The government and public systems of the Joseon Dynasty were organized according to principles of Neo-Confucianism, the official state ideology.

Unlike the Goryeo Dynasty, in which agricultural lands were privately controlled by aristocrats and local clans, the Joseon Dynasty installed a centralized government that was responsible for overseeing the legal administration, the military, and the performance of national rituals.

The king regularly consulted with government officials with expertise in various fields. As the foundation of governance, these experts published the official law books, as well as books on state rites and ceremonies, geography, and history.