Courtyard Stele of Yongamseowon Confucian Academy, Hapcheon

This stele was erected in the courtyard (myojeong) of Yongamseowon, a Confucian academy where Jo Sik (pen name Nammyeong, 1501–1572) was enshrined and venerated, in order to understand and commemorate his scholarship and thought. Yongamseowon is the name acquired in 1609 by Hyangcheonseowon, which had been built in 1601 in Bongsan-myeon as the successor to Hoesanseowon. Hoesanseowon itself had been built in 1576 below Hoehyeon in Gahoe-myeon but burned down during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s; in 1609 Hyangcheonseowon received a royal charter (sa-aek, a name-plaque bestowed by the king) and was thereafter known as Yongamseowon. This courtyard stele was erected in 1812, the twelfth year of King Sunjo's reign in Joseon, and measures 80 cm in width, 180 cm in height and 25 cm in thickness. In form, a rectangular stele body carved with a taegeuk (yin-yang) pattern stands on a turtle-shaped base and is capped with a roof-shaped headstone. The inscription was composed by Song Si-yeol (pen name Uam, 1607–1689), and the calligraphy was written in the haeseo (standard) script by Oh Cheol-sang, who was then magistrate of Samga County. Apart from documentary records, this courtyard stele is the sole surviving proof that Yongamseowon ever existed, giving it symbolic importance for the academy and making it a site of real value.

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Where it is

Region

Hapcheon, Gyeongnam

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료