Gangseongseowon Confucian Academy

This seowon (Confucian academy) was built to honour Mun Ik-jeom, pen name Samudang (1329-1398), and Mun Wi-se, pen name Pungam (1534-1600). Mun Ik-jeom was a civil official of the Goryeo period who brought cotton seeds back from Yuan China, bringing about a great change in Korean clothing. Mun Wi-se was a ninth-generation descendant of Mun Ik-jeom; he raised a righteous army and distinguished himself during the Japanese invasion of 1592, and repelled many Japanese troops during the second invasion of 1597. Originally, Wolcheonsa shrine was built in the twenty-second year of King Injo (1644) to commemorate Mun Wi-se; then in the tenth year of King Yeongjo (1734) the spirit tablet of Mun Ik-jeom was enshrined there, making him the central figure, with Mun Wi-se enshrined alongside him. In the ninth year of King Jeongjo (1785) it received a plaque reading "Gangseong" from the king and became a royally chartered seowon. It was later closed under Heungseon Daewongun's order abolishing private academies, but the lecture hall was restored in 1905, and the shrine hall, Sungdeoksa, was rebuilt in 1929. Gangseongseowon comprises the shrine hall Sungdeoksa, the lecture hall used for study, and the inner and outer three-bay gates. Sungdeoksa measures three bays across the front and one bay to the side, with a gabled roof that forms the shape of the character 人 (person) when viewed from the side. The lecture hall measures five bays across the front and two bays to the side, with a hipped-and-gabled roof that forms the shape of the character 八 (eight) when viewed from the side. Inside Sungdeoksa the spirit tablet of Mun Ik-jeom is enshrined at the centre, with that of Mun Wi-se to its left, and memorial rites are held every year on the ninth day of the ninth month.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jangheung, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료