Donam Seowon in Nonsan

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Donam Seowon, located in Nonsan, was founded to honor the virtues of Kim Jang-saeng (1548-1631), a master of Confucian etiquette studies (Yehak). Yehak emphasizes strict order and formality and involves the study of the principles and correctness of ceremonial proprieties. Kim Jang-saeng, who inherited the philosophies and studies of Yi I (Yulgok), dedicated his life to academic research and the education of future scholars. Donam Seowon was established in 1634 (the 12th year of King Injo's reign), three years after Kim Jang-saeng's death. Donam Seowon comprises educational facilities, a shrine area, and auxiliary buildings,AMong which Nonsan Donam Seowon Eungdodang stands out for its remarkable size. Eungdodang, the lecture hall where students were taught, is noted for its unique structure and intricate techniques. The flower wall of Sungnyeosa, the shrine housing the ancestral tablets, adds to the charm of the seowon. The buildings, set against Mount Gojeong and situated on a broad plain, exude a serene elegance, while the seowon bursts into vibrant beauty in summer when the crepe myrtle trees bloom. Despite the 1871 decree by Heungseon Daewongun to close over 650 seowons nationwide, only 47 survived, and Donam Seowon was one of them.