Deokbongseowon Confucian Academy

This academy was founded in 1695, the 21st year of King Sukjong, to honour the loyalty and virtuous conduct of Oh Du-in (1624–1689), a Joseon official who was implicated in the Gisa Purge and died while in exile. In the 23rd year of King Sukjong's reign, the king bestowed a signboard reading 'Deokbong', bringing the academy official recognition and support. It is one of only 47 academies nationwide that survived Emperor Gojong's 1871 order, in his eighth year, abolishing private academies. Oh Du-in passed the jinsa examination in first place in 1648, the 26th year of King Injo, and the following year came first in a special civil service examination, after which he held a succession of official posts. In 1689, the 15th year of King Sukjong, following the deposition of Queen Inhyeon, he opposed it together with Lee Se-hwa and Park Tae-bo, and died in Paju while being exiled to Uiju. In 1694, the 20th year of King Sukjong, he was posthumously appointed Chief State Councillor, with the posthumous title Chungjeong. Deokbongseowon stands on the southeastern side of a hill at the entrance to the village. On the lower terrace of the sloping site stand the lecture hall, Jeonguidang, together with the east and west dormitories, while the shrine, Deokbongsau, occupies the upper terrace, giving the academy the typical jeonhakhumyo layout, with the lecture hall at the front and the shrine to the rear. Judging by the building members used, the shrine and lecture hall are presumed to date from the 19th century; the east and west dormitories were damaged in the 1940s and have since been restored. Although not large in scale, Deokbongseowon is finely built, with its spaces arranged in a very well-organised composition.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Anseong, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산