Juksuseowon Confucian Academy

This is a seowon (Confucian academy) built to commemorate the scholarship and virtuous conduct of Jo Gwang-jo (pen name Jeongam, 1482–1519) and Yang Paeng-son (pen name Hakpo, 1488–1545). Jo Gwang-jo was a civil official of the mid-Joseon period who devoted himself to the study of Neo-Confucianism and, carrying on the scholarly lineage of Kim Jong-jik, became a leading figure of the Sarim faction. He had the Yeossi hyangyak, a community compact originating with the Lü family of China, put into practice across the eight provinces, and introduced the Hyeollyanggwa, a special recommendation-based civil examination. He was put to death after incurring the resentment of the meritorious subjects of the restoration over the affair of annulling merit-subject titles. In 1568, the first year of King Seonjo, he was posthumously granted the post of Chief State Councillor. Yang Paeng-son was also a civil official of the mid-Joseon period. When the Gimyo sahwa purge broke out in 1519, the fourteenth year of King Jungjong, he petitioned on behalf of Jo Gwang-jo, Kim Jeong and others and was stripped of office as a result. He was also accomplished in painting, carrying on the landscape style of An Gyeon. Juksuseowon was built in 1570, the third year of King Seonjo, to commemorate Jo Gwang-jo, and in the same year it received a royal plaque reading "Juksu," becoming a sa-aek seowon (an academy granted royal recognition and a name plaque). In 1630, the eighth year of King Injo, Yang Paeng-son was additionally enshrined there. In 1868, the fifth year of Emperor Gojong, the academy was closed under Heungseon Daewongun's order abolishing seowon, and from then on only an altar remained, where rites continued to be held. In 1971, Confucian scholars of Neungju and descendants of the Jeju Yang clan restored Juksuseowon at Wolgok-ri. Then in 1983 descendants of Jo Gwang-jo moved it again to its present site, giving it its current form. The academy's grounds include a three-kan shrine hall, an inner samun (a three-bay gate) and an outer samun, and a three-kan lecture hall. The layout follows the typical seowon arrangement of lecture hall in front and shrine behind, with the inner gate and surrounding walls separating the shrine area from the teaching area. A student dormitory was added in 1989 and a caretaker's house in 1994. Memorial rites are held every year in the second and eighth lunar months.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Hwasun, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료