Sinhangseowon Confucian Academy, Cheongju

Sinhangseowon Confucian Academy, a leading academy of Cheongju, began in 1570, the third year of King Seonjo, holding memorial rites for Gyeong Yeon, Park Hun, Kim Jeong and Song In-su, and today enshrines nine Confucian sages in all. The academy complex consists of the lecture hall Gyegaedang, the shrine Guhyeonsa (Shrine of the Nine Sages), a stele recording its history (myojeongbi), and other structures. After its founding in 1570, Sinhangseowon was rebuilt in 1642, the twentieth year of King Injo, when Han Chung was added to the enshrinement (chuhyang). Song Sang-hyeon and Yi Deuk-yun were added in 1650, the first year of King Hyojong, and Yi I and Yi Saek were added in 1656, the seventh year of King Hyojong, bringing the number enshrined to the present nine. It was initially named Yujeongseowon after the local place name, then in 1660, the first year of King Hyeonjong, it received a royal charter granting a name plaque and was renamed to its present name. In 1665, the sixth year of King Hyeonjong, a dispute arose over the order of enshrinement (wicha) — whether Yi I alone should hold the place of primary honour (dokhyang) with the others as subordinate figures (baehyang) — causing a major clash between the local Noron faction and its opponents. Song Jun-gil's opinion was subsequently adopted, placing Yi I first in order on the east wall. The academy was demolished in 1871, the eighth year of Emperor Gojong; permission to restore it was granted in 1892, the twenty-ninth year of his reign; it was rebuilt in 1904, the eighth year of the Gwangmu era, and rebuilt again in 1957. Passing through the three-bay gate bearing the name plaque 'Sinhangseowon', one finds the myojeongbi stele standing in front. Its text was composed in 1685, the eleventh year of King Sukjong, by Song Si-yeol (pen name Uam), written out by Jo Hyeong-gi, magistrate of Seowon County, with the heading inscribed by Chief State Councillor Kim Su-hang. Behind the stele stands the lecture hall Gyegaedang, measuring five bays across the front and two bays deep, and behind that, past another three-bay gate, stands the shrine Guhyeonsa, three bays across the front and one bay deep, set further back in the hierarchy of the site. Sinhangseowon is a leading Confucian academy representing Cheongju. Since its founding in 1570, through repeated additions to its enshrined figures, the granting of a royal charter, and disputes over ritual precedence, it has become an academy honouring nine sages, and has survived demolition and restoration down to the present day. It began as an academy honouring local scholars and respected figures, and gradually established itself as an academy of the Noron faction; it is also a historical site through which one can trace, via these additions and disputes over precedence, its transformation into a Noron academy.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물