivate a well-rounded individual who could contribute to society in a meaningful way. Each of the Arts represents a different aspect of personal development. The art of archery reminds monarchs and officials of their sacred duty to defend their people and the Realm against all threats. As the world's premier Confucian micronation, the Myeonghan Realm proudly practices archery as a sport too, one that evinces our micronational pride and very rich cultural heritage.'
HG The Duke of Yeongguk LC PC added in his speech that 'archery is not just about the physical practice of shooting a bow and arrow. It is a way to cultivate the virtues of discipline, focus, and self-control, which were essential qualities for any scholar-official.'
The theme of moral self-cultivation was taken up by HS The Supreme Patriarch PC in his homily, in which he preached that 'In archery, one must learn to control one's breath, body, and mind in order to hit the target with precision. This requires a great deal of practice and discipline, as well as the ability to remain calm and focused even under pressure. I would like you to recall Sage Mencius's celebrated teaching: "The man who would be humane is like the archer. The archer adjusts himself and then shoots. If he misses, he does not murmur against those who surpass himself. He simply turns round and seeks the cause of his failure in himself".'
HG The Duke of Yeongguk LC PC attended the Grand Rite showcasing the beauty of traditional Myeonghanbok martial attire.
HG The Duke of Yeongguk LC PC performing traditional Confucian music, also one of the Six Arts, after the Grand Rite of Archery, in honour of HM The Emperor, in Myeonghanbok scholarly attire.
Prime Minister Declares War on Relativism
13 July Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - The Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, declared war on the toxic ideology of relativism during a televised speech:
Fellow Myeonghans:
We got to talk about a big problem that's been tearing apart humanity. It's called relativism, and it's like a cancer, eating away at us from the inside.
Now, relativists say that all cultures are equal, that there's no such thing as right or wrong, and that every opinion is just as valid as the next. But let me ask you this: is it okay to excuse things like female genital mutilation, honour killings, or allowing men dressed like women to enter into female safe spaces, just because it's part of some culture, or the absence thereof? Can we let cultural practices that violate the basic principles of human dignity go unchecked?
Here, the Confucian doctrine of the hwa-yi distinction (화이사상) comes to the forefront. It holds that there're superior civilisations, inferior civilisations, and the uncivilised, and each of these categories need to be kept separate from each other. If you want to be really cultured, you got to learn from a superior civilisation, like the Confucian civilisation, which got a wholly developed system of manners, attire, social relationships, and moral principles that are top-notch.
Relativism is a mess. If you believe it's true, then you're saying there's at least one absolute truth, and that contradicts the whole idea. It's like saying 'there are no rules, except for this one rule.' Doesn't make sense, does it? Some people try to justify it by saying that there are some absolute truths in certain areas, like science. But then they'll turn around and say there are no absolute moral truths. It's inconsistent. If you try to live by this moral relativism, you can't even criticise someone for doing something wrong. Like if someone rapes someone else, you can't even say it's wrong because they might think it's right for them.
Some try to say that morality is only absolute when it affects other people, but not when it's just personal. But that's a totally arbitrary and self-serving principle. Look, even the biggest relativist out there doesn't truly believe their own nonsense. If you start hurling accusations of child molestation their way, they'll deny it with all the ferocity of a lion. They won't just say 'oh, well that's just your opinion,' no. They'll tell you straight up that it's a cold, hard fact that they didn't do it, and that you've breached the objective moral principles of honesty and integrity while making those accusations.
If we try to live by this moral relativism, we can't make any negative moral judgments. It's like saying 'anything goes.' It's not a position that a reasonable person should embrace. So what does this mean? It means we got to be crystal clear about our values. It means we got to call out practices that don't fit with our superior civilisation and work to change them. It means we got to support people who are fighting for humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom all over the world, no matter where they come from.
Now, this ain't going to be an easy fight. There're going to be people who say we're intolerant or culturally imperialist. If moral standards are relative, then like, who's to say that cultural imperialism is bad? I mean, if everything is relative, then that means the idea of imperialism being wrong is like, totally up for debate. So basically, what I'm saying is that these relativists are hypocrites. They say that universal moral standards are bad, but then they turn around and act like the immorality of cultural imperialism is a fact. It doesn't make sense.
In the end, we got to stand up for what we believe in. We got to recognise that there are absolute standards that apply to everyone, regardless of culture. And we got to reject this idea that cultural imperialism is like, inherently bad. But we can't let that stop us. We got to stay strong.
Together as one people, let's declare a war on relativism. Let's do what's right. Let's get back to our moral compass as a micronation. We will introduce new legislation to crack down on relativism as a toxic ideology. Of course, in doing so, we will take a proportionate approach that's compatible with the Doctrine of the Mean. Only speech that cannot bear any meaning other than a relativist one will not be deemed free speech protected under our venerable Constitution. And it will be the accuser's or the prosecutor's responsibility to bear the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. But this will mean that the most extreme of relativist opinions will be completely shut off from the public discourse.
Logic and common sense will be respected once more.
Thank you.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
HM The Empress Lays Foundation Stone for Sage Gija University
8 July Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - Sage Gija University (기자태학) was established by an Imperial Bull issued by The Emperor-in-Council on 7 July Seongchi 2 (2024), as the Realm's civil service examination authority and graduate school of government, autonomously run by faculty from the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages (유교 최고 평의회). The University will administratively report to the Secretary of the Civil Service, and receive funding entirely from His Majesty's Government.
At the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Realm's first institution of higher learning, HM The Empress Consort, the guest of honour, remarked: 'Sage Gija University has been established with a clear purpose in mind—to train scholar-officials, men and women, who are generalists or specialists knowledgeable about Confucian ethics and the principles of constitutional democracy. These are critical qualities that are essential for those who serve in our civil service, and they will be the foundation upon which we build a stronger, more effective government. It is envisioned that examinations offered by the University will be an important ladder of social progression.'
Named after the venerable Confucian Sage Gija, founder of the second dynasty that reigned Ancient Joseon (1120-194 BC), renowned for introducing technology and Confucian morals into the Korean peninsula, the new University will be responsible for organising open and fair civil service examinations (과거; Hanja: 科舉) at the federal level, without regard to the backgrounds or personal characteristics of candidates, in strict accordance with the principle of meritocracy, under Article V(17) of the Constitution. The mission of the University is to develop ordinary citizens into first-class public servants and scholar-officials with exemplary character and leadership ability. It is confirmed that His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch of the Realm (대종백) will serve as the University's ex officio Chancellor.
Any Myeonghan citizen who holds a bachelor's degree with at least second class second division honours (or the equivalent) from any recognised institution of higher learning may apply to sit for an aptitude test conducted by the University. Those who pass the test will be formally admitted into the University under the title of Saengwon (생원; Hanja: 生員). After a period of study, Saengwons are eligible to sit for the Hoesi (회시; Hanja: 會試) examination, which examines candidates' knowledge about the Constitution of the Realm, public administration, and inter-micronational affairs. Candidates of specialist streams (such as artificial intelligence, monetary affairs, public health, and so on) will have to sit for additional examinations. Those who pass the Hoesi examination will be awarded the Gongsa (공사; Hanja: 貢士) baccalaureate degree. Gongsas will be recruited into the federal civil service for middle-ranked positions, with prospects of promotion.
Top-scoring Gongsas, however, will be invited to sit for the annual Palace Examination (전시; Hanja: 殿試), which assesses candidates' ability to creatively and accurately apply the sagely doctrines of Confucianism to matters of public and inter-micronational affairs. HM The Emperor will ceremonially preside over this signature examination. A Gongsa who passes this examination will be awarded the prestigious Jinsa (진사; 進士) licentiate degree. The top three Jinsas, by academic merit, will be further awarded the honours of Jangwon (장원; Hanja: 狀元), Bangan (방안; Hanja: 榜眼), and Tamhwa (탐화; Hanja: 探花), respectively.
Moreover, Sage Gija University will operate the graduate Sage Paul School of Government (서광계 공공정책대학원), whereby any promising academic researcher of the Realm may undertake a supervised programme of original, interdisciplinary, Confucian-driven research into any aspect of public and global affairs that culminates into the esteemed Doctorate of the Five Classics (오경박사; Hanja: 五經博士; Latin: QCD or Quinque Classicorum Doctor).
First-ever Ritual Canon of the Myeonghan Realm Promulgated
22 June Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - In a solemn ceremony held in the New Seonggyungwan Basilica (신 성균관 대성전), HM The Emperor, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages (유교 최고 평의회), promulgated the Ritual Canon of the Myeonghan Realm (《명한예전》).
The Canon, which was drafted by The Rt Hon Lord Muk LC PC (목이락), HG The Duke of Yeongguk and approved by His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok PC (대종백 유망보록), is a significant milestone in the history of the Myeonghan Realm as it embodies the Confucian principles of ritual propriety, and is part of the Realm's grand programme to revitalise the glory of human civilisation through establishing the Rule of Etiquette (예치).
The Ritual Canon is based on the Confucian classic The Book of Rites (《예기》), written over two millennia ago, and consists of detailed rubrics governing the five rites: auspicious rites (길례), congratulatory rites (가례), hosting rites (빈례), military rites (군례), and inauspicious rites (흉례). Extensive reference has also been made to the Ritual Canon of the Daehan Empire (《대한예전》), the spiritual predecessor of the Realm and the last authentic Confucian macronation to exist. These rubrics are meant to serve as a guide for the people to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with their journey of moral cultivation and pilgrimage to sagehood.
According to Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok, the Primate of the Realm, 'Proper rituals are the concretisation of Divine Reason (천리), and the most direct way of worshipping God
(Hwangcheon Sangje; 황천상제), expressing veneration for sages and ancestors.' These rituals are not just performed for religious purposes, but also for secular occasions such as weddings, funerals, and other important social events.
The Ritual Canon provides instructions on how these rituals should be conducted. By following these rituals, the people of Myeonghanea can show respect for their traditions and civilisation, and cultivate a sense of inner peace, harmony, and balance that may lead to a higher level of moral behaviour.
'It is absolutely wrong to think of rituals as a constraint on human liberty,' said The Rt Hon Lord Muk, author of the Ritual Canon. 'The rituals are a liberator of us humans from our prison of selfish desires,' Muk added, 'and the virtue of ritual propriety, rooted in humility, is what that distinguishes human beings from mere beasts.'
HM The Emperor remarked that it was his great honour to be able to promulgate this Ritual Canon, in the performance of his duty as Cheongja (천자) (literally 'Son of Heaven'), the nominal head of the Confucian religion, as is required by the esteemed Confucian text, The Doctrine of the Mean (《중용》). The monarch noted that, 'This new Canon is bound to augment a new page in the history of civilisation, as a bulwark against blasphemy, aggression, violence, disharmony, adultery, infidelity, and other forms of immoral behaviour.'
Above: The architects of the Ritual Canon of the Myeonghan Realm: HG The Duke of Yeongguk (left) and HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok (right).
Prime Minister:
New Legislation to Defend
Truth and Merit
14 June Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - Prime Minister Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC announces new legislation to crack down on abusive use of the terms 'diversity', 'equity', and 'inclusion'. The following is the Prime Minister's speech in full:
The Myeonghan people are a great people dedicated to protecting the truth. But there's a dangerous virus infecting the micronational world, threatening to destroy the moral fabric of our beloved Realm. We need to wipe out this virus before it's too late. The truth needs to be told. The truth needs to be repeated.
True diversity has nothing to do with having equal numbers of different racial groups (usually defined arbitrarily) in schools, associations, and businesses. It's about having people from all walks of life living in harmony with one another. And let me tell you, not all diversity is good. There are some very inhumane, very unjust, very improper, and very unwise people out there who are also very diverse in terms of race and gender. What we need to focus on is the integrity and merit of each person, not his alleged racial or sexual affiliation.
True equity doesn't mean giving everyone the same outcome, especially based on race or gender. It means doing what's just and right under the law. It means making judgments fairly on the basis of truth and without favouritism. Barrier-free access? Absolutely. Race-based recruitment? No way.
True inclusion is not about bringing in people into companies, clubs, and colleges, just because they are perceived to be part of allegedly marginalised 'groups'. There are always going to be dominant and subordinate groups in every civilised society, but that doesn't mean it's just about oppressors and the oppressed.
Between the Sovereign and subjects there can and should be righteousness.
Between parents and children there can and should be sacrificial love and filial piety.
Between spouses there can and should be the division of distinct responsibilities.
Between elders and juniors there can and should be care and respect.
Between friends there can and should be trustworthiness.
Denial of these basic truths amounts to self-delusion.
Now, everyone's got their own personal 'lived experiences', but in a civilised society, we can't just rely on subjective interpretations of personal experiences as a basis for making public policy. We can't take all subjective 'lived experiences' as valid, as if they were infallible. Our compassion must be based on sound evidence and our emotions need to be conformed to the objective Divine Principle.
The Myeonghan Realm won't tolerate any form of ideological cleansing. Confucians have been around for millennia, and we will be around for the coming millennia. Enemies of civilisation: we are watching you, and we will go after you.
Next month, my Administration will introduce new legislation into the Central Assembly to make sure that high-sounding terms like 'diversity', 'equity', and 'inclusion' aren't used to push ideological nonsense into Myeonghan corporations, social groups, and educational institutions.
Our public authorities will crack down on those who abuse our compassion at the expense of objective truth and merit. You have my word.
Thank you.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
Humility Month
Devotion to the Heart of Sangje (제심)
7 June Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - The Myeonghan Realm celebrates Humility Month in June, in veneration of the Heart of God (제심), also known as the Heart of Heaven (천심) according to Confucian classics.
In the Book of Venerated Documents (서경), it was stated that 'straightforward and virtuous men touches the Heart of Heaven' (original Hanja: 咸有一德，克享天心，受天明命). In the Analects (논어), the Sage Emperor Sun (제순) reportedly said, 'the sinner I dare not pardon, and thy ministers, O God, I do not keep in obscurity. The examination of them is by thy Heart, O God.' (original Hanja: 有罪不敢赦。帝臣不蔽，簡在帝心).
A Statement from the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages of the Myeonghan Realm explains: 'The conscience (양심) of human beings, according to the official teachings of Confucian-Mencian-Yangmyeongism (양명학), is modelled after the image of the Heart of God. It is an innate moral compass or moral disposition within each individual that is aligned with the Divine Principle (천리), that is, Love (인애) and encompassing virtues such as humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom (인의예지), all of which manifest in humble behaviour (겸손).
'We Confucians believe in one God (황천상제) as the transcendent and supreme ruler whose Heart is the ultimate source of the moral order and cosmic harmony. We believe that by cultivating one's heart in accord with the heart of God, which embodies all moral principles, individuals can harmonise themselves with all things,' the Supreme Council added.
HM The Emperor Commissions HG The Duke of Yeongguk to Compile New Ritual Canon
3 June Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - On 3 June 2024, HM The Emperor formally commissioned HG The Duke of Yeongguk LC PC, an expert in rites and liturgical music, to compile an ambitious new ritual canon for the Realm, to be known as The Rites of the Myeonghan Realm (명한예전) and published by the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages in HM The Emperor's name, the first Confucian ritual book with official backing in over a century.
In Confucianism, rites and ritual propriety hold great importance and are considered crucial for maintaining social harmony and order. Rites and ritual propriety serve as a framework for individuals to understand their roles and responsibilities within society. By adhering to prescribed rituals, individuals demonstrate respect and maintain harmonious relationships with family, friends, and the larger community.
Confucianism emphasises the importance of filial piety, or respect for one's parents and ancestors. Rites and rituals play a vital role in expressing this respect by performing ancestral veneration and upholding traditions related to family and lineage. Through participating in rituals, individuals are educated about moral values, ethics, and proper behavior. Rites provide a practical avenue for transmitting Confucian virtues such as humaneness, justice, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness from one generation to the next.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Commonwealth of Queensland
25 May Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 22 May 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Commonwealth of Queensland concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Queensland (https://micronations.wiki/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Queensland)is a micronation located in Southeast Asia, which, like the Myeonghan Realm, is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Commonwealth of Queensland and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Queenslandian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Commonwealth and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Commonwealth and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Commonwealth and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Commonwealth and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Celebrating Motherhood
12 May Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC delivered the following address in celebration of Mother's Day:
Filial piety, which involves showing respect and gratitude to one's parents, is a fundamental moral value that distinguishes humans from mere beasts. As the primary caregiver and nurturer of children, mothers cannot be more deserving of such respect and gratitude for they exert a significant influence on the growth and development of their children. Indeed, motherhood is a fundamental aspect of human existence and has been revered and celebrated across cultures throughout history.
Mothers are the foundation of the family, and their role in raising children is critical to the continuation of the family line. Like it or not, only biological women can enjoy the privilege of becoming mothers. The fundamental purpose of marriage, as an institution, is to enable and protect motherhood, in addition to reinforcing the life-long commitment between husband and wife.
Motherhood is deeply respected in the Myeonghan Realm. My Administration is determined to do everything we can to protect, defend, conserve, and safeguard the sacredness of motherhood against all attacks, especially those based on laughable excuses such as 'the perpetuation of gender stereotypes' and 'the reinforcement of societal expectations that women should primarily be caregivers', which are no more than uncivilised frontal attacks on the intrinsic dignity of women throughout history who are or were mothers, and are a most ignorant denial of the fact that few things in this universe are more sacred than the power to bring forth new people into the world and raise them to become virtuous and responsible members of humanity.
Assaults on motherhood are no more than cruel and inhumane acts of aggression, that cause emotional distress, guilt, or feelings of inadequacy for those who aspire to be mothers or already have children, or who have played or will play a crucial role in the social fabric of communities. These attackers are enemies of human civilisation, for the simple reason that the consequences of their act will end up discouraging otherwise courageous men and women from embracing parenting roles, leading to a decline in family support systems and overall community cohesion. These attacks are errors with no rights and thus have no place in our venerable Realm.
Mothers of Myeonghans, thank you, thank you so much. May God bless you all.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
HM The Emperor Presides Over Ceremony for New Palace Museum
3 May Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - In a solemn ceremony held yesterday, HM The Emperor presided over the laying of the foundation stone for the highly anticipated Palace Museum (황궁박물원) of the Myeonghan Realm. The museum, set to become a beacon of cultural heritage, will house a remarkable collection of artifacts, including the Imperial Crown of the Realm, the Crown of the Empress Consort, Imperial Robes, the original edition of the Constitution, the Seal of the Realm, the Seal of the Emperor, and originals of imperial edicts.
The historic event took place within the grounds of Myeongdeokgung, the coming residence of the Imperial Family, where the new museum is to be built. HM The Emperor, accompanied by distinguished guests, including government officials and cultural representatives, expressed his excitement over the forthcoming institution.
'This museum will be a testament to our rich history and heritage,' said the monarch during his speech. 'It will serve as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future, allowing people from all over the world to appreciate the splendor of our culture.'
The Palace Museum aims to showcase the grandeur and significance of the Myeonghan constitutional monarchy. By providing a comprehensive view of the imperial artifacts, the Museum will educate visitors about the traditions, rituals, and governance of the micronation.
The digital era will also be embraced, as the Museum plans to create a virtual counterpart that will be uploaded onto the official website of the Realm. This will enable visitors from all corners of the globe to access the museum's exhibits. A Palace spokesperson emphasised the importance of the digital museum, stating, 'By creating a digital twin of the Palace Museum, we are ensuring that people from various countries and backgrounds can appreciate and learn about our rich cultural heritage. This project exemplifies our commitment to cultural exchange and global accessibility.'
The unveiling of the Museum in the foreseeable future will not only mark a significant milestone for Myeonghanea but will also provide an immersive and enlightening experience for visitors, both in person and through the digital platform. As the ceremony concluded, HM The Emperor expressed his gratitude to all those involved in making the Palace Museum a reality. With the foundation stone now laid, the Myeonghan people eagerly await the day when the doors of the museum will open, inviting the world to explore the rich tapestry of their cultural heritage.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Duchy of Marienbourg
20 April Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 12 April 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Duchy of Marienbourg concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Marienbourg (https://duchyofmarienbourg.wixsite.com/duchy)is a micronation landlocked in South America with a diverse culture derived from Minas culture ingrained by elements of Germanic nature. The Duchy's official languages include Portuguese, French, and English. Marienbourg, like the Realm, is a decentralised constitutional monarchy, an advanced economy, and a developed micronation with a large Christian population. The Governments of both micronations reportedly admire each other's commitment to high standards of seriousness and peaceful intent, and are confident in productive collaborations in the future. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Duchy of Marienbourg and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Duchy and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Marienbourger and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Duchy and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Duchy and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Duchy and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Duchy and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Imperial Couple Reflects on Cherry Blossoms
9 April Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - Their Majesties enjoying themselves in the sight of cherry blossoms (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
In Myeonghan culture, cherry blossoms are celebrated during the spring season with various festivities, such as picnics or outings to parks where cherry trees bloom abundantly. These gatherings provide an opportunity for people to appreciate the beauty of nature, engage in meaningful conversations, and strengthen social bonds. In this connection, the Imperial Couple wishes to share with fellow Myeonghans their meditations on cherry blossoms:
HM The Emperor:
Cherry blossoms (벚꽃) (beotkkot) hold a significant cultural and symbolic value in Myeonghanea, whose traditional culture associates these flowers with the transience or impermanence of life. The short-lived beauty of cherry blossoms serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of existence, encouraging people to appreciate the present moment and cultivate a sense of gratitude.
Moreover, cherry blossoms are seen as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Each year, the blossoms bloom and wither, only to return again in the following spring. This cyclical nature aligns with sagely doctrine on the importance of self-improvement and the constant pursuit of moral growth. Just as cherry blossoms symbolise the renewal of nature, Myeonghans are encouraged to constantly rectify their heartminds and refine their moral characters.
HM The Empress:
The cherry blossom's short blooming period, usually lasting only a few weeks, underscores the importance of cherishing and appreciating the fleeting moments of happiness with members of our family. It serves as a reminder to all of us to seize the present and make the most of their time together, as life and relationships are ever-changing. Furthermore, cherry blossoms' beauty and grace leave few not captivated. This reminds us of the importance to create harmonious and aesthetically pleasing relationships filled with love, respect, and understanding.
HM The Empress Opens
The Empress's Reading Hub
6 April Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - This afternoon, HM The Empress Consort officiated the opening of a new cultural initiative—The Empress's Reading Hub (황후의 독서 허브)—a charitable organisation that aims at honouring and promoting the transformative influence of reading. The Hub's primary objective is to assist individuals in discovering and engaging with books that enhance their lives. Her Majesty envisions that the Hub would gradually evolved into an online community, providing exclusive insights and discussions with important Confucian books written over the past two millennia from all over East Asia. The full speech of the Empress is as follows:
Today, in opening The Empress's Reading Hub, I wish to highlight the immense value and benefits of reading books on Confucian teachings. Confucianism has long been an integral part of our Myeonghan cultural heritage, shaping our society and guiding our moral compass. The teachings of the sages have provided us with invaluable wisdom and profound insights into the principles of Divine Reason. In a world filled with constant distractions and rapid changes, it is essential that we take the time to connect with our roots and delve into the teachings that have shaped our nation. Reading Confucian classics and subsequent commentaries from the most esteemed publicists, which serve as a bridge between generations, offers a gateway to understanding the essence of our traditions and values.
Through the pages of these books, many of which are included in the Hub, we gain a deeper understanding of the importance of filial piety, the significance of social harmony, and the pursuit of sageliness. We learn to appreciate the value of respect for each other, the cultivation of the moral virtues, the building of a strong personal character, and the way to be restore happiness, which is the original nature of our heartmind, before it was polluted by illicit desires.
Furthermore, the benefits of Confucian reading contribute to fostering a cohesive society, where each of us understand their roles and responsibilities towards their families, communities, and the Realm at large. By embracing the principles of Confucianism, we can create a society built on compassion, humaneness, and ethical decision-making. I urge each and every one of you to embrace the power of reading books in the newly opened The Empress's Reading Hub. Thank you.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Empire of Imvrassia
2 April Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 30 March 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Empire of Imvrassia concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Established in 2011, Imvrassia (http://imvrassia.weebly.com/) is now a Greek Orthodox constitutional monarchy which holds succession, by the doctrine of translatio imperii, to the Eastern Roman Empire (330-1453), with its monarch holding the Roman imperial titles of Augustus and Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans.
Like Imvrassia, the Myeonghan Realm is a constitutional monarchy and the successor, also by the doctrine of translatio imperii, to the Myeong Empire (1368-1662) through its former vassal and later rump state, the Daehan Empire (1392/1897-1910), with the Myeonghan monarch holding the Confucian imperial titles of Cheongja ('Son of Heaven') and Manseya ('Lord of Ten Thousand Years').
It is a momentous and historic event that two prominent micronational inheritors of two great Traditions of Eastern Europe and East Asia have decided to build closer relations and partnership with each other. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Empire of Imvrassia and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Imvrassian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Empire and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Empire and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Empire and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Empire and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
HM The Emperor Officially Apologises on behalf of Joseon for the Persecution of Catholics
29 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - The full text of the address of HM The Emperor on Good Friday, Seongchi 2 (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
Dear Sons and Daughters of the Myeonghan Realm,
On this Good Friday, I come before you as the Emperor of the Myeonghans to offer my most sincere apologies for the repeated persecution of Catholics by Joseon Korea in the past, under the guise of defending Confucianism. As we commemorate this important day of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ around the world, we must also reflect on the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon's history and acknowledge the wrongs that were committed against our Catholic people, many of whom were also good Confucians, in 1801, 1839, and 1866, respectively, causing at least 8,000 deaths in total.
For too long, Catholic Christians in Joseon were subjected to persecution, discrimination, and even death simply because of their commitment to Jesus Christ, who too, was executed for political and religious reasons. Joseon Catholic martyrs came from all walks of life, not just priests and the literati, or noble and common people, but also members of the Royal Family, including the grandfather of King Cheoljong (철종) (r. 1849-1864). Cheoljong, posthmuthously honoured as an Emperor (철종황제), did his best to halt such persecution till the very end of his under-rated reign, after which the largest persecution broke out in 1866. This was a grave injustice that caused immense suffering to many compatriots of the Sojungwa (소중화), and we must recognise and address the harm that was done.
Today, I sincerely and humbly apologise, on behalf of the Government of the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon, and that of its direct successor, the Daehan Empire, to the Catholic Christian community for these grotesque violations of human dignity. We acknowledge that the systematic oppression of Catholic Christians was an outrageous breach of the core tenets of authentic Confucianism as practiced in this Realm: humaneness, justice, propriety, and wisdom. Not one single verse in the Four Books and Five Classics authorises the persecution and execution of those who disagree with the State's interpretation of sagely doctrine.
As a micronation, we deeply regret the pain and trauma that was inflicted by our macronational predecessor upon those who were persecuted. It is important to note that Myeonghans, the spiritual remnants of the Daehan Empire, now live in a society where Christians have become the majority of the population, whose rights and freedoms are guaranteed by our Constitution. The Myeonghan Realm is a living testimony that one can be a good Christian and a good Confucian at one and the same time.
As we celebrate Easter, let us remember the lessons of forgiveness, compassion, and love that this holiday represents. Let us work towards healing the wounds of our past, and building a better future for all Confucians. May we continue to grow and learn from our history, and strive towards a more just and peaceful society.
Once again, I offer my sincerest apologies to the Catholic Christian community and all those who suffered religious persecution during the Joseon era. God bless the Myeonghan Realm.
Thank you.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Empire of Yata
28 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 28 March 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Empire of Yata agreed upon a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Established in 2022, the Empire is a sovereign micronation surrounded entirely by India with a culture substantially influenced by that of Japan (https://sites.google.com/view/kbrh/home), whose official religion is the Shinto Religion and whose political system, like that of the Myeonghan Realm, is a constitutional monarchy. The two micronations share a common East Asian cultural heritage and set of political values that include respect for fundamental human rights and liberties. HM The Emperor, on the advice of HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, has commissioned a portrait of HIM Emperor Honmyo of Yata in traditional Japanese imperial vestments, as a diplomatic gift to the Empire of Yata. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Empire of Yata and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Yatanese and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Empire and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Empire and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Empire and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Empire and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
New Public Holiday:
Feast of the Chair of Sage Paul
27 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - In accordance with the Public Holidays Act 2023, The Emperor-in-Council has approved and designated 8September as a public holiday of the Myeonghan Realm to commemorate the anniversary of the elevation of Sage Seo Gwang-gye (서광계) (1562-1633), commonly known as Paul Hsu, to the chair of Supreme Patriarch (양명학) of the Myeong Empire. The holiday has been named 'Feast of the Chair of Sage Paul' (성현 보록 성좌 축제), said a spokesperson of His Majesty's Government.
Today, Sage Paul is the patron sage of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages of the Myeonghan Realm. He was a prominent polymath of the Myeong Empire: a Confucian scholar-official of the Yangmyeong tradition (양명학), statesman, scientist, and mathematician. He gained recognition for his exceptional mathematical skills and became a trusted advisor to the Myeong emperor. Hsu played a crucial role in promoting agricultural reforms and collaborated with Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) to introduce Western scientific knowledge to the Far East.
As a devout Catholic Christian, Seo worked to bridge the gap between Confucianism and Christianity. His achievements and dedication to scientific innovation left a lasting impact on East Asian society. On 8 September 1630, three years before his death, Seo, then aged 69, was appointed Supreme Patriarch by the Sungjeong Emperor (숭정제) as celebrant of the sacred rites of the Myeong Empire. Paul Hsu's legacy as a scholar, statesman, spiritual leader, and advocate for cultural exchange continues to inspire generations.
Earlier in his political career, Sage Paul had proposed a policy aimed at protecting the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon from the threat of the Manchu nomads, who later formed the illegitimate Manchu Daecheongguk (대청국), which executed the last Myeong emperor in 1662 and usurped the throne. Sage Paul's proposed policy consisted of strengthening the alliance and military cooperation between the Myeong and Joseon realms. He advocated for increased military presence along the border, fortification of key strategic points, and the establishment of a joint defense system. This approach aimed to deter potential invasions and provide a strong defense against the Manchus.
Additionally, Sage Paul emphasised the importance of maintaining friendly diplomatic relations between Peking and Hanseong (modern day Seoul). He advocated for frequent cultural and economic exchanges to strengthen the ties between the two realms. By promoting mutual understanding and cooperation, the sage believed that the relationship between the Myeong and Joseon could be strengthened and the threat from the Manchus mitigated.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Kingdom of Eintrachtia
20 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 16 March 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Kingdom of Eintrachtia concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Founded in 2017, Eintrachtia is a micronation that claims territories in Europe, Oceania and Antarctica (https://sites.google.com/view/eintrachtia/home), whose official languages include English, Portuguese, and Eintrachtian. The micronational name 'Eintrachtia' derives from the German word 'eintracht,' whose meaning is 'concord' or 'unity.'
There are striking similarities between the Kingdom of Eintrachtia and the Myeonghan Realm: both are widely known to be crowned republics and constitutional monarchies; both vests executive powers into their own His Majesty's Governments; both adopt official religions (Roman Catholicism and Confucianism, respectively); and both feature large Christian populations. In the light of these tremendous parallels, Prime Minister Baek is reportedly 'confident' that relations with Eintrachtia will be solid and long-lasting. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Kingdom of Eintrachtia and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Eintrachtian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Kingdom and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Kingdom and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Kingdom and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Kingdom and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Kingdom of All São Paulo of the Fields of Piratininga
12 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 12 March 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Kingdom of All São Paulo of the Fields of Piratininga concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Founded in 2023, the Kingdom, known informally as Paulistânia, is a micronation that is surrounded entirely by Brazil (https://soberanapaulistani.wixsite.com/estado-bandeirante), with a historical heritage that harks back to the establishment of the São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga settlement by the Portuguese in 1554. The current monarch of Paulistânia, John VII, is the founder of the Fourth Monarchy over the area. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Kingdom of All São Paulo of the Fields of Piratininga and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Paulista and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Kingdom and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Kingdom and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Kingdom and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Kingdom and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
HM The Emperor Issues Imperial Exhortation:
The Myeonghan Moral Creed
10 March Seongchi 2 (2024)
A recent portrait of HM The Emperor in traditional Myeonghanbok imperial regalia (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
NEW HANSEONG -The Myeonghan Realm is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch exercises none of the executive, legislative, judicial, prosecutorial, and superintendent powers of the Realm. These powers are exercised by the federal authorities, including HM Government and the Houses of the Central Assembly, which are either directly or indirectly selected through free, fair, and open democratic procedures.
The role of HM The Emperor of the Myeonghan Realm as Cheongja (천자) (literally, 'Son of Heaven'), steep in more than two millennia of Confucian tradition, is largely ceremonial. Despite his lack of legal and political powers, HM The Emperor retains significant moral responsibilities. Article III of the Constitution of the Realm spells out the monarch's full title as 'By the grace of God, the Emperor of the Myeonghans, Defender of the Way'
(황천상제의 은총으로의, 명한연방황제, 왕도 수호자). As 'Defender of the Way,' HM The Emperor has a unique constitutional responsibility—as a prospective Sage King—to admonish, from time to time, the entire Realm to organise their lives in greater accord with the Way of humaneness, justice, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, through documents known as 'Exhortations.' Exhortations are not legally binding.
Today marks the first day on which HM The Emperor invoked his constitutional authority to promulgate an Imperial Exhortation: Seven Maxims (성유칠조), with the advice and consent of the Realm's spiritual leader His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok PC (대종백 유망보록), Head of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages. HM The Emperor's document confirms the continued relevance of the ancient Imperial Exhortation: Six Maxims (성유육조), promulgated in 1397 by the Hongmu Emperor (홍무제), Founder of the Myeong Empire (1368-1662), with only one modification, that of a new Article 1, which makes the implicit explicit, by exhorting Myeonghans to serve the Lord their God, a long-standing religious-moral principle that predated Sage Confucius.
The Supreme Patriarch revealed that the Myeonghan Monarch is extremely concerned with secular atheism being the source of moral catastrophes: every one is behaving as if God does not exist. The prelate further explained that the validity of the remaining six maxims, all rooted in natural law, would not have existed but for the work of the Supreme Legislator: as The Book of Songs teaches 'Heaven created people, and endowed them with the things and laws that they needed.'
The current Imperial Exhortation embodies a new Myeonghan Moral Creed (명한 도덕적 신조), which consists of the following seven admonitions from the Sovereign:
1. Serve the Lord your God
2. Be dutiful to your parents.
3. Be respectful to your elders.
4. Live in harmony with your neighbours.
5. Instruct your children and grandchildren.
6. Stay faithful to your calling.
7. Do no evil.
Lord Chancellor The Rt Hon Lord Muk (목이락) LC PC, HG The Duke of Yeongguk, applauded HM The Emperor's new document as 'a most useful summary of Confucian social thought' and 'a concise action guide on how to live in harmony and tranquility.' Although an Imperial Exhortation is not a law and has no legal effect,' said Muk, who is Head of the Judiciary as Lord President of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Justice, 'being an antique document from the Myeong Empire, re-issued by the incumbent Defender of the Way, this Exhortation is bound to be of high persuasive value to judges, and would most likely be used as an external aid in the interpretation of countless statutes and case-law.'
Muk added that 'Members of the legal community, like the educational, social administration, and counselling communities, are excited to apply the new Imperial Exhortation to their daily work, so that everyone, including the most vulnerable, can stand up to the challenge of moral cultivation towards Sagehood for all.
HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, who is on a diplomatic trip, has not yet commented on the new Exhortation.
Imperial Family Threw Lunar New Year Banquet after Spring Sacrifice
11 February Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - HM The Emperor, the Imperial Family, and guests at the Imperial Lunar New Year Banquet (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
On 11 February Seongchi 2 (2024), HM The Emperor and HM The Empress, together with the rest of the Imperial Family, hosted an Imperial Household Banquet after the Spring Sacrifice of Praise, as a celebration of the Realm's first Seollal. Guests attending include HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok PC (representing the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages as Primate of the Realm); The Rt Hon Lord Yang MCA PC, HG The Archduke of Suguk (representing the House of Representatives as Lord Speaker); The Rt Hon Lord Muk LC PC, HG The Duke of Yeongguk (representing the Privy Council, the Federal Council, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Court of Chancery as Lord President); The Rt Hon Min Jung-ho MCA (representing The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, HE The Prime Minister, as the Majority Whip within the House of Representatives) and Mrs Min. Prime Minister Baek was unable to attend the Banquet due to a diplomatic commitment overseas.
Supreme Patriarch Crowned and Offered First-Ever Spring Sacrifice
11 February Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - In accordance with the Public Holidays Act 2023, The Emperor-in-Council has approved and designated 8September as a public holiday of the Myeonghan Realm to commemorate the anniversary of the elevation of Sage Seo Gwang-gye (서광계) (1562-1633), commonly known as Paul Hsu, to the chair of Supreme Patriarch (양명학) of the Myeong Empire. The holiday has been named 'Feast of the Chair of Sage Paul' (성현 보록 성좌 축제), said a spokesperson of His Majesty's Government.Senior Counselor Deacon Yi-lak Counselor Muk (The Rt Hon Lord Muk) greeting the newly crowned Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok in the spirit of Confucian brotherhood (Courtesy: The Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages).
Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok PC (대종백 유망보록) was crowned with a seven-beam custom-made tiara by Senior Counselor Deacon Yi-lak Counselor Muk LC PC (목이락) on 11 February Seongchi 2 (2024) at the
New Seonggyungwan Basilica, some 40 days after he was elected as Primate of the Myeonghan Realm in late December Seongchi 1 (2023).
HM The Emperor and HM The Empress, The Rt Hon Lord Yang MCA PC, Archduke of Suguk and Lord Speaker of the House of Representatives, Samhan Group Chairman Min Jung-ho MCA and Mrs Min, among others were present at the Coronation Ceremony.
After Coronation, HM The Emperor, in accordance with the ancient Confucian text The Rites of Ju (주례), devolved the authority to offer this year's Spring Sacrifice of Praise to God (제천) to the Supreme Patriarch.
The Rite of Coronation (대관식)
Supreme Patriarchal coronations hold great significance in the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages. It is a solemn ritual that serves as a symbol of unity for Confucians throughout the world, enabling them to demonstrate their allegiance to the new grandmaster of sacred rituals. Such coronations are attended by royalties, political leaders, and dignitaries.
The Spring Sacrifice (춘제)
As chief celebrant, the Supreme Patriarch was assisted by Senior Counselor Deacon Yi-lak Counselor Muk, in performing the most sacred, solemn and reverent of all rites of Confucianism, which represents a deep belief in the connection between the Divine and the living. The Supreme Patriarch faced the altar together with the people towards the same direction, indicating that God, rather than the celebrant, ought to be the centre of attention.
HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok crowned and enthroned (Courtesy: The Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages).
Min Jung-ho Elected
Member of the Central Assembly
11 February Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - The By-election of 2024 was triggered by the establishment of the State of New Gangwon (신강원도). Mr Min Jung-ho (민정호) on The Constitutionalists' ticket was duly elected by another historic 100 per cent of the votes in his constituency in the State of New Gangwon. Min is pictured here, shortly after his victory, in the traditional attire of a Member of the Central Assembly (MCA) (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
Mr Min is Chairman of the Samhan Group (삼한그룹), which focuses on manufacturing a diverse range of electronics for both consumers and businesses. Samhan has gained a significant reputation in the technology industry and has become a widely recognised brand within the Myeonghan Realm.
Happy Lunar New Year
9 February Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - Seollal (설날), also known as the Lunar New Year, is a special and important holiday in the Myeonghan Realm. It is a time when families come together to celebrate and worship God, venerate the Sages, and honour their ancestors. The feast is based on the lunar calendar and usually falls in January or February. During this festive time, Myeonghans engage in various traditions and customs, such as performing ancestral rituals, wearing traditional clothing called Myeongbok, playing traditional games, and enjoying delicious food. It is a time of joy, togetherness, and reflection as Myeonghans welcome the New Year of the Dragon with hope and gratitude. HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC delivered the following New Year message to all members of the Realm:
Fellow Myeonghans,
On this joyous occasion of Seollal or the Lunar New Year, I, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, extend my warmest greetings and heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you.
Seollal is not only a celebration of the new year but also a time to reflect on the importance of marriage, family, procreation, and the preservation of our cherished traditions. Our families are the foundation of our society, and it is through the bonds of love and support within our families that we find strength and happiness.
Let us seize this auspicious moment to reaffirm our commitment to these values. Let us appreciate the love and care of our parents, grandparents, and elders, who have guided us with wisdom and warmth. Let us cherish our spouses and children, nurturing the precious bonds that unite us. Let us honour and respect our ancestors, recognising the wisdom and heritage they have bestowed upon us.
In these challenging times, as we navigate through various moral changes and uncertainties, it is the strength of our families and the unity of our communities that will guide us forward. Let us remember that our traditions are not merely customs but a source of wisdom and resilience, passed down through generations.
Although I shall be unable to attend the Spring Sacrifice of Praise tomorrow, due to diplomatic commitments, may this Seollal of the Dragon be filled with boundless hope and love; may it be a time of joyful reunions and heartfelt conversations; and may the year ahead bring you prosperity, good health, and an abundance of happiness.
Happy Seollal!'
Central Assembly By-Election to be Held on 11 February Seongchi 2
7 February Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - The Election Commission has set the polling for the House of Representatives of the Central Assembly By-election for the constituency of the State of New Gangwon (신강원도) on 11 February Seongchi 2 (2024) (Courtesy: Election Commission).
Free, fair, and open elections are the most direct and important means through which citizens of the Myeonghan Realm exercise their constitutional rights to have their voices represented in the Central Assembly, and fulfil their duty to select the wise and talented to run the Realm. All members of the said constituency are highly encouraged to cast their vote on By-election Day.
HM The Empress Underscores Importance of Quality Education for Girls
27 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - HM The Empress visited Sage Paul's Girls' School, the only one of its kind in the Realm, and made the following remarks to students, teachers, and parents, about the importance of high quality education for girls.
Ladies and gentlemen, today, I stand before you filled with a deep sense of duty and determination. I am here to address a matter close to my heart, one that resonates with the future of our great nation—the importance of education for girls. As modern Confucians, we believe in education as a catalyst for positive change in families, the community, and beyond. An educated girl becomes a role model, inspiring other girls to dream big and reach for the stars. By educating our girls, we are nurturing a generation of strong, confident women who will shape the future of our micronation with their intelligence, compassion, and resilience.
Moreover, education acts as a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and inequality. Studies have shown that educated girls are more likely to marry later and secure better job prospects. This not only improves their own economic well-being but also uplifts their families and communities. When we invest in the education of girls, we are investing in a brighter future for all.
With resolution, we can ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. As your Empress Consort, I pledge my unwavering commitment to this cause. I wish to close my speech with a quote from Sage Gang Jeongildang (강정일당): ‘Though I am a woman, the nature I originally received was no different from that of a man,’ and 'though I am a woman, if I pull my utmost efforts, I can also become a sage.'
Thank you.
Prominent Philanthropist
Min Jung-ho Joins The Constitutionalists
27 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - Leader of the Ibheondang, HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, welcomes Chairman Min Jung-ho of the Samhan Group, the Realm's largest conglomerate, as the newest member of the ruling Constitutionalist Party at a Party press mini-conference on 27 January Seongchi 2 (2024).
On the occasion, Min remarked, 'If I were to do anything in public service, I wouldn't do it for the sake of acquiring political power. I want to make a difference to the livelihood of the Myeonghan people, and becoming a member of the ruling party is the right step to be able to make that difference.' Within the political system of the Realm, membership of the party in Government is in practice a prerequisite to be on an Ibheondang ticket during a By-election of the House of Representatives of the Central Assembly, which in turn is a prerequisite for a position in the Cabinet of His Majesty's Government.
The Constitutionalists, also known as Ibheondang (입헌당), is the founding political party of the Myeonghan Realm that was established by its current Leader, HE The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC in August Seongchi 1 (2023). The party is committed to libertarianism, militant democracy, crowned republicanism, anti-corruption, and fiscal conservatism. With their strong focus on promoting individual freedoms and limited government intervention, the Constitutionalists have gained significant support from voters who share their values. Currently, the party controls the entire voting segment of the House of Representatives, making them a major force in Myeonghan politics.
The Samhan Group (삼한그룹), represented by the logo above, specialises in producing various electronics for both individuals and enterprises. Their product line includes household appliances, digital media devices, semiconductors, memory chips, and integrated systems. Samhan has achieved a notable standing in the technology sector and has become a well-known brand in the Myeonghan Realm.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Free Nation of New Athens
25 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 24 January 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Free Nation of New Athens concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. New Athens is a micronation with nine non-contiguous claims in North America and Eastern Europe (https://www.newathensgov.org/). The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Free Nation of New Athens and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Free Nation and the Realm is not only in the interests of the New Athenian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Free Nation and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Free Nation and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Free Nation and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Free Nation and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
HM The Emperor Meets
Samhan Group Chief in Private Audience
21 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - The Emperor (left) invited Min Jung-ho (right), Chairman of the Myeonghan Realm's sole conglomerate—the Samhan Group—to a private audience to exchange views on significant issues.
Samhan Group (삼한그룹) Chairman Min Jung-ho (민정호) was invited by HM The Emperor to a private audience at Myeongbokgong Palace, New Hanseong.
This marked the first time the monarch held an exclusive meeting with the Realm's premier chaebol (재벌) leader. During the audience, His Majesty and Min shared views on everything ranging from moral cultivation to charitable works. HM The Emperor reportedly stressed the vital role of the conglomerate in helping those who are under-privileged.
Sources said that the monarch expressed appreciation for Samhan's contributions to The Emperor's Trust (명황 신탁), a charitable organisation founded by the monarch in Seongchi 1 (2023), which is dedicated to improving the moral, spiritual, and physical lives of low-esteemed and confidence-lacking young Myeonghans, in order to gain the requisite confidence to pursue their dreams.
The Samhan Group (logo depicted below) focuses on manufacturing a diverse range of electronics for both consumers and businesses. These products include household appliances, digital media gadgets, semiconductors, memory chips, and integrated systems. Samhan has gained a significant reputation in the technology industry and has become a widely recognized brand within the Myeonghan Realm.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Republic of Ceneda
16 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 15 January 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the Republic of Ceneda concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Ceneda is a landlocked micronation with a large Christian population in Northeast Italy (https://www.cenedagov.org), whose establishment was inspired by the medieval Comune di Ceneda. Ceneda shares with the Myeonghan Realm a common commitment to parliamentary democracy, amongst other values. The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The Republic of Ceneda and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Cenedesi and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Republic and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Republic and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Republic and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Republic and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Lord Kong Elected Supreme Patriarch
7 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - The Rt Hon Lord Kong, personal name Kong Li-man (공리만), invested by HM The Emperor as The Duke of Yeonseong (연성공), a title traditionally given only to direct descendants of the male line of Sage Confucius, took the name of Jumang Polok (유망보록) (literally, Hope of Confucianism, Conservation of Prosperity), the first Supreme Patriarch (대종백)
of the Myeonghan Realm, Primate of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages (유교 최고 평의회), and spiritual leader of all Confucians Under Heaven, centuries after the position became extinct with the downfall of the Myeong Empire in 1662.
'I announce to you news of great joy. Habemus papam! We have a Patriarch!' Lord Muk LC PC (pictured below), Dean of the College of Counselors, enthusiastically announced to a crowd gathered in Sage Paul's Square outside New Seonggyungwan Basilica (신 성균관 대성전), where the new Supreme Patriarch's Chair is located.
Minutes later, Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok emerged onto the balcony above the square, beaming above his red and blue robes, to vast cheers from the crowd. He is the first Supreme Patriarch for roughly 360 years.
'Dear sons and daughters, the Counselors have elected me, a humble worker for the Lord God of the Sovereign Heaven. I am comforted by the fact that God knows how to work miracles through mediocres like myself,' the Supreme Patriarch spoke to the crowd.
'Above all, I must rely on your prayers for me and for the people of the Realm to venerate Heaven and love one another.' he added. The Supreme Patriarch then gave the crowd a blessing.
The crowds waved flags and chanted 'Long live the Supreme Patriarch!'
Lord Chancellor The Rt Hon Muk Yi-lak declares the results of the Realm's first Supreme Patriarch election (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
Inauguration of the Lord Chancellor
7 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW HANSEONG - On 7 January Seongchi 2 (2024), HM The Emperor appointed The Rt Hon Lord Muk, HG The Duke of Yeongguk Lord Chancellor of the Privy Council. Lord Muk, after being sworn in in the presence of His Majesty, delivered the following Inaugural Speech:
Your Majesty and Your Graces,
In the common law world, the office of Lord Chancellor started off from England during the Middle Ages. He served as the King’s confessor, secretary, and keeper of the King’s conscience. The Lord Chancellor was simply the most important man in the entire realm second only to the King. Nowadays, the Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom has been abolished in all but name. However, our great Realm has fully resurrected the office as Lord President of the apex Federal Court of Appeal and the Court of Chancery of the Supreme Court of Justice, a very wise move that all should delightfully celebrate.
As presidents of the Court of Chancery, English Lord Chancellors had always struggled for judicial independence. The most notable example would be Saint Thomas Beckett, on whose dies natalis or death anniversary last month, I was invested by His Majesty The Emperor into the Duchy of Yeongguk (영국), pronounced in Korean in the same way as England is. Over 800 years ago, Beckett courageously resisted the King’s dictatorship, and this resulted in his martyrdom at the hands of the King’s knights.
Zoom back to Hwaha. Sage Goyo (고요), the ancestor of the original Duchy of Yeongguk and a forerunner of Sage Confucius in the history of Confucianism, is probably East Asia’s most influential judge. Goyo was chief judge during the time of the Sage Emperors Yo and Sun, and was venerated as a ‘Sagely Lord,' being one of the ‘Four Great Sages of High Antiquity.'
Goyo's impartiality was symbolised by the horn of the unicorn, known as haetae (해태) in East Asia. In the West, the unicorn similarly stands for independence. English Lord Chancellor Saint Thomas More, who was famously martyred under King Henry the Eighth, had a unicorn on his coat of arms. To signify my commitment to imitate him to the fullest, I have included the image of a unicorn on my coat of arms. According to the Confucian tradition, our emperor of emperors, is none other than the Lord God of Sovereign Heaven.
The Lord Chancellor’s supreme responsibility is to safeguard Divine Law and Conscience. The significance of Divine Law is emphasised by Goyo's legal thought, which emphasises on the ‘Unity of God and Men,' is premised on the principles of ‘Law of the Divine Order,' ‘Propriety of the Divine Order,' ‘Virtue of the Divine Command,' and 'Divine Punishment of Sins,' all of which leads the people to divine and natural law.
Goyo taught the doctrine of the divine mandate of emperors, and wrote that ‘Lords should obey the Emperor when he obeys Divine Command, and should not obey the Emperor when he disobeys it.' Even the title of Cheongja implies that the Emperor is a subject of God. Just as ‘lords should appropriately serve their emperor and sons their father,' the Emperor as Heaven’s son must appropriately serve God as His servant.
Confucius furthermore taught that ‘the monarch ought to treat his ministers pursuant to the Divine Order,' and ‘the emperor is pious if he loves his parents and rules his people virtuously as their exemplar.'
As Lord Chancellor of the Myeonghan Realm, I pledge to follow the shining examples of Sage Goyo and Saint Thomas More in keeping the Emperor’s Conscience, the independence of the courts, the rule of virtue and the rule of law, all in accordance with the Law of God. I will advocate human rights and freedoms as Secretary of Justice. I will defend parliamentary privilege as Lord President of the Federal Council. I will resist the Emperor and the Prime Minister whenever they act against divine law and the Constitution as Lord President of the Privy Council. I will decide cases equitably as Lord President of the Federal Court of Appeal and the Court of Chancery of the Supreme Court of Justice.
And if one day, God forbid, I must be martyred to defend the above principles—forgive me, Your Majesty—I would speak none other than Lord Chancellor More’s final words: ‘I am the Emperor’s good servant, but God’s first’.
May God, saints and sages, protect me in following His Way, such that the Realm will be governed virtuously, in accordance with His Majestic Will.
Thank you.
Yang Mun Invested Archduke and Sworn In As Lord Speaker
7 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - Economist and CEO of a renowned medical products corporation, Mr Yang Mun (양문), has been invested as His Grace The Archduke of Suguk (수국대공), with his archduchy located within the State of New Pyongan (신평안도).
This prestigious appointment comes after Mr Yang Mun MCA PC achieved an unprecedented victory, winning a historic 100 per cent of the votes in his constituency during the General Election of 2023. In addition to his new role as Archduke, The Rt Hon Lord Yang MCA PC has also been sworn in as the Lord Speaker, solidifying his position as a key figure in the Realm. Lord Yang's journey to this significant achievement began with a successful career in the corporate world.
Known for his exceptional leadership skills and economic expertise, he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the CEO of a prominent medical products corporation. His innovative strategies and commitment to excellence propelled the company to new heights, earning him a reputation as a visionary in the industry.
However, Lord Yang's ambition did not stop at corporate success. His desire to contribute to the welfare of his community led him to enter the political arena. Running for office as an independent candidate, Lord Yang campaigned on a platform centered around economic development, healthcare reform, and social equality. His message resonated strongly with the people of his constituency, resulting in an astounding victory during the General Election.
As Archduke of Suguk, he will oversee the high autonomous archduchy's governance. Additionally, his election as the Lord Speaker grants him the responsibility of presiding over the legislative proceedings, providing guidance and facilitating discussions among lawmakers.
HG The Archduke of Sugok sworn in as Lord Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Central Assembly in the presence of HM The Emperor (left) and the Lord Chancellor (right) (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the State of Hokoria
3 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
On 3 January 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the State of Hokoria concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Hokoria is a micronation based in England (https://govhok.uk), whose name comes from the Japanese word for pride (誇り) The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The State of Hokoria and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Hokorian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Republic and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Republic and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Republic and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Republic and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Prime Minister's New Year Message
1 January Seongchi 2 (2024)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - On 1 January Seongchi 2 (2024), HE The Prime Minister delivered the following new year address:
Happy New Year, fellow Myeonghans,
Seongchi 1 (2023) had been a historic and momentous year. The Confucian commonwealth, most recently manifested in the Daehan Empire (1897-1910), has finally been restored, in micronational form, in what we now proudly call our home—the Myeonghan Realm.
Over the past year, we saw our Constituent Assembly, seated for two months between June and August, almost miraculously, adopted the first constitution in the world, one that combined the sagely doctrines of Confucianism—surely one of the most powerful civilisations the world has ever seen, and universal principles of human dignity enshrined in international human rights law.
We saw the conclusion of treaties, under my interim administration, that established formal diplomatic relations between the Realm and three well-established foreign micronations.
And most importantly, we saw our first-ever Central Assembly General Election—one that is free, fair, open, and based on the principles of secret ballot and universal franchise. We now have our first popularly elected House of Representatives, which in turn elected our first civilian His Majesty’s Government. We are justified in being proud of ourselves and must remain vigilant in guarding our young democracy.
Here is what we will do in Seongchi 2 (2024).
We are living in an era of pervasive moral confusion and chaos at a global level. Common sense is being cancelled on a daily basis. Tradition is being jettisoned on the intolerant conviction that the new is always better than the old. Moral norms are being cast aside under the stereotype that they are nothing more than bigotry.
Families are breaking down. Countless children have been deprived of their right to grow up under the love of a father and a mother.
Enough is enough.
A strong society needs strong families. Families each made up of man and woman, boys and girls. A man who was born a boy, and a woman who was born a woman.
This has been made extremely difficult by the pandemic of gender theory, which attempts to set aside genuine differences between men and women, who are equal in dignity, but divergent in terms of biology and psychology, leaving the world dull and indifferent, and literally dissolving the Taegeuk (태극), consisting of interactions between the yang (양) and the eum (음), the strong and the gentle, the man and the woman.
As the venerable I Ching (역경) puts it, there cannot be justice between Heaven and Earth if the roles of men and women are in disorder. I must quote the great Korean woman sage Im Yunjidang (임윤지당) (1721–1793), who was woke enough to sum up the following perennial truths in a short passage:
'The way of the man is to be strong. The way of the woman is to be gentle. Each being has its own principle. That is why the tasks of the female Sage Taesa (태사) and her husband the Sage King Mun of Ju (주 문왕) had been different, and had to be different. Their divergences are nothing more than different manifestations of the same Principle of Nature. They are the same in the sense that both fulfilled the original nature of the man and the woman, which together represents the oneness of the Principle. Were King Mun born a woman and Taesa a man, they would have to fulfil their exchanged roles as well. If a woman does not wish to be like Taesa and Taeim (태임), mother of Sage King Mun, it would amount to her own self-injury and self-abandonment.'
Gender nonsense has no place in this Realm. Apart from fiercely defending the family against all attacks, we will grow our economy, keep debts out of the Realm, keep taxes to the minimum, reward hard work, and disseminate knowledge through accessible education. we will continue to build and strengthen ties with like-minded micronations for the peace of the world. We will protect our people from all threats, for they have a right to live in a secured nation, and our diamond dome is ready to preempt all lawless assaults.
We should look forward into the future full of optimism for what we can work together, as one people, to cultivate a brighter moral future, not just for our most serene and honourable Realm, but for mankind.
That is what His Majesty’s Government under my administration is committed to do.
I wish you all a prosperous and successful happy 2024.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the State of Lasetia
14 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
On 15 January 2024, the Myeonghan Realm and the State of Lasetia concluded a Treaty Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Lasetia is a landlocked federal republican micronation located in Central Europe (https://lasetiastate.wixsite.com/lasetia). The main provisions of the Treaty are as follows:
The State of Lasetia and the Myeonghan Realm affirm that:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Lasetian and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Republic and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Republic and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Republic and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Republic and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
The Emperor's New Year Honours
29 December Seongchi 1 (2024)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - The Emperor's New Year Honours list for 2023 recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people in the fields of education, culture, the arts, the sciences, and the rule of law across the Myeonghan Realm (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
Veteran legal practitioner and businessman Mr Muk Yi-lak (목이락) (right), has been invested by HM The Emperor (centre) upon consultation with the Privy Council as His Grace The Duke of Yeongguk (영국공) for his services in reconstructing a civilisation of propriety and ritualistic music on behalf of the monarch, and the development of laws for the Realm that advance the common good. The Duchy of Yeongguk was traditionally the duchy of the highest precedence in the Myeong Empire until it was extinct with the martyrdom of its last holder in 1644 at the hands of bandits under the command of the bandit-usurper Yi Jaseong (이자성). The recreated Dukedom, announced HM The Emperor, will be affiliated with the State of New Hamgyong. Muk will from now on be publicly referred to The Rt Hon Lord Muk, HG The Duke of Yeongguk.
Confucian scholar and lawyer Mr Kong Li-man (공리만) (right) has been awarded a duchy for his dedication to promoting Confucian doctrine in accordance with the Constitution. The Duchy of Yeonseong (연성공), which literally means 'Overflowing Sagacity,' historically was given to male line direct descendants of Sage Confucius until its rash abolition by secularist republican authoritarians in 1935. The recreated Duchy of Yeonseong is nowadays awarded by HM The Emperor after consulting with the Privy Council, to descendants of Confucius, both biological and spiritual, and may be perpetually inherited by the holder's descendants who are equally committed to conserving the Confucian cultural and moral heritage. Kong will from now on, be publicly known as The Rt Hon Lord Kong, HG The Duke of Yeonseng.
As dukes, both Lords Muk and Kong automatically become members of the Privy Council of the Realm, but the duchies in and of themselves are not associated with any political office.
Investiture Ceremony of His Grace The Duke of Yeongguk by HM The Emperor, assisted by Mr. Kong Li-man, to be made His Grace The Duke of Yeonseong moments later.
Investiture ceremony of His Grace The Duke of Yeonseong by HM The Emperor, assisted by His Grace The Duke of Yeongguk.
HM The Emperor's Christmas Address
25 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - HM The Emperor delivers his first Christmas address to the Realm:
'Sons and Daughters of the Myeonghan Realm,
On this joyous occasion of Christmas, I stand before you as your Sovereign, humbled and grateful to address a micronation that embraces both Confucian values and a significant Christian population. As Confucians, they already believe in one Lord God of the Sovereign Heaven (황천상제). As Christians, over 87 percent of our population further believe that this God has entered into human history from all eternity through Saint Mary as the God-man Jesus Christ, for us and for our salvation. As we come together to celebrate this sacred season, let us reflect upon the values that unite us and the importance of harmony and understanding in our diverse community.
Christmas, a time of love, peace, and joy, holds a special place in the hearts of many of our citizens. It is a celebration of compassion, goodwill, and the birth of Christ. While rooted in Christian traditions, this holiday also resonates with the universal principles of kindness, forgiveness, and the spirit of giving, which are cherished by Confucian teachings.
In our great Realm, we are fortunate to have a rich tapestry of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that coexist harmoniously. This diversity is a testament to our strength and resilience as a united people. It is essential that we continue to foster an atmosphere of respect and acceptance, where individuals of all faiths can celebrate their respective traditions without fear or prejudice.
During this season of togetherness, let us extend our hands in friendship and embrace the true essence of Christmas. As Confucian values teach us to prioritise the well-being of our families, communities, and society as a whole, let us not forget those in need. May we be inspired by the example of Christ to lend a helping hand, to show compassion, and to spread love and joy to those who may be less fortunate.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to strengthen the bonds that unite us, to reach out to one another, and to share in the spirit of Christmas. Let us set aside our differences, focusing instead on the values we hold dear: respect, harmony, and the pursuit of a better future for all. In closing, I extend my warmest wishes to all citizens of the Myeonghan Realm, regardless of faith or background, for a truly blessed and meaningful Christmas. May this festive season bring you joy, peace, and love, and may it inspire us all to strive for a brighter, more harmonious future.
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you all.
God Bless the Myeonghan Realm.'
Baek Sworn in as First Prime Minister of the Realm
21 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - HM The Emperor, whose role is politically neutral, has invited to a private audience the Leader of The Constitutionalists (Ibheondang), HE The Interim Prime Minister Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC, to form a new Government as the first Prime Minister of the Myeonghan Realm, following the Ibheondang's victory in the 2023 General Election and Baek's election by the House of Representatives as Prime Minister (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
Having accepted the monarch's invitation, Baek took the following oath, prescribed by the Constitution, officially becoming the first Head of Government of the Realm:
‘I BAEK BYEONG-HEON solemnly swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of the Chief State Counselor of the Myeonghan Realm, appoint the virtuous and competent and strive for trustworthiness and cultivate harmony. I will, to the best of my ability, ensure that the elderly will be cared for, that those in their prime years will be able to utilise their talents, and that the youth will be enabled to grow up healthily; and provide compassionate assistance to those who are lonely, widowed, and sick. I will uphold, defend, and conserve the Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm. So help me God.’
2023 General Election Results
16 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
Interim Prime Minister Baek declaring his victory to supporters in an Ibheondang election event (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
NEW HANSEONG - HE The Interim Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon emerged victorious after a landslide in the 2023 General Election, the first open, free, and fair direct elections organised since the Realm was established in August Seongchi 1 (2023).
The following is a summary of the results of the 2023 General Election:
Over 76 per cent of eligible voters turned out in this General Election.
Veteran economist and CEO-turned politician Yang Mun won a historic 100 per cent of votes in his New Gyeonggi constituency.
Interim Prime Minister Baek Byeong-heon won 67% of votes in his New Hanseong constituency.
The Constitutionalists are in control of the entire voting segment of the House of Representatives, with Baek, their leader, set to become the first Prime Minister of the Myeonghan Realm.
Yang Mun has vowed to maintain his non-partisanship, and The Constitutionalists announced the willingness to support the former's bid to become the first Lord Speaker of the Realm.
Yang Mun vows to maintain order and efficiency in the meetings and operations of the House of Representatives if elected Lord Speaker (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
First-Ever General Election to be Held
4 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - Between 11 and 15 December Seongchi 1 (2023), the Myeonghan Realm will hold its first General Election, the first to be held since the founding of the world's foremost Confucian parliamentary democracy and premier Confucian micronation. This General Election came after HM The Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC requested HM The Emperor to dissolve the Interim General Assembly on 14 November Seongchi 1 (2023). It will result in the establishment of the First Central Assembly of the Myeonghan Realm.
A General Election is an important opportunity for the populace of the Myeonghan Realm to select their MCAs to represent them in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, of the Central Assembly for five years, subject to the request of the Prime Minister of the day for the Sovereign to dissolve the House.
Fast-past-the-post voting will be used in the General Election, meaning that the candidate who receives most votes in a constituency becomes that constituency's MCA.
MCAs returned by the coming General Election will elect the first Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, the head of the highest executive organ of the Realm. They will also elect the first Lord Speaker of the Central Assembly. Election results will be announced on 16 December Seongchi 1 (2023).
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Aerican Empire
3 December Seongchi 1 (2023)
On 3 December 2023, the Myeonghan Realm and the Aerican Empire concluded a Joint Communique Concerning the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Established in 1987 in North America, the Aerican Empire (https://www.aericanempire.com/) is one of the world's most well-established and oldest continuously functioning micronations. The main provisions of the treaty are as follows:
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Empire and the Realm is not only in the interests of the Aerican and Myeonghan peoples but also contributes to peace and progress in the world.
The Empire and the Realm shall conduct their relations on the principles of respect for international human rights law; sovereignty and territorial integrity; and equality and mutual assistance between micronations.
The Empire and the Realm are both committed to the reduction of the danger of intermicronational military conflict. Intermicronational disputes, including but not limited to those that may arise between the Empire and the Realm, shall be settled in a peaceful manner, never resorting to the use or threat of force.
The Empire and the Realm shall not seek hegemony in any part of the world, and each shall be opposed to efforts by any other micronation or group of micronations to establish such hegemony.
The two Governments have agreed to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals in accordance with international law and practice.
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Myeonghan Realm and the Karno-Ruthenian Empire
26 November Seongchi 1 (2023)
On 26 November 2023, the Myeonghan Realm concluded its first-ever diplomatic treaty with the Karno-Ruthenian Empire. Karnia-Ruthenia (https://karnia-ruthenia.org/), like the Realm, is a federal constitutional monarchy. It has claims over several non-contiguous enclaves and exclaves in South America, North America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and Antarctica. The main provisions of the Treaty of Mutual Recognition are as follows:
ARTICLE I It shall be established that in this document, the sovereignty and independence of the MYEONGHAN REALM and the EMPIRE OF KARNIA-RUTHENIA shall not be infringed or abridged in the name of furthering either state’s station.
ARTICLE II Through the signing of the TREATY OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION, the MYEONGHAN REALM and the EMPIRE OF KARNIA-RUTHENIA shall formally recognize the sovereignty and independence of both states until dissolution of one (or all) of the states.
ARTICLE III It is through this mutual recognition, in which both states of MYEONGHAN REALM and EMPIRE OF KARNIA-RUTHENIA establish formal diplomatic and economic relations in respect to aforementioned conventions and declarations of the UNITED NATIONS and the ANTARCTIC MICRONATIONAL UNION and of the CONFERENCE OF SANTIAGO.
ARTICLE IV Through this recognition of diplomatic relations, it shall be established that both states remain separate and equal as independent states with regard to national legislature and foreign affairs, that this document establishes relations between only nations that sign the treaty.
ARTICLE V Herein this document it shall be established that the relationship acknowledged by both states is unbinding until dissolution of a state or passage of opposing legislature is passed within a national house of representatives, and that the establishment of these ties shall be based on the recognition of human rights.
ARTICLE VI Both states acknowledge these relationships to be built on co-operation and perpetual peace between each state, and that the independent citizens of both nations respect and recognize the sovereignty, laws, and conventions of the other.
ARTICLE VII This treaty shall formally come into effect one week following the signing and ratification of the document by either nation’s independent national legislature, or alternate representative bodies, and the heads of state.
The Emperor's Trust Announced 20 November Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - On 20 November Seongchi 1 (2023), HM The Emperor, accompanied by HM The Empress, announced the establishment of The Emperor's Trust (명황 신탁) (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
The Emperor's Trust is a charitable organisation dedicated to improving the moral, spiritual, and physical lives of low-esteemed and confidence-lacking Myeonghans aged 18 to 30, in order to empower them to earn the required confidence and skills to pursue their dreams and improve their lives. When asked about his role in the day-to-day administration of the Trust, His Majesty responded, 'my role will be that of a figurehead, as usual.' 'Professionals specialised in assisting the youth will be in charge of the Trust,' the monarch added.
HM The Emperor Dissolves Interim Central Assembly on HE The Interim Prime Minister's Request
14 November Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - HM The Emperor and HE The Interim Prime Minister meeting the press after their regular audience on 14 November Seongchi 1 (2023) (Courtesy: Department of Information Services, HM Government).
The Interim Central Assembly was dissolved by HM The Emperor on the request of HE The Interim Prime Minister The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC late Tuesday night, stated the Office of the Interim Prime Minister, setting the stage for the Myeonghan Realm's first-ever General Election to be held in the next ninety days, a living testimony to the Realm's status as the world's first Confucian parliamentary democracy. Interim Prime Minister Baek will stay in office prior to the General Election, leading a Caretaker Government until a successor is elected by the First Central Assembly.
HE The Interim Prime Minister Delivers First National Day Speech 13 October Seongchi 1 (2023)
HE The Interim Prime Minister:
Fellow Myeonghans,
I stand before you today to share a grand
plan, a vision for our great nation. A vision that will see us build a
Confucian constitutional democracy that will stand the test of time. A vision
that will require the help of an outstanding people, who are dedicated to the
principles of Confucianism and the ideals of democracy.
At the heart of this vision lies the belief
that our society can only thrive if we uphold the teachings of Sage Confucius and
the principles of democracy. The teachings of the Sage, such as respect for properly constituted authority, the importance of education, and the value of societal harmony, have
been central to our community since the very beginning. These teachings have helped shape
our values, our culture, and our way of life.
But we cannot stop there. We must also adhere to the principles of democracy, the belief that the people have the right
to choose their leaders and participate in the governance of our Realm. We
must build a society where the people have a voice and where their opinions are
valued and respected.
To achieve this vision, we must work
together as an outstanding people. We must put aside our differences and come
together for the greater good of our Realm. We must be willing to engage in
open and honest debate, to listen to each other's opinions, and to work towards
a common goal.
To this end, I propose a number of
initiatives that will help us build a Confucian constitutional democracy. These
initiatives include:
Strengthening our education system to
ensure that all citizens have access to quality education that emphasizes the
teachings of Confucius and the principles of democracy.
Promoting social harmony by fostering a
culture of respect, tolerance, and understanding among all members of our
society.
Developing a legal system that is fair,
just, and in line with the principles of Confucianism and democracy.
Encouraging civic engagement by
providing opportunities for citizens to participate in the governance of our
society.
Embracing new technologies that can help
us build a more transparent and accountable government.
My fellow citizens, building a Confucian
constitutional democracy, an endeavour that has never been carried through before, will not be easy. It will require hard work,
dedication, and a willingness to embrace change. But I am confident that we can
achieve this vision if we work together as an outstanding people.
Let us embrace the teachings of Sage Confucius
and the principles of democracy. Let us build a Realm that is fair, just, and
respectful of all its citizens. And let us work towards a brighter future for
our nation and for generations to come.
Thank you.
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
The Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Myeonghan Realm
HM The Emperor Addresses the Realm on its First National Day 13 October Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - HM The Emperor addresses Realm on first National Day:
Today on the first National Day of the Myeonghan Realm, I wish to speak to all Myeonghans, wherever they live, whatever ethnicity
they come from, and whatever language they speak. It is with great honour that
I speak about none other than my venerable predecessor the Gwangmu Emperor (광무제) (r. 1897-1907) of the Daehan Empire, also known as Gojong (고종) of Joseon, who founded the first
independent Confucian realm in succession to ancient Hwaha civilisation in 235 years more than 12 decades ago.
The Gwangmu Emperor ascended to the imperial throne at a time of immense challenges and
uncertainties. One of the most significant achievements of Gwangmu was his relentless
pursuit of modernisation and reform. Understanding the importance of progress,
he initiated a series of reforms that transformed Korea into a modern nation.
He promoted the adoption of Western-style education, modern infrastructure, and
technological advancements that contributed to the economic and social
development of the peninsula.
The Gwangmu Emperor's commitment to education was unparalleled. He established schools and universities, encouraging the pursuit of knowledge and
empowering the younger generation. This emphasis on education laid the
foundation for a more educated and enlightened society, fostering innovation
and creativity that propelled the Daehan Empire forward. And he navigated the complex web of
international relations, forging alliances and establishing diplomatic ties
with major world powers.
In addition, Gwangmu was a monarch who deeply cared for his people. He implemented policies to alleviate
poverty, improve living conditions, and ensure social justice for all. He
strived to create a society where every citizen had equal opportunities and
rights, fostering a sense of unity and harmony among his people.
It is also essential to acknowledge Gwangmu's courage and resilience in
the face of adversity. Despite his flaws, he valiantly defended the Daehan Empire against foreign powers,
tirelessly working to maintain its sovereignty and independence.
Today, the legacy of Gwangmu stands as a testament to his extraordinary
achievements. His dedication
to education, his diplomatic prowess, and his unwavering love for his people
continue to inspire generations.
In conclusion, Gwangmu's reign was a transformative period in East Asian history and had left an indelible mark on the Sojunghwa (소중화).
Thank you.
King Sejong the Great Honoured
With New Imperial Title
9 October Seongchi 1 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - On 9 October Seongchi 1 (2023), the first Sejong the Great Day celebrated as a public holiday in the Myeonghan Realm, The Emperor-in-Council decreed by edict that King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450) of the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon (황명조선국) should be posthumously honoured and venerated as Emperor Sejong the Great (short form: 세종대제; long form: 세종장헌영문예무인성명효대황제).
Yi Do (이도), known posthumously as Sejong the Great (세종대왕), was the fourth king of Joseon who reigned from 1418 to 1450. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Confucian kingship, earning even the title of 'Sage King from the East China Sea' (해동요순).
Sejong made significant contributions to science and technology. His achievements include creating the Hangul (한글) alphabet—which substantially reduced illiteracy, promoting agricultural innovations, supporting traditional Korean medicine through the compilation of medical encyclopaedia
Uibang yuch'aek (의방유취), and developing new technologies such as the advanced astronomical clock, known as the Jagyeokru (자격루). Additionally, under Sejong's military command, Joseon launched the Gihae Expedition (기해 동정) in 1419 that dealt a devastative blow on Japanese pirates who were prevalent at the time.
A devout Confucian, Sejong believed that Confucian values were essential for good governance. The outstanding monarch thus emphasised the importance of education, morality, and social harmony. He established a national academy to train civil servants, and he encouraged the use of Confucian ideals in government and society. Nonetheless, Sejong remained compassionate and open-minded enough to take the opinions of others, even those who disagreed with him, seriously. His role model is one that every subsequent Confucian monarch should emulate.
Happy Chuseok 29 September Seongchi 1 (2023)
NEW BLUE HOUSE - The Office of the Interim Prime Minister released the following address from HE The Interim Prime Minister on the occasion of Chuseok, Seongchi 1 (2023):
Fellow Myeonghans,It is my great honour to address you on this momentous occasion of the first Chuseok (추석) to be celebrated across our Realm. As we gather with family and friends to celebrate this harvest festival, we are reminded of the timeless traditions and values that have helped shape our micronation into the thriving parliamentary democracy it is today.
Chuseok is not only a time of giving thanks for the bountiful harvest, but also a time to reflect on our past and honor our ancestors. It is a time to pay tribute to those who came before us, who fought for our freedom and laid the foundation for our prosperity. As we gather around the table to share food and stories, we are reminded of the sacrifices that were made for us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. At the same time, Chuseok is also a time to look forward to the future. It is a time to renew our commitment to our nation and our people, to work together towards a brighter tomorrow.
As we face the challenges of the 21st century, we must remain steadfast in our dedication to our country, our democracy, and our values. As your Interim Prime Minister, I am proud to serve a nation that is rich in culture and tradition, a Realm that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
I am proud of our achievements, our resilience, and our spirit of community. And I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this great nation towards a brighter future. On behalf of His Majesty's Government, I wish you all a joyous and meaningful Chuseok. May this festival bring us closer together as a people, and may it inspire us to work together towards a better tomorrow.
Thank you, and Happy Chuseok!
The Rt Hon Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC
HE The Interim Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief
Kingly Title of Confucius Restored in Historic Edict
28 September Seongchi 1 (2023)
MYEONGBOK PALACE - Sage Confucius (공자) (551-479 BC) has since
Classical Antiquity been held as an uncrowned king (수왕), namely, one who possesses all the virtues of a humane king, or to
put it in exact terms, one who is a sage king in all but title.
Consequently, Sage Mencius (372-289 BC),
born just three generations after Confucius, confidently confirmed that the Annals
of Spring and Autumn, a classic authored by Confucius, contains matters
proper only to a sovereign.
In the Second Century BC, the Prince
Hoenamja (淮南子; 회남자) of the Han Dynasty,
not himself a Confucian, used these words to praise Confucius: ‘His abilities
were indeed numerous. But he is not known to the world for his courage or his
dexterity. Solely through practicing the way of teaching he became an uncrowned
king’.
Therefore, when, in the early 8th century,
the Hyeonjong Emperor of the Dang Dynasty (唐玄宗; 당 현종) granted Confucius, by
edict, the posthumous title of (文宣王; 문선황, lit. ‘King of the Propagation of Culture’, on the ground that the
latter’s teachings had played an indispensably leading role in civilising
politics, education, and customs of his realm, the Dang Emperor was doing
nothing other than building solidly upon an ancient tradition and an orthodox
doctrine.
It follows that similar edicts of delivered
by subsequent Hwaha emperors, such as the 1012 edict of the Jinjong Emperor of
the Song Dynasty (宋真宗; 송 진종) to elevate Confucius to the ‘Most Sagely King of the Propagation
of Culture’ (至聖文宣王; 지성문선황), or the 1307 edict
of the Öljeytü Khagan of the Mongolian Dai Ön ulus (元 成宗; 원 성종) to venerate the Sage as 大成至聖文宣王; 대성지성문선황, literally ‘Greatly Accomplished and Most Sagely King of the Propagation
of Culture), or the 1370 edict of the Hongmu emperor of the Myeong Dynasty that
affirmed the last title as being factually, ritually, and doctrinally
appropriate and fitting.
In 1530, some eight centuries since so many
emperors from so many dynasties had officially venerated Confucius as king,
with all due respect, the young Gajong Emperor of Myeong (嘉靖帝; 가정제), in the absence of
good counsel and sound judgment, and driven by his heretical Taoist beliefs, arbitrarily and capriciously abolished the
Grandmaster’s venerable kingly titles, going against the accumulated wisdom of
the ages, and retaining for Confucius nothing more than the description of
‘Most Sagely Former Master’. Such rash behaviour, especially by an emperor holding
the peerage of Son of Heaven, ought to be condemned and must not be repeated
again.
Thereafter, no East Asian government, from
the Manchu Qing regime to the Republic of Korea, has ever officially
referred to Confucius in his Kingly title until the present day. An injustice committed
even in 1530 must no longer remain unaddressed, for justice delayed is justice
denied.
On 28 September Seongchi 1 (2023), the 2574th anniversary of the Sage's birth, on the advice of HE The Prime Minister and the Privy Council, HM The Emperor invoked
his constitutional authority to decree by edict that the edict of 1530 of the Gajong Emperor of Myeong that
abolished Confucius’s kingly title had never enjoyed legal validity, and should be declared as null and void from the moment it was issued. HM The Emperor also decreed that the edict of
1370 of the Hongmu Emperor of Myeong has always been good law, such that
Confucius should be referred to as (大成至聖文宣王; 대성지성문선황, literally, ‘Greatly
Accomplished and Most Sagely King of the Propagation of Culture) in all places
under Heaven, once again.
Public Holidays of the Realm Announced
1 September Seongchi 1 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - HM The Emperor has assented to and promulgated the Provisional Public Holidays Act 2023 passed by the Interim Central Assembly. The Act designates the following dates as public holidays every year:
New Year's Day (신정): 1 January
Lunar New Year (설날): 1st day of 1st lunar month
Good Friday (성금요일): varies every year
Constitution Day (제헌절): 17 August
Chuseok (추석): 15th day of 8th lunar month
Birthday of Sage Confucius (공자탄): 28 September
Sejong the Great Day (세종대왕일): 9 October
National Day (국경일): 13 October
Christmas Day (성탄절): 25December
The Seongchi Era Begins
17 August Seongchi 1 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - On 17 August Seongchi 1 (2023), the 124th anniversary of the promulgation of the National Constitution of the Daehan Empire, HM The Emperor solemnly promulgated the Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm, and announced the beginning of the Seongchi era.
Earlier, following consultation with the Privy Council, HM The Emperor had chosen 'Seongchi' (성치), taken from the chapter bearing the same name from the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety (효경), as his regnal name; Seongchi in this context means 'He Who Reigns With Sageliness.' On the same day, Interim Prime Minister Baek Byeong-heon MCA PC announced that 17 August will be celebrated across the Realm as Constitution Day every year.
Closing of the Constituent Assembly
12 August Yunghui 117 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - On 12 August Yunghui 117 (2023), the Constituent Assembly unanimously amended the National Constitution of the Daehan Empire promulgated by the Gwangmu Emperor on 17 August Gwangmu 3 (1899) into the Constitution of the Myeonghan Realm in the aftermath of months of careful deliberation, debate, and design.
Through this decision, the Assembly also changed the official name of the polity from the Second Daehan Empire to the Myeonghan Realm. '명한연방,' the name of 'Myeonghan Realm' in Hangul, transliterates into 'Luminous and Primacy Federation' in English. 'Myeong'(명) is the name of the Myeong Empire, the closest ally and suzerain of the Imperial Myeong Kingdom of Joseon, the predecessor of the Daehan Empire. 'Han' (한) is a common name of three ancient states in first century BC Korea meaning 'primacy,' as well as the name the Daehan Empire adopted for itself.
The Constituent Assembly proclaimed by public acclamation its convenor Yi Yu-ryak (이유략) of the House of Later Yi (후 이 왕조) as Emperor, and Yi's spouse, Won So-yong (원소용), as Empress Consort. The Constituent Assembly also appointed the Interim Central Assembly with a mandate that expires on 31 December Seongchi 1 (2023), which in turn elected Baek Byeong-heon (백병헌), Chair of the Constituent Assembly, as Interim Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, with a tenure no longer than that of the Interim Central Assembly.
Interim Chair of the Constituent Assembly Elected
16 June Yunghui 117 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - Veteran lawyer and self-made Confucian scholar Representative Baek Byeong-heon (백병헌) was elected Chair of the Constituent Assembly, who concurrently serves as the Interim Head of Government of the Second Daehan Empire.
As Interim Head of Government, Baek functions as the temporary leader of the Interim Administration of the Second Daehan Empire until the Constitution is adopted. As Chair of the Constituent Assembly, he is responsible for moderating debates amongst representatives on what ought to be included into the Constitution. In both capacities, Baek would also be responsible for overseeing the Constituent Assembly's appointment of the Emperor, the Interim Prime Minister, and the Interim Central Assembly to lead the Empire during a transitional period prior to the establishment of a formal Government and Central Assembly in the foreseeable future.
Interim Convenor of the Constituent Assembly Elected
1 June Yunghui 117 (2023)
NEW HANSEONG - Lawyer and representative Won So-yong (원소용) (left) meeting the press with her husband esteemed Confucian philosopher Representative Yi Yu-ryak (이유략) upon the latter's election as Convenor of the Constituent Assembly, who concurrently serves as the Interim Head of State of the Second Daehan Empire.
The Constituent Assembly of the Daehan Empire (대한제국) is a body of representatives of the spiritual remnants of the Confucian commonwealth (천하; cheonha; literally 'All Beneath Heaven'), last manifested in the most recent legitimate Confucian macronation to exist—the Daehan Empire (1897-1910)—to resurrect that Empire in micronational form through drafting and adopting a Constitution that outlines the fundamental principles and rules that govern the Second Daehan Empire. The Constitution was set to proclaim the rights and duties of citizens, the form and powers of government, and the procedures for electing law-makers and appointing officials and legislating laws. The Second Daehan Empire was thus formed on 1 June Yunghui 117 (2023).
NEW SEONGGYUNGWAN BASILICA - As the Realm celebrates the Birthday of Sage Confucius, harmony be upon him, on 28 September Seongchi 2, His Sageliness The Supreme Patriarch, with the approval of His Majesty The Emperor, and the advice and consent of the Congregation for the Causes of Sages of the Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages, solemnly declares the following individuals, who had lived heroic lives and left behind teachings deserving of careful study and reflection, to be Sages of Confucianism and venerated in the Imperial Shrine of Confucius:
A recent portrait of HM The Emperor in traditional Myeonghanbok imperial regalia (Courtesy: Imperial Household Agency).
HS The Supreme Patriarch Jumang Polok crowned and enthroned (Courtesy: The Supreme Council for the Doctrine of the Sages).
NEW BLUE HOUSE - The Office of the Interim Prime Minister released the following address from HE The Interim Prime Minister on the occasion of Chuseok, Seongchi 1 (2023):
