Nongsa chiksŏl

Nongsa chiksŏl (Korean: 농사직설; Hanja: 農事直說; lit. 'Straight Talk on Farming') is a Korean agricultural book written by two civil ministers (munsin), Chŏng Ch'o and Pyŏn Hyomun as ordered by Sejong the Great (r. 1418 - 1450) during the early period of Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392 – 1897).

It consists of only one volume and was published in 1429, the 11th year of the King's reign, as kwanch'an (官撰, books published by the government), and was widely distributed to regional officers of each province in the following year. From then onwards, it was published in different editions called naesabon (內賜本) in 1492, siphangbon (十行本) in 1656, and sungjŏngbon (崇禎本) in 1686. Of these, a naesabon edition was transmitted to Japan, and the book is referred to in many agricultural books, including Sallim kyŏngje ("Farm Management") and Imwŏn kyŏngjeji ("Sixteen Discourses on Rural Economy"). While the contents of Nongsa chiksŏl are mostly limited to the main grains harvested in Korea, and the descriptions are short and simple, it is the first book compiled for the Korean agricultural environment. The book was used as a guide for local kwŏnnonggwan (勸農官) officers in charge of agricultural affairs. The publiciation of the Nongsa chiksŏl was a part of King Sejong's effort to expand rice farming in Korea.