Gimsanhyanggyo Local Confucian School

A hyanggyo is a local Confucian school established by the state to hold memorial rites for Confucius and other sages, and to educate and morally instruct the people of the region. Gimsanhyanggyo was first built in 1392, the first year of King Taejo of Joseon, but was burned down during the Japanese invasions of Korea. In 1634, the twelfth year of King Injo, the Daeseongjeon (shrine hall) and Myeongnyundang (lecture hall) were rebuilt, and the Dongjae and Seojae (east and west dormitories), Dongmu and Seomu (east and west shrine annexes) and the shrine gate were restored. The present buildings date from that time. What survives today includes the five-bay Daeseongjeon, where memorial rites are held, together with the Dongmu; the seven-bay Myeongnyundang, the lecture hall serving the school's educational function; the Dongjae and Seojae dormitories for students; and the inner and outer three-bay gates. The Daeseongjeon enshrines the spirit tablets of Confucius, his disciples, and sages of Korea. During the Joseon dynasty the state provided land, enslaved labourers and books to support the teaching of students, but the school's educational function has since been lost, leaving only its function of holding memorial rites.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산