Donamseowon Eungdo Hall, Nonsan

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1569

Category

Architecture

Era

조선시대

Designated year

2008

Location

논산시, 충청남도— 충청남도 논산시 임3길 26-14(연산면, 돈암서원)

Coordinates

36.208834, 127.180899

The Donamseowon Confucian Academy, founded as a private educational institute of the Joseon Dynasty in 1634 (the 12th year of the reign of King Injo), honors Kim Jang-saeng (1548-1631), a distinguished Confucian scholar, along with Kim Jip, Song Jun-gil and Song Si-yeol, all prominent scholars of the same academic lineage. It is one of the forty-seven private Confucian academies that were saved from the decree issued in 1871 by the Regent Heungseon ordering the closure of all the country’s Confucian academies. This lecture hall, named Eungdodang, meaning ‘Hall of the Solid Way’, was moved from its original site at the academy to its present location in 1971. During its relocation, the building’s function as an ancient academic hall was revealed by the chance discovery of an inscription on a roof tile. The hall measures five kan (a unit of measurement referring to the distance between two columns) at the front and three kan at the sides, and has a gabled roof resembling the Chinese character 人. Although it is unusually large for a Confucian lecture hall built during the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, it faithfully reflects the architectural style of the time, and is regarded as a valuable material for research on the construction of halls during the mid-Joseon period.

Location