The above is a translation of the 12 Chinese characters inscribed onto the flower wall near Sungnyesa, the shrine of Donamseowon. The words were written by Kim Jang-saeng (1548-1631), a prominent Confucian scholar of the mid-Joseon period. Regardless of the era, “practice what you preach” is a difficult dictum to follow.

The 16th and 17th centuries, when Kim Jang-saeng lived, were a difficult time in the history of Joseon: it was a period full of purges, revolts, and several wars with Japan. With Neo-Confucian theory unable to take sole responsibility for rebuilding society and serve as the moral compass of citizens, yehak, or the study of propriety, was adopted as an alternative. Kim’s political and social views, which were based on yehak, were established at a time in Joseon history when they were needed most.
Kim studied Neo-Confucianism under Song Ik-pil and Yi Yi and established the foundations for yehak in the 17th century. When Kim turned 35, his father, Kim Gye-hwee, died. The funeral rites were conducted according to Kim’s family’s rules of propriety. One year later, Kim edited Shin Eui-gyeong’s Funeral Rites and Ceremonies so that it could be easily understood by the general public. At the age of 52, Kim finished writing Exposition of Family Rites, a study of the rules of propriety of weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, and funeral rituals. As a result, Donamseowon focused its educational and ritual activities on the practice of yehak.

Donamseowon, located in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do, was founded in 1634 by Kim Jang-saeng’s students and local literati. The seowon was first constructed in a forest about 1.5 kilometers from its current location. It became a royally sponsored seowon in 1660 after King Hyeonjong bestowed a name boardengraved with the name “Donamseowon.” The name comes from a rock called “Donam” in the forest where the seowon was originally located. The seowon was relocated in 1880 because it was completely flooded every summer in its original location.

Donamseowon sits on a hilly area and faces east. After entering the main gate, Ipdeokmun, one can see the learning area, Yangseongdang, in the center, with the student dormitories (Geogyeongjae and Jeonguijae) to the right and left of it facing one another. In front of Yangseongdang is a stele with an inscription written by Song Si-yeol to celebrate the founding of the seowon. To the left of Yangseongjae is Jangpangak, which stored the books and other items sent by the royal palace.

Of note, the Eungdodang lecture hall was designed according to yehak theory and a diagram drawn by Kim in his book Exposition of Family Rites. The building, whose name means “place where the truth resides,” is large (five kan wide and three kan deep) and has a wide, open atmosphere created by the generously spaced pillars. Under the roof, which does not have raised corners, was a “wind panel” that blocked the wind and rain from both right and left and what is known as “eyebrow eaves.” The Eungdodang lecture hall is the largest learning area of all surviving Korean seowon and was the site of frequent debates on and book-writing about yehak. Today, Donamseowon still has many woodblocks and theoretical treatises on yehak.