Joseon Wangjo Sillok comprise 1,893 books and 888 volumes covering 472 years (1392-1863) of the history of the Joseon Dynasty in chronological order, from the reign of King Taejo, the founder, to the end of the reign of King Cheoljong. The contents of these annals are encyclopedic, including general state affairs, economy, culture and politics. They are also highly reliable records with historic authenticity and credibility. Historiographers were legally guaranteed independence in their record keeping and the right to keep secrets. After a king's death and the coronation of his successor, professional officials were appointed to write the annals of his reign at the Sillokcheong, the Office for Annals Compilation. Nobody was allowed to read the sacho, or draft history, not even the king. Once the annals were compiled in multiple copies, each copy was stored in special archives. Up until the early 20th century, most of the copies stored at archives in Taebaeksan Mountain, Jeongjoksan Mountain, Jeoksangsan Mountain and Odaesan Mountain survived, even after the massive destruction by the Japanese Invasion (1592-1598) and the Qing Invasion (1636-1637). The Jeongjoksan Edition consists of 1,181 volumes. Annals covering the period from the reigns of King Taejo to King Taejong were transcribed from the Chunchugwan and Chungjusago editions in the 27th year of King Sejong, and annals of the later period to King Myeongjong were stored in an archive in Jeonju. They managed to survive the Japanese Invasion thanks to An Ui and Son Hong-rok who moved them to Naejangsan Mountain in Jeongeup-gun. Then, they were moved to Haeju in the 26th year of King Seonjo, to Ganghwado in the 29th year of his reign and to Myohyangsan Mountain in the 32nd year. After the Japanese Invasion (1592-1598), from July in the 36th year of King Seonjo to March in the 39th year, four additional copies were produced, which then were preserved at Manisan Mountain, Ganghwado. Later, newly compiled annals were added. Later, further severe damage was caused by the Qing Invasion (1636-1637), followed by a fire in the fourth year of King Hyojong (1653) which resulted in the loss of some volumes: it was then restored in the sixth year of King Hyeonjong (1665). In the fourth year of King Sukjong, a new archive was erected at Jeongjoksan Mountain in Ganghwado Island, which became a new home to the annals that had been kept at the Manisan Mountain archive. Then they were moved to Gyeongseong Imperial University (predecessor of the present Seoul National University) under the Japanese Imperial Regime; after the Liberation, they were housed at Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies of Seoul National University.