confucianism ideals were very important to king sejong, and he wanted his subjects to have a medium through which they could learn the ethics and morals of confucianism. during his 14th year in power, king sejong instructed his scholars at the hall of worthies to compile outstanding examples of the fundamental principles in human relationships (filial piety, loyalty to the state, and wifely devotion) from both korean and chinese history. this compilation of works would become the book "conduct of the three fundamental principles in human relationships" (samgang haengshildo, hanja: 三綱行實圖, hangul: 삼강행실도). unfortunately, this work was originally recorded in chinese characters, and thus, the general public could not read it until it was translated into hangul some 30 years later.