[Ha Yon graduated in the year 1396, and became magistrate of Anak
County. He built many pavilions in and about his official place of
residence, where people might rest. As he went about his district,
seeing the farmers busy, he wrote many songs and verses to encourage
them in their work. He became later a royal censor, and King Tai-jong
commended him, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Later
he became Chief Justice. He cleared out the public offices of all
disreputable officials, and made the Court clean. When he had leisure
it was his habit to dress in ceremonial garb, burn incense, sit at
attention, and write prayer verses the livelong day.
When he was young, once, in the Court of the Crown Prince, he
wrote a verse which was commented upon thus: "Beautiful writing,
beautiful thought; truly a treasure." He was a great student and a
great inquirer, and grateful and lovable as a friend. He studied as
a boy under the patriot Cheung Mong-ju, and was upright and pure in
all his ways. His object was to become as one of the Ancients, and
so he followed truth, and encouraged men in the study of the sacred
books. He used to awake at first cock-crow of the morning, wash, dress,
and never lay aside his book. On his right were pictures, on his left
were books, and he happy between. He rose to be Prime Minister.]