Dong School Hall, Sangju

Dong School Hall, Sangju is the teaching hall (gyodang) of Donghak, located in a flat village within a broad basin ringed on all sides by mountains. Kim Ju-hui (1860–1940), father of the present owner, settled here in 1915 to spread Donghak, Korea's own indigenous religion, and to expand its following; he is said to have built the hall in 1924. Four buildings — the east, west, south and north halls — are arranged around the four sides, with a storehouse wing to the rear left. The north hall, the main building, served as the seonghwasil (a room for sacred rites); the sarangchae, or east hall, served as the jeopjusil, the office of the jeopju, a local Donghak congregation leader; the inner sarangchae, or west hall, was shared equally between male and female believers; and the haengnangchae, or south hall, was used by male believers. Originally all the buildings were thatched, but the roofs were later replaced with slate. It is notable as an unusual surviving example of a headquarters building for Donghak.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Sangju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Provincial Folklore Heritage · 시도민속문화유산