Mueseong Seowon Confucian Academy, Jeongeup

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.166

Category

Architecture

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1968

Location

정읍시, 전북특별자치도— 전북 정읍시 칠보면 무성리 500번지

Coordinates

35.601881, 126.983721

Putting together the shrines for Choe Chi-won and Sin Jam, people established this Confucian academy as a place for education as well as for the enshrinement of ancient scholars. To commemorate the learning and virtue of Choe Chi-won of the Goryeo Dynasty, a shrine called Taesanseowon Confucian Academy was constructed. Four years later, in the 4th year of the reign of King Myeongjong (1549), the shrine for Sin Jam was also established. In the 22nd year of the reign of King Sukjong (1696), the two shrines were combined to become a shrine-academy under the name “Museong” given by the king. The layout of the buildings of the shrine-academy follows the style called Jeonhakhumyo, which means the building for education is at the front and that for enshrinement is at the back. The remaining buildings include a shrine as well as Hyeongaru Pavilion, two dorms named Dongjae (east dorm) and Seojae (west dorm), Bigak (monument house), and lecture hall named Myeongnyundang. Constructed in the 15th year of the reign of King Seongjong (1484), the shrine consists of 5 rooms in the front and 3 on the side; Hyeongaru Pavilion has 3 front rooms and 2 side rooms. It has hip and gable roof whose shape looks like the Chinese character “pal 八 (eight)” when viewed from the side. The lecture hall Myeongnyundang, whose roof is also hip and gable, has 2 rooms each in the front and on the side. Some valuable record materials such as Bongsiman (list of visitors), Gangan (lecture materials), Simwonnok (visitors’ book), and Wongyu (rules for academy students) during the period after the 17th year of the reign of King Seongjong (1486) are preserved here. This is one of the 47 Confucian academies that were preserved during the abolishment movement of the academy during the reign of Daewongun in the late Joseon.

Location