Korean Confucian Academy Route

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1. 1

   Heritage site

   Gyeongju Oksan Seowon

   216-27 Oksanseowon-gil, Angang-eup, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk

   Stamp: Oksan Seowon Tourist Information Center

   Take a bus to Gyeongju from Seoul Express Bus Terminal → Get off at Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal → Take Bus No. 203 (Terminal, Angyeong Terminal, Oksan Seowon) from ‘Intercity Bus Terminal’ bus stop → Get off at Oksan 1-ri Dokrakdang bus stop → Walk for 10 minutes It was founded in 1572 to honor the Confucian scholar Yi Eon-jeok. Yi Eon-jeok, a civil servant and scholar, played a significant role in establishing Neo-Confucianism in Joseon. Oksan Seowon follows the 'jeonhak humyo' structure with the Guindang study hall in the front and the Cheinmyo shrine in the back. Mubyeonru, where students rested, is the first example of a 'numaru' (a high floor resembling an attic) in Seowon architecture, which maximizes the harmony between the inside and outside landscapes. Oksan Seowon holds the largest collection of books among existing Seowon libraries, including notable works such as "Samguk Sagi" and Yi Eon-jeok's manuscripts, which are crucial for studying Confucian studies in Joseon.

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2. 2

   Heritage site

   Nonsan Donam Seowon

   26-14 Im 3-gil, Yeonsan-myeon, Nonsan-si, Chungnam

   Stamp: Tourist Information Center inside Donam Seowon

   Donam Seowon was founded to honor Kim Jang-saeng (1548-1631), a master of Yeohak. Kim Jang-saeng, who succeeded the thoughts and studies of Yi I, devoted himself to academic research and fostering younger generations. This Seowon was built three years after his death in 1634 (12th year of King Injo). Donam Seowon, consisting of educational facilities, memorial spaces, and annex buildings, includes Eungdodang, a large and rare auditorium among Seowon architectures. Eungdodang, the lecture hall where students were taught, is noted for its unique structure and detailed techniques. The 'flower wall' of Sungnyesa, where ancestral tablets are enshrined, also showcases the charm of the Seowon. The buildings, situated on a broad plain with Mount Gojong as a backdrop, exude a tranquil elegance, and in summer, the blooming crepe myrtle flowers within the Seowon add vibrant beauty. In 1871 (8th year of King Gojong), even when Heungseon Daewongun ordered the closure of over 650 Seowons nationwide, only 47 remained, and Donam Seowon managed to maintain its legacy.

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3. 3

   Heritage site

   Dalseong Dodong Seowon

   1 Dodongseowon-ro, Guji-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu

   Stamp: Dodong Seowon Tourist Information Center

   Dodong Seowon was established in 1605 to commemorate Kim Gwoeng-pil, who was deeply immersed in the basic principles of Neo-Confucianism and called himself ‘So Hak Dong Ja’ (a boy of Small Learning). 'Dodong' means 'the Way of Neo-Confucianism came to the East.' The buildings are neatly arranged along the central axis, showcasing excellent spatial composition, particularly in Jungjeongdang, the shrine, and the walls, which embody the aesthetics of Seowon architecture. Jungjeongdang, a lecture hall, is situated on a high platform and signifies a state of being correct without excess or deficiency. The surrounding walls, built using earth, stone, and tiles, create a noble and upright landscape with their varied roof lines. Dodong Seowon is one of the five great Seowons of the mid-Joseon period, along with Oksan, Sosu, Dosan, and Byeongsan Seowon, known for its traditional and simple architectural style.

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4. 4

   Heritage site

   Andong Dosan Seowon

   154 Dosanseowon-gil, Dosan-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk

   Stamp: Dosan Seowon Tourist Guide Office

   Toegye Yi Hwang, who passed the state examination at the age of 34 and served four kings, was a great scholar of Joseon who systematized Neo-Confucianism. In 1561, he built Dosanseodang for academic research and training younger generations. After his death, his disciples and Confucian scholars built Dosan Seowon at the site of the Seodang to honor his scholarly virtues. Completed in 1576, the Seowon includes Dosanseodang and Nongunjeongsa, designed by Yi Hwang himself, Sangdeoksa, which enshrines his memorial tablet, and Jeonggyodang, the lecture hall of the Seowon. Nongunjeongsa, designated as Treasure No. 2106, is a well-preserved relic where young scholars from Yeongnam received direct teachings from Toegye Yi Hwang, who played a significant role in the academic and political world of Joseon. Additionally, Sangdeoksa, located at the rear of the Seowon, enshrines Yi Hwang’s spirit tablet, and Jeonggyodang, built in 1574 (7th year of King Seonjo) and restored in 1969, is a lecture hall for self-cultivation and education of students. The plaque with the name 'Dosan Seowon' bestowed upon the Seowon by King Seonjo was written by the famous calligrapher Han Seok-bong in front of the king.

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5. 5

   Heritage site

   Andong Byeongsan Seowon

   386 Byeongsan-gil, Pungcheon-myeon, Andong-si, Gyeongbuk

   Stamp: Byeongsan Seowon Tourist Information Center

   Byeongsan Seowon was established to honor Ryu Seong-ryong and his son Ryu Jin, originating from Pungak Seodang, an educational institution of scholars during the Goryeo era. Byeongsan, meaning "folded screen," derives its name from the stunning natural scenery resembling a folding screen. The view between the pillars of Mandaeru explains this fitting name. The large, sturdy pillars of Mandaeru are made of unrefined wood, and the foundation stones are also rough and rustic. The name 'Mandae' is taken from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu, describing the surrounding mountains as a green screen suitable for facing at sunset. True to its name, the view from Mandaeru at sunset, facing the deep panoramic Byeongsan across the river, is magnificent with the sunset reflected in the river below the mountains. Byeongsan Seowon, devoid of artificial scents, harmonizes with the surrounding environment of the Nakdong River and mountains, creating a nature-friendly space. It demonstrates how architecture should blend with nature to become a unified space where nature and people coexist. Byeongsan Seowon is also a representative example of how the function of Korean Seowons expanded from 'education' to 'a venue for public discourse.' It was the first Seowon where thousands of people gathered to submit a petition. Photo Credit: Cultural Heritage Administration National Heritage Portal

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6. 6

   Heritage site

   Yeongju Sosu Seowon

   2740 Sobaek-ro, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju-si, Gyeongbuk

   Stamp: Sosu Seowon Tourist Information Center

   Sosu Seowon is the first Seowon in Korea and the first to receive a royal charter, making it a private educational institution. Ju Se-bung, who was appointed as the magistrate of Punggi, built a shrine honoring An Hyang, who first introduced Neo-Confucianism to Korea. In the 38th year of King Jungjong (1543), Ju Se-bung established Baekundong Seowon to educate Confucian students, and it was later renamed Sosu Seowon after receiving a royal charter. Notable buildings include the Ganghakdang, where academic lectures were held, and Munseonggongmyo, a shrine within the Seowon grounds. The Sosu Museum houses a portrait of An Hyang, and the Yeongju Suksu Temple site’s Dangganjiju remains as a relic from when there was a temple before the Seowon was built. The Ganghakdang was a place where one of the two main functions of a Seowon, academic discussion, was carried out. It was built by stacking high platforms of long stone slabs, upon which trimmed natural stones were placed as the foundation stones. Inside the Ganghakdang, on the northern side of the main hall, there is a plaque with the inscription "Sosu Seowon (紹修書院)" written by King Myeongjong himself. Munseonggongmyo, a shrine within Sosu Seowon, serves as the memorial shrine and is dedicated to the mid-Goryeo scholar Hoiheon An Hyang. Memorial rites are held every March and September on the initial day of Jeong (丁). The ritual procedures and records of the memorial ceremonies written by Ju Se-bung are preserved. An Hyang passed the state examination in 1260 (1st year of King Wonjong) and held various official positions. He introduced Zhu Xi's philosophy to Korea through multiple visits to the Yuan Dynasty, making him Korea’s first Zhu Xi scholar.

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7. 7

   Heritage site

   Jangseong Pilam Seowon

   184 Pilamseowon-ro, Hwangryong-myeon, Jangseong-gun, Jeonnam

   Stamp: Cheongjeoldang Hall, Pilam Seowon Confucian Academy (Interior construction of Philam Seowon Relics Exhibition Hall to be reopened in mid-June, 2025)

   Pilam Seowon was built in 1590 to honor the academic virtues of Kim Inhu, who was the tutor of Crown Prince Injong, the 12th king of Joseon. The documents preserved here have been designated as cultural relics and include lists of the Seowon’s successive headmasters, instructors who conducted lectures, and students affiliated with the Seowon, making them valuable resources for understanding the operation and structure of Pilam Seowon. The wooden blocks of writings related to Kim Inhu, known as Jangseong Pilam Seowon Haseoyumokmokpan, are also noteworthy. Most Seowon lecture halls are built facing the entrance to the south, but Pilam Seowon's lecture hall uniquely faces the shrine to the north. Hwakyeonru, with a plaque written by Song Si-yeol, serves as the Seowon's main gate and rest area, offering a panoramic view of the open plains.

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8. 8

   Heritage site

   Jeongeup Museong Seowon

   44-12 Wanchon 1-gil, Chilbo-myeon, Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk

   Stamp: Daechong Maru in front of Museong Seowon Management Office

   Museong Seowon was formed by merging the shrine of Choi Chi-won, a scholar from the late Unified Silla period, and the shrine of Shin Jam, a Joseon scholar known for his poetry, calligraphy, and painting, called the three perfections. Originally named Taesan Seowon, it was renamed Museong Seowon in 1696 (22nd year of King Sukjong) after receiving its name from the king. It follows the principle of 'jeonhak humyo,' with the study area in the front and the shrine in the back, but unlike other buildings which are separated by a wall, all other buildings, except Myeongnyundang and the shrine, are located outside the wall. Unlike other Seowons located in the mountains, Museong Seowon is situated in the middle of a village, and it was the site of the first anti-Japanese militia movement in Honam in 1906. When Japan forcibly signed the Eulsa Treaty to deprive Korea of its diplomatic rights, Choi Ik-hyeon and Lim Byeong-chan raised a militia, with Museong Seowon as their base. The Byung-o Resistance Memorial Monument next to the Seowon commemorates the anti-Japanese movement of that time.

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9. 9

   Heritage site

   Hamyang Namgye Seowon

   8-11 Namgyeseowon-gil, Sudong-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam

   Stamp: Namgye Seowon Tourist Information Center

   Namgye Seowon is the second Seowon established after Sosu Seowon. The name 'Namgye' originates from Namgyecheon, the stream flowing around the Seowon. It was founded in 1552 to commemorate Jeong Yeo-chang, a master of Neo-Confucianism, who, along with Kim Gwoeng-pil, Jo Gwang-jo, Yi Eon-jeok, and Yi Hwang, is revered as one of the Five Great Sages of the East. The Five Great Sages of the East refer to the five distinguished scholars of Korea, whose memorial tablets are all enshrined in the Confucian Shrine of Sungkyunkwan. Namgye Seowon, where the principle of 'jeonhak humyo' began, features a shrine at the highest point, offering a splendid view surrounded by mountain ridges and streams. In front of Myeongseongdang, the center of the academic space, are the dormitories for students, Dongjae and Seojae, on the left and right. Each building has a numaru and a small pond, which is rare for a Seowon to have two ponds. Passing the 'Hamabi' and 'Hongsalmun' at the entrance of the Seowon and climbing up to the main gate, 'Pungyeongnu,' the plaque describes the scenery as 'a view open in all directions, with a wide field, the winding flow of a stream, distant green forests, and a beautiful sunset,' showcasing its exceptional landscape.

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