This is a list of seowon in both North and South Korea. The seowon were private Korean Confucian institutions which combined the roles of Confucian shrine and academy. For the closely related government educational institutions (hanggyo, 항교) see list of hanggyo.
The seowon here are listed according to the province in which they were located.
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chungnyeolsa | 충렬사 | Ganghwado, Incheon | Kim Sang-yong | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Deokbong Seowon | 덕봉서원 | Yangseong-myeon, Anseong | O Du-in | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Ganghansa | 강한사 | Yeoju | Song Si-yŏl | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Gigongsa | 기공사 | Goyang | Gwon Yul | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Hyeonjeolsa | 현절사 | Gwangju | Kim Sang-heon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Nogang Seowon | 노강서원 | Gwacheon | Pak Tae-bo | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Pasan Seowon | 파산서원 | Paju | Seong Hon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Sachung Seowon | 사충서원 | Gwacheon | Kim Chang-jip | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Simgok Seowon | 심곡서원 | Yongin | Jo Gwang-jo | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Sungyang Seowon | 숭양서원 | Kaesong | Chŏng Mong-ju | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Ujeo Seowon | 우저서원 | Gimpo | Jo Heon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Yongyeon Seowon | 용연서원 | Pocheon | Yi Deok-hyeong | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Changnyeolsa | 창렬사 | Hongsan-myeon, Buyeo | Yun Jip | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Chungnyeolsa | 충렬사 | Chungju | Im Gyeong-eop | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Dunam Seowon | 둔암서원 | Yeonsan-myeon, Nonsan | Kim Gang-saeng | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Nogang Seowon | 노강서원 | Noseong-myeon, Nonsan | Yun Hwang | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Pyochungsa | 표충사 | Cheongju | Yi Bong-sang | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gyullim Seowon | 귤림서원 | Jeju City | Kim Jeong | 1665 | 1871 by royal decree | Founded by Choe Jin-nam |
Jocheon Seowon | 조천서원 | Jeju City | Gang Ji-yeon | 1871 by royal decree | ||
Museong Seowon | 무성서원 武城書院 | Taein-myeon, Jeongeup | Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Piram Seowon | 필암서원 筆巖書院 | Jangseong | Kim In-hu | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Pochungsa | 포충사 褒忠祠 | Gwangju | Go Gyeong-myeon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Byeongsan Seowon | 병산서원 屛山書院 | Byeongsan-ri, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong | Yu Seong-ryong | 1620 | Exempted in 1871 | [1] |
Changnyeolsa | 충렬사 | Jinju | Kim Cheon-il | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Chungnyeolsa | 충렬사 | Goseong | Yi Sun-sin | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Chungnyeolsa | 충렬사 | Dongnae-gu, Busan | Song Sang-hyeon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Dobong Seowon | 도봉서원 | Hyeonpung-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu | Kim Goeng-pil | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Dongnak Seowon | 동락서원 | Jinmi-dong (373 Imsu-dong) Gumi | ||||
Dosan Seowon | 도산서원 陶山書院 | Yean-myeon, Andong | Yi Hwang | Exempted in 1871 | Depicted on the reverse of the South Korean 1,000 won bill from 1975 to 2007 | |
Geumo Seowon | 금오서원 | Seonsan-eup, Gumi | Kil Chae | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Heungam Seowon | 흥암서원 | Sangju | Song Chun-gil | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Huiyeon Seowon | 희연서원 | 258, Sinjeong-ri, Suryun-myen, Seongju County | ||||
Imgo Seowon | 임고서원 | 462-21, Yanghang-ri, Imgo-myeon, Yeongcheon | 1553 (명종 8) | |||
Jagye Seowon | 자계서원 | Seowon-ri, Iseo-myeon, Cheongdo County | 1518 | [2] | ||
Namgye Seowon | 남계서원 | Hamyang | Jeong Yeo-chang | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Okdong Seowon | 옥동서원 | 546, Subong-ri, Modong-myeon, Sangju | Hwang Hui | 1518년(중종 13) | Exempted in 1871 | [3] |
Oksan Seowon | 옥산서원 | Gyeongju | Yi Eon-jeok | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Pochungsa | 포충사 | Geochang | Yi Sul-won | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Pyochung Seowon | 표충서원 | Miryang | Songun Yu Jeong | The only seowon inside a Buddhist temple. | ||
Samgye Seowon | 삼계서원 | Samgye-ri, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa County | [4] | |||
Seoak Seowon | 서악서원 | Gyeongju | Seol Chong | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Sincheon Seowon | 신천서원 | 421-2, Wangsin-ri, Yeocheon-eup, Yecheon County | 1624 | <!closer--> | [5] | |
Sosu Seowon | 소수서원 紹修書院 | Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju | An Hyang | Exempted in 1871 | Considered the first seowon. | |
Yerim Seowon | 예림서원 禮林書院 | Miryang | Kim Chong-jik | 1871 by royal decree. | ||
Yonggye Seowon | 용계서원 | 303 Yongsan-ri, Jayang-myeon, Yeongcheon | 1684 (숙종 10) | [6] | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Changjeol Seowon | 창절서원 | Yeongwol | Pak Paeng-nyeon | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Chungnyeol Seowon | 충렬서원 | Kimhwa | Hong Myeong-gu | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Pochungsa | 포충사 | Cheorwon | Kim Eung-ha | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bongyang Seowon | 보양서원 | Changyŏn | Pak Se-chae | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Cheongseongmyo | 청성묘 | Haeju | Bo Yi (伯夷) | Exempted in 1871. | Dedicated to a Chinese sage. | |
Munhoe Seowon | 문회서원 | Paech'ŏn | Yi I | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Taesasa | 태사사 | P'yŏngsan | Sin Sung-gyŏm | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nodeok Seowon | Pukch'ŏng | Yi Hang-bok | Exempted in 1871. | |||
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chungminsa | 충민사 忠愍祠 | Anju | Nam I-heung | Exempted in 1871. | ||
Muyeolsa | 무열사 武烈祠 | P'yŏngyang | Four including Shi Xing (石星), Li Rusong | Exempted in 1871, but closed later. | Dedicated to Chinese sages | |
Pyojeolsa | 표절사 表節祠 | Chŏngju | Jeong Si | Exempted in 1871 | ||
Samchungsa | 삼충사 三忠祠 | P'yŏngwŏn | Zhuge Liang, Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang | Exempted in 1871, but closed later. | Dedicated to Chinese sages. | |
Suchungsa | 수충사 酬忠祠 | Ryŏngbyŏn | Songun Yu Jeong, Hyu Jeong | Exempted in 1871, but closed later. | Dedicated to Buddhist monks. |
Name | Hangul Hanja | Location | Chief enshrined sage | Founding | Closure | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chisan Seowon | 치산 서원 岐山誓言 | Manhwa-ri, Dudong-myeon Ulju-gun, Ulsan Metropolitan City | Park Jae-sang | Exempted in 1871. | Park's wife Chisul-sinmo shrine is here, Chisan Seowon was built upon the site of the shrine during the Joseon Dynasty. |
Yi Hwang was a Korean philosopher, writer, and Confucian scholar of the Joseon period. He is considered the most important philosopher of Korea - he is honored by printing his portrait on the 1000 Won banknote, on the reverse of which one can see an image of his school, Dosan Seowon. He was of the Neo-Confucian literati, established the Yeongnam School and set up the Dosan Seowon, a private Confucian academy.
Yeongju is a city in the far north region of North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, covering 668.84 km2 with a population of 113,930 people according to the 2008 census. The city borders Bonghwa county to the east, Danyang county of North Chungcheong province to the west, Andong city and Yecheon county to the south, and Yeongwol county of Gangwon province to the north.
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Gyeongju, historically known as Seorabeol, is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering 1,324 km2 (511 sq mi) with a population of 264,091 people as of December 2012. Gyeongju is 370 km (230 mi) southeast of Seoul, and 55 km (34 mi) east of Daegu. The city borders Cheongdo and Yeongcheon to the west, Ulsan to the south and Pohang to the north, while to the east lies the coast of the Sea of Japan. Numerous low mountains—outliers of the Taebaek range—are scattered around the city.
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Miryang, formerly also spelled as 推火郡, Milbeol (密伐) and Milseong (密城), is a city in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, South Korea. Its name is originated from the tribal country named Miri midong guk (彌離彌凍國). There are various hypotheses as to the meaning of Miryang, such as Milky Way, Galaxy, dragon's field, Wheat Field and the watery field. Neighboring cities include Changnyeong to the west, Cheongdo to the north, Ulsan to the east, and Yangsan, Gimhae, and Changwon to the south. The city bird is the Korean magpie, the city tree is the pine, and the city flower is the royal azalea.
Seowon (Korean: 서원) were the most common educational institutions of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a Confucian school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing young men for the national civil service examinations. In most cases, seowon served only pupils of the aristocratic yangban class. On 6 July 2019, UNESCO recognized a collection of nine seowon as World Heritage Sites.
Hyanggyo (Korean: 향교) were government-run provincial Confucian schools established during the Goryeo (918–1392), and Joseon periods in Korea. They were established to educate and train officials in Confucian ideals and the ethics of government. In the Joseon period, when Neo-Confucianism replaced Buddhism as the ruling ideology, the government needed to promote the new ideology to create a new social order based on Neo-Confucianism. During this period also, teachers at Hyanggyo received land, royalties, and slaves from the government.
Tourism in Gyeongju is a major industry and defining feature of Gyeongju, South Korea. Gyeongju is a major cultural site and tourist destination for South Koreans and foreigners with about 8 to 9 million visitors annually. A great deal of this is due to the city's status as a center of Silla heritage, derived from its former role as the capital of that ancient kingdom.
Tteokguk (Korean: 떡국) or sliced rice cake soup is a traditional Korean dish eaten during the celebration of the Korean New Year. The dish consists of the broth/soup (guk) with thinly sliced rice cakes (tteok). Eating tteokguk on New Year's Day is traditionally believed to grant good luck for the year and confer one sal. It is usually garnished with thin julienned cooked eggs, marinated meat, gim (김), and sesame oil (참기름).
Yerim Seowon is a former seowon in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do. It is located in Bubuk-myeon on the slopes of Jongnamsan, in the valley of the Miryang River.
Mukgye Seowon is a seowon located at Mukgye-ri, Giran-myeon of the Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It was established by the local Confucian scholars in 1706, the 32nd year of King Sukjong's reign to commemorate the scholarly achievement and good dead of Kim Gye-haeng and Ok Go both of which were civil ministers.
The Oksan Seowon is a seowon located at Oksan-ri, Angang-eup in the city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It was established by Yi Je-min, (李齊閔), the minister of Gyeongju and local Confucian scholars in 1572, the fifth year of King Seonjo's reign, to commemorate the scholarly achievement and virtue of Confucian scholar and politician Yi Eon-jeok (1491–1553).
The Seoak Seowon is a seowon located in the neighborhood of Seoak-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon was a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It was established by local Confucian scholars especially Yi Jeong in 1651, the second year of King Hyojong's reign, to commemorate the virtue and scholarly achievements of scholar Seol Chong, and Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn and General Kim Yu-sin. The enshrined people played important roles in the unification of Three Kingdoms of Korea into Unified Silla.
The Byeongsan Seowon (Korean: 병산서원) is a seowon located in Byeongsa-ri village of the Pungcheon-myeon township in the city of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It was first established as Jondeoksa (尊德祠) by local Confucian scholars especially Jeong Gyeong-se (鄭經世) in 1613, the fifth year of King Gwanghaegung's reign, to commemorate the scholarly achievement and virtue of the notable Confucian scholar and politician Ryu Seong-ryong. The predecessor of the seowon was Pungak Seodang (豊岳書堂) which was a school located in Pungsan to teach the Pungsan Ryu clan during the Goryeo period. Ryu Seong-ryong moved the seodang to the current place in 1572.
The Imcheon Seowon is a seowon located in the neighborhood of Songhyeon-dong of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon is a type of local academy during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It was first established by local Confucian scholars in 1607, the 40th year of King Seonjo's reign, to commemorate the scholarly achievement and virtue of the Confucian scholar and politician Kim Seong-il.
The Gosan Seowon is a seowon located in the village of Gwangeum-ri, Namhu-myeon of Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Seowon were private Confucian academies which educated the officials of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) and contained shrines for notable (local) Joseon scholars. It was first established by local Confucian scholars in 1789, the 13th year of King Jeongjo's reign, to commemorate the scholarly achievement and virtue of the Confucian scholar Yi Sang-jeong.
The Gyeongju Hyanggyo is a hyanggyo or government-run provincial school during the Goryeo and Joseon periods, which is located the neighborhood of Gyo-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. The foundation date is unknown, but was established to enshrine the memorial tablet of a wise Confucian scholar and to commemorate him as well as to provide mid-leveled education to the local during the Goryeo period. The site was originally the place where the Gukhak, or national academy of the Silla kingdom was situated. The Gukhak was built in 682, the second year of King Sinmun's reign and is equivalent to current national universities. It is designated to the 191st Tangible Cultural Property of North Gyeongsang province.
Gwangajeong is an old hanok, or Korean traditional house located in Yangdong village, Gangdong-myeon, Gyeongju, South Korea. It was the house of Son Jung-don, a civil minister during the reign of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty. It is designated as the 442 Treasure of South Korea. Sarangchae and anchae of the house are arranged in a rectangular shape looking to the west whereas a shrine is located facing to northeast. The hanok is regarded as a good example for studying houses built in the mid Joseon period.
Pak Sŏ-saeng was a Korean civil minister (munsin) in the 15th century during the early period of the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Pak was also diplomat and ambassador, representing Joseon interests in the Tongsinsa to the Ashikaga shogunate in Japan.