Sangdeoksa Shrine and Main Gate of Dosanseowon Confucian Academy, Andong

A seowon was a private educational institution of the Joseon period where memorial rites were held for eminent scholars and where students studied Confucianism. Dosanseowon Confucian Academy was first established to honour the scholarship and virtuous conduct of Yi Hwang (1501–1570). Yi Hwang was a renowned civil official of the mid-Joseon period who held numerous government posts and devoted his life to scholarly research and the training of disciples. Sangdeoksa, at the very rear of Dosanseowon, is the shrine housing Yi Hwang's spirit tablet. It was built in 1574, the seventh year of King Seonjo, and the building standing today was repaired in 1969. It measures three bays across the front and two bays to the side, with a hipped-and-gabled roof that, seen from the side, takes the shape of the character 八 (eight). The main gate leading into Sangdeoksa is likewise three bays across the front and two bays to the side, but its roof is a gabled roof shaped, seen from the side, like the character 人 (person). The gate was built at the same time as the shrine; because of the difference in level created by the steps, the front pillars are longer than the others. The earthen walls that once ran along both sides of the gate around the shrine were entirely replaced with stone walls during the 1969 repair work. It is a traditional Joseon-period building of long standing, built in a simple and highly frugal manner.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

Summer 09:00-18:00 Winter 09:00-17:00

Closed

N/A (Open all year round)

Admission

Adults 2,000 won / Teenagers & Children 1,000 won

Parking

Available

Information

+82-54-856-1073

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Andong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물