Chunghyeonseowon Confucian Academy Site

This is a seowon (Confucian academy) founded by the Joseon-period scholar Seo Gi (1523–1591) to commemorate the Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi. Seo Gi studied under Seo Gyeong-deok and Yi Ji-ham and devoted himself to training younger scholars at Jirisan Mountain and Gyeryongsan Mountain. It was first built under the name Bagyakjae, and the tablets of Yi Jon-o, Yi Mok and Seong Je-won were later enshrined there as well, but it was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592. It was restored in 1610, the second year of King Gwanghaegun, when the tablet of Jo Heon was also enshrined, and in 1625, the third year of King Injo, it was officially recognised by the state as a royally chartered academy and given the name Chunghyeonseowon. The tablets of Kim Jang-saeng, Song Jun-gil and Song Si-yeol were subsequently added, and the academy also served to educate local Confucian students, until it was closed in 1871, the eighth year of Emperor Gojong, under Heungseon Daewongun's order abolishing seowon academies. The present buildings were newly restored in 1976. Built beside the national road between Daejeon and Gongju, the academy is modest in scale, consisting of a shrine, a residential study hall, and steles recording its history. The shrine measures three kan across the front and two kan on the side; inside, a portrait of Zhu Xi is enshrined at the centre, flanked by the memorial tablets of seven sages. Memorial rites are held here every year in March and September.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gongju, Chungnam

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물