Yi Hwang (pen name: Toegye) who served four kings after passing the national exam for public officials at the age of 34, was a scholar from the Joseon Dynasty period who established the foundation for Neo-Confucianism in Korea. He built Dosan Seodang in 1561 CE to carry out academic research and teach future generations. Later, when he passed away, writers and Confucian scholars converted Dosan Seodang into today’s Dosanseowon to commemorate Yi Hwang’s academic achievements. Dosanseowon, completed in 1576 CE, features the Dosan Seodang and Nongunjeongsa, designed by Yi Hwang himself, Sangdeoksa Shrine (enshrines Yi Hwang’s ancestral tablet), the Main Gate of Dosanseowon, and Jeongyodang Lecture Hall (main auditorium).

Sangdeoksa Shrine and Main Gate of Dosanseowon in Andong
Sitting at the back of Dosanseowon is a shrine that enshrines the ancestral tablet of Yi Hwang. Meanwhile, the gates of Sangdeoksa Shine were built at the same time as Sangdeoksa itself. Most notably, the pillars at the front are taller than the other pillars because of the steps at different heights.

eongyodang Lecture Hall at Dosanseowon in Andong
Jeongyodang was built in 1574 CE (7th year of King Seonjo), then repaired in 1969 CE. It is the main lecture hall for Confucian students at Dosanseowon. It was typical for students to study and meditate inside Jeongyodang Hall. According to history, the signboard for Dosanseowon was bestowed to the Confucian Academy by King Seonjo himself. Moreover, the writing on the signboard is believed to have been written by the master calligrapher Han Seok-bong in the presence of King Seonjo.

Byeongsanseowon is the birthplace of Ryu Seong-ryong and his son Ryu Jin. The building was originally a Pungakseodang, which served as an academic institution for Sarim scholars during the Goryeo Dynasty. The name “Byeongsan” was a compliment to the academy’s magnificent natural landscape that looked very much like a folding screen (“Byeongpung”). The view between the pillars at Mandaeru Pavilion will show you that whoever named Byeonsan Seowon got it just right. Unfinished wood was used for the robust pillars of Mandaeru, and the foundation stone made of natural stone also looks rough and raw. The building, which feels closer to a natural structure rather than a man-made building, blends in with Nakdonggang River and nearby mountains to create a nature-friendly ambiance.

Sosuseowon is the first Seowon academy in Korea. It was first established when Joo Se-bung, who was appointed as governor of Punggi, built the Baegundongseowon in 1543 CE, which included a shrine dedicated to An Hyang. An Hyang, a scholar and scholar during the late Goryeo Dynasty period, was the first to bring Neo-Confucianism into the Korean Peninsula. Seowon, a private educational institution established to undertake academic research and commemorate the deeds of past scholars, played a major role in disseminating Neo-Confucianism across Korea. Notable buildings include Ganghakdang Lecture Hall (treasure) at Sosuseowon in Yeongju, which served as a lecture hall, and Munseonggong Shrine, which was built on the grounds of Sosuseowon in Yeongju. Inside Sosu Museum is a portrait of An Hyang (national treasure). Before the Seowon was built, there was a temple called Suksusa in its place, which is why you will find the Flagpole Supports previously used at Suksusa Temple inside Sosuseowon. The Flagpoles are the two pillars that were used to support the Danggan (long poles used to hold up Buddhist paintings).

Ganghakdang Lecture Hall at Sosuseowon in Yeongju was built to serve one aspect of a Seowon’s purpose - to teach. It sits on an elevated platform with cornerstones fashioned out of natural stone blocks. On the northern end of the Daecheong inside Ganghakdang is a large signboard that reads, “Sosuseowon” written by King Myeongjong himself.

Munseonggong Shrine is a shrine built within the grounds of Sosuseowon in Yeongju used to perform ancestral rites dedicated to An Hyang (pen name: Hoeheon), an administrator from the mid-Goryeo Dynasty period. Every year, Sosuseowon holds a memorial service on the Chojeongil day of March and September. There is also documentation titled “Holgimunseo” detailing the rituals and protocols used during this memorial service written by Joo Se-bung. Portrait of An Hyang - This is a portrait of An Hyang (1243~1306 CE), an administrator and scholar from the middle Goryeo Dynasty period. In 1260 CE (1st year of King Wonjong), An Hyang passed the national exam for public officials and went on to serve in several different positions. He is perhaps best known as the first Neo-Confucian scholar of Goryeo - he introduced Neo-Confucianism to Goryeo upon traveling to the Yuan Dynasty on multiple occasions.

Meanwhile, the Flagpole Supports of the Suksusaji Temple Site in Yeongju still stand intact near the entrance of the Temple. Whenever the Temple would host an event, it would hang a flag on the flagpole. The long pole used to hold up flags was called a Danggan, and the two stone flagpole supports propping the flagpole up from either side were called the “Dangganjiju.” These Flagpole Supports are easy to find inside the pine tree forest near Sosuseowon’s front gate.

Piramseowon is a Confucian Academy built in 1590 CE to commemorate the academic achievements of Kim In-hu, who had taught King Injo - the 12th monarch of the Joseon Dynasty - when he was still the Crown Prince. The Documents of Piramseowon stored at the Confucian Academy itself have been designated as treasures of Korea. It includes records on every master of the Seowon in the past, instructors that led classes, a list of people who attended the lectures, and a list of Confucian students registered at Piramseowon. They are invaluable resources that help understand how exactly Piramseowon was configured and how it was run. Also noteworthy is a tangible cultural property called the Jangseong Piramseowon Haseoyumuk, a printing woodblock engraved with documents linked to Kim In-hu. While most lecture halls at Seowons face towards the south (main entrance is to the south), Piramseowon’s lecture hall was built to face the Sadang shrine to the north. Hwagyeonru, which features a signboard written by Song Si-yeol, serves as the main gate in and out of Piramseowon, and it is also a great place to enjoy a break thanks to the panoramic view of wide-open fields nearby it offers.

Documents of Piramseowon
The collection includes the “Wonjangseonsaengan,” which contains information on all of the former masters of Piramseowon, “Bogangan,” which records the list of instructors in charge of student classes and those who have attended the lectures, “Mungyean,” which listed attendees at special lectures, and the “Seojaeyuanseo,” which is a list of Confucian students registered at Piramseowon.

Jangseong Piramseowon Haseoyumuk Printing Woodblocks
This collection of 56 woodblocks was engraved to print documents related to Kim In-hu (pen name: Haseo; 1510~1560 CE), a scholar during the Joseon Dynasty period. In 1610 CE (2nd year of Gwanghae-gun), 18 woodblocks of the “Choseo Cheonjamun,” 13 woodblocks of the “Baengnyeonchohae,” four woodblocks of the “Yumuk,” and three woodblocks of a Mukjukdo painting Kim In-hu received from King Injong. The woodblocks were carved in 1568 CE (1st year of King Seonjo) and 1770 CE (46th year of King Yeongjo).

Museongseowon was built using a shrine dedicated to Choi Chi-won, a scholar in the late Unified Silla period, and a shrine dedicated to Shin Jam, an administrator from the Joseon Dynasty period who was famous for his poetry, calligraphy, and painting. Originally, the Confucian Academy was called the Taesan Seowon, but in 1696 CE it was renamed “Musong Seowon.” Although it follows the traditional layout of having teaching facilities at the front and a shrine at the back, the rest of the buildings, except for Myeongnyundang Hall and the shrine, are located outside the wall, creating a sense of separation and exclusivity. Unlike other Confucian Academies located in the mountains, Museongseowon was built in the middle of the village, and it also served as a base for the first anti-Japanese voluntary movement in the Honam region in 1906 CE. When Japan forced the Korean Empire to sign the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905 to take away Korea's diplomatic rights, Choi Ik-hyeon and Lim Byung-chan raised a contingent of militia soldiers, using Museongseowon as a base of operations. The Byeongo Changeui Gikeojbi Monument built adjacent to Museongseowon was erected to commemorate this anti-Japanese movement.

Namgyeseowon is the second oldest Confucian Academy in Korea after Sosuseowon. The name “Namgye” comes from Namgyecheon River that flows nearby the Confucian Academy. Built in 1552 CE to commemorate Jeong Yeo-chang, a master of Neo-Confucianism and one of the “Dongbang Ohyeon,” along with Kim Goeng-pil, Jo Gwang-jo, Yi Eonjeok, and Yi Hwang. Dongbang Ohhyeon refers to the five most renowned scholars of Korea. Their ancestral tablets are all enshrined at the Munmyo inside Seongkyunkwan. Namgyeseowon is where the conventional layout for Confucian Academies was first created. From the shrine located at the highest point inside the compound, you can enjoy wonderful scenery surrounded by mountains and streams. On the left and right in front of Myeongseongdang Hall, the main lecture hall, are the Dongjae and Seojae dormitories for Namgyeseowon’s students. Each building has a Numaru and a small pond - it is very rare for a Confucian Academy to have two ponds.