Naju Stream East and West Won Courtyard Stele

Cheondong Seowon was first built in 1702, the 28th year of King Sukjong, by descendants at the entrance to Cheondong Village to honour Mungan-gong Yi Min-seo. Yi Min-seo's ancestral seat was Jeonju, his pen name was Seoha and his courtesy name was Ijung. A civil official of the late Joseon period noted for his calligraphy and writing, he served as Vice Minister (Champan) of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Taxation. Memorial rites for him are held at Seohasa Shrine in Naju and Dongsan Seowon in Heungdeok, and his writings include the Seohajip, in 17 volumes. Cheondong Seowon was first torn down in 1724, the fourth year of King Gyeongjong, and rebuilt the following year, 1725, the first year of King Yeongjo, after Confucian scholars petitioned for its restoration. More than thirty years after that first rebuilding, in 1755, the 31st year of King Yeongjo, Yi Geon-myeong, Yi Min-seo's second son, was enshrined there, and in 1777, the first year of King Jeongjo, his eldest son Yi Gwan-myeong was enshrined as well. The academy was repaired again in 1781, and the following year, 1782, descendants and local Confucian scholars joined together to erect the Naju Stream East and West Won Courtyard Stele, which stands there to this day, on the site of the former academy. It is also known as the "Mungan-gong Seoha Seonsaeng Myobi", or Grave Stele of Lord Seoha. The inscription was composed by Hong Nak-myeong, a maternal grandson of Lord Seoha and Jehak of the Hongmungwan, the Royal Library; written out in calligraphy by Seo Yu-rin, an official of the Chunchugwan, the Office of Annals; and carved by Yi Yeon-sang, a great-grandson of Yi Min-seo and an official of Seonggyungwan, the National Confucian Academy. Local Confucian students also took part: Na Geuk-dong and O Hyeok-won, yusa (administrators) of Naju, and Gi Jong-ui and Bak Sa-jik, yusa of Gwangju. The stele measures 222 cm in height, 97 cm in width and 26 cm in thickness. The stele is an important source of information on the state of clan shrines in the Naju region in the late Joseon period. Together with the history of Cheondong Seowon inscribed on it, the outstanding carving of the stele is of great help in studying the culture of the Naju region at the time.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Naju, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료