Daeseongjeon Shrine of Gyeongjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School

The date on which Gyeongjuhyanggyo, the local Confucian school of Gyeongju, was first built is not clearly known, but it is said to have been renovated in 1492 (the twenty-third year of King Seongjong) by Choe Eung-hyeon, the magistrate of Gyeongju. Having burned down during the Japanese invasions, the Daeseongjeon Shrine and the Jeonsacheong, the hall for preparing ritual offerings, were rebuilt in 1600 by magistrate Yi Si-bal; in 1604 magistrate Yun Seong rebuilt the Dongmu and Seomu, the east and west shrine halls; and in 1614 (the sixth year of King Gwanghaegun) magistrate Yi An-nul rebuilt Myeongnyundang, the lecture hall, and the Dongjae and Seojae, the east and west dormitories, at which time a pond and a small pavilion were also built in front of the Jedokcheong, the supervisory office. In 1655 (the sixth year of King Hyojong) the Songdan, or Pine Altar, was built to the north of Myeongnyundang, and in 1669 (the tenth year of King Hyeonjong) the Jon'gyeonggak, a hall for storing the Confucian classics, was built to the east of the Songdan, and the Dongmu and Seomu were renovated. At that time the magistrate Min Ju-myeon, in consultation with the local Confucian scholars, brought old stonework from the site of Imhaejeon Hall to build a set of steps and a main path that had not previously existed. This hyanggyo is among the larger examples in North Gyeongsang Province, and together with Najuhyanggyo, its building layout serves as a model for hyanggyo more generally. Gyeongjuhyanggyo stands to the west of Gyerim Forest and north of the Muncheon stream. Its site is said to have been that of the Yoseokgung Palace of the Silla period, and the school faces roughly ten degrees east of due south. Gyeongjuhyanggyo is a hyanggyo of the daeseorwi, or "large arrangement", type, meaning that it enshrines a larger number of spirit tablets than usual. Situated on level ground, its buildings, the Oesammun outer gate, the Sinsammun spirit gate, the Daeseongjeon Shrine and Myeongnyundang, are arranged along a single north-south axis facing south, following the typical layout in which the shrine precinct devoted to Confucius stands in front of the lecture precinct devoted to learning. Among the buildings of Gyeongjuhyanggyo, the Daeseongjeon Shrine has a clearly documented history, retains old-style techniques in its bracket sets, windows and doors, and timber frame, and the ink inscription found on its ridge purlin, recording the date of the shrine's reconstruction and the names of the craftsmen who took part, allows historical facts to be confirmed. For these reasons it holds great historical, academic and architectural value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물