Hampyeong Local Confucian School

A hyanggyo is a local educational institution built by the state to hold memorial rites for eminent Confucian scholars and to provide Confucian education and moral instruction to local people. The exact date this school was founded is not known. It burned down in the Japanese invasion of 1597 (the Jeongyu War) and was rebuilt as a thatched-roof building in 1599, the 32nd year of King Seonjo, but as the site was considered unfavourable it was moved to its present location in 1625, the third year of King Injo. The buildings standing today have been repaired many times up to recent years. The buildings that remain include the Daeseongjeon Shrine, Myeongnyundang Hall, the east and west dormitories, and the inner three-bay gate. In general, the layout of a hyanggyo follows one of two patterns: on flat ground, the shrine space is placed in front of the study space (known as jeonmyo-huhak), while on sloping ground the study space is placed in front of the shrine space (jeonhak-humyo). This school follows the jeonmyo-huhak arrangement, which is an unusual example. During the Joseon period the school received land, slaves and books from the state to teach its students, but after the Gabo Reform of 1894 its educational function ceased, and today only memorial rites are held, in spring and autumn.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hampyeong, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산