Stories of Korea’s nine seowon
Introduction to 9 seowon, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Meticulous preservation
of curriculum content and booksOksanseowon Gyeongju (Historic Site No. 154)
Oksanseowon is one of the few that survived the closing down of seowon in 1871, the eighth year of King Gojong. It also avoided damage by gunfire from a key battleground of the Korean War (Angang, Gyeongju). Oksanseowon is a key seowon in terms of book preservation as it still has a diverse range of valuable books which are in good condition.
All sound files
Important functions of seowon
- Outline
- Veneration
- Learning
- Interaction
- Other aspects
Outline
Oksanseowon is one of the few that survived the closing down of seowon in 1871, the eighth year of King Gojong. It also avoided damage by gunfire from a key battleground of the Korean War (Angang, Gyeongju).
Oksanseowon is a key seowon in terms of book preservation as it still has a diverse range of valuable books which are in good condition.
Oksanseowon is a key seowon in terms of book preservation as it still has a diverse range of valuable books which are in good condition.
Scenery of Oksanseowon
Oksanseowon was founded in 1572 by sarim of Gyeongju who wanted to honor the learning and loyal spirit of Yi Eon-jeok (1491-1553). It became a royally sponsored seowon in 1573, during the reign of King Seonjo.
Facing west, Oksanseowon is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Hwagaesan Mountain (east), Jaoksan Mountain (west), and Dodeoksan Mountain (north). The southern side is clear of natural features. Jagyecheon Stream flows past the front of the seowon. One notable feature is a large rock, called “Sesimdae,” which Yi Hwang described as a place where “one can wash away the impurities of the heart with clean water and focus on study with nature in the background.” King Jeongjo once supposedly ordered the conducting of an early-stage exam (which is called “chosi” in Korean) for the civil service examination here to honor the accomplishments of Yi Eon-jeok.
After entering the main gate, to go to Mubyeonnu, one has to cross a narrow gully of water brought from the upper areas of Jagyecheon Stream to the northern wall of the seowon. The pavilion, Mubyeonnu, was the first to be constructed on the premises of a Korean seowon. After going under Mubyeonnu and climbing the stone stairs, one arrives at the rectangular learning space (between Mubyeonnu and Guindang), in which the student dormitories (Dongjae and Seojae) face each other. Guindang, the learning hall, which has a roof with raised edges and a width of five kan and a depth of two kan (a traditional unit of architectural measurement that refers to the space been two columns), stands on a stone stylobate.
Guindang features the writing of noted individuals: the name board under the eaves that reads “Oksanseowon” was written by Kim Jeong-hui. Another Oksanseowonname board hanging at the daecheongmaru and inscribed with “Oksanseowon” was written by Lee San-hae, a bureaucrat who was known for his calligraphy. The “Guidang” and “Mubyeonru” name boards in the inner corner of the daecheongmaru were written by Han Seok-bong.
Facing west, Oksanseowon is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Hwagaesan Mountain (east), Jaoksan Mountain (west), and Dodeoksan Mountain (north). The southern side is clear of natural features. Jagyecheon Stream flows past the front of the seowon. One notable feature is a large rock, called “Sesimdae,” which Yi Hwang described as a place where “one can wash away the impurities of the heart with clean water and focus on study with nature in the background.” King Jeongjo once supposedly ordered the conducting of an early-stage exam (which is called “chosi” in Korean) for the civil service examination here to honor the accomplishments of Yi Eon-jeok.
After entering the main gate, to go to Mubyeonnu, one has to cross a narrow gully of water brought from the upper areas of Jagyecheon Stream to the northern wall of the seowon. The pavilion, Mubyeonnu, was the first to be constructed on the premises of a Korean seowon. After going under Mubyeonnu and climbing the stone stairs, one arrives at the rectangular learning space (between Mubyeonnu and Guindang), in which the student dormitories (Dongjae and Seojae) face each other. Guindang, the learning hall, which has a roof with raised edges and a width of five kan and a depth of two kan (a traditional unit of architectural measurement that refers to the space been two columns), stands on a stone stylobate.
Guindang features the writing of noted individuals: the name board under the eaves that reads “Oksanseowon” was written by Kim Jeong-hui. Another Oksanseowonname board hanging at the daecheongmaru and inscribed with “Oksanseowon” was written by Lee San-hae, a bureaucrat who was known for his calligraphy. The “Guidang” and “Mubyeonru” name boards in the inner corner of the daecheongmaru were written by Han Seok-bong.
Cheinmyo
Guindang
Mubyeonnu
Behind Guindang is a shrine (Cheinmyo) that holds the ancestral tablets of Yi Eon-jeok. The name’s Chinese characters, (體仁) pronounced “chein” in Korean, mean “to put into practice a pure and kind heart,” which is the cornerstone of Yi’s philosophy of practicing one’s values. Yi is revered as one of the “five wise men of the East” of the Joseon dynasty, along with Kim Goeng-pil, Jeong Yeo-chang, Cho Gwang-jo, and Yi Hwang.
Sesimdae
Scenery of Sesimdae
If you go about 700 meters along Jagyecheon Stream in a northwesterly direction from Oksanseowon, you will see Dokrakdang, Treasure No. 413. It is where Yi, after retiring from office, spent his days reading books alone while surrounded by nature. It is here that Yi calmed his stressful thoughts, washed the strings of his horsehair hat to show his absolution of the cares of worldly life, watched fish swim, and enjoyed the cool breeze while singing poems.
Surrounded by a clay wall with a closable door, Dokrakdang has a small window in the rear wall that looks over a stream, which offers a pleasant experience for both the eyes and ears.
Oksanseowon is included in two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: “Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (2010)” and “Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies (2019).”
Surrounded by a clay wall with a closable door, Dokrakdang has a small window in the rear wall that looks over a stream, which offers a pleasant experience for both the eyes and ears.
Oksanseowon is included in two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: “Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (2010)” and “Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies (2019).”
