Hyanggyo
Encyclopedia
The Hyanggyo were government-run provincial schools established separately during the Goryeo
Dynasty (918-1392) and Joseon Dynasty
(July 1392 - August 1910), but did not meet with widespread success in either dynasty. They were officially closed near the end of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1894, but many were reopened as public elementary schools in 1900.
In the Joseon Dynasty, hyanggyo were established in every bu, mok, daedohobu, dohobu, gun, and hyeon (the last corresponding roughly to the size of modern-day cities and counties). They served primarily the children of the yangban
, or ruling elite upper-class. Education was oriented toward the gwageo
, or national civil service examinations. Although such education was in high demand, the hyanggyo were ultimately unable to compete with the privately run seowon
and seodang
.
The hyanggyo at Daegu was founded in 1398 during the reign Joseon Dynasty King Taejo
. During the Second Japanese Invasion in 1592 it was completely burned down. In 1599 the Daegu Hyanggyo was rebuilt near Dalseong Park but was relocated to the original 1398 site of Dalseong Park in 1605 and then back to the Gyodong area again. 1932 saw the hyanggyo again relocated to its present location in Namsandong, just south of downtown Daegu. In 1973 Hyanggyo at Daegu underwent a full restoration.
There are two main buildings in the hyanggyo, Myeongyundang, the lecture hall and Daeseongjeon, the Confucian shrine hall. The original traditional layout of a hyanggyo has the Daeseongjeon located in front of Myeongnyundang as it was when first built. Today the layout finds the Daeseongjeon centered in the north, facing the wide courtyard, with the Myeongnyundang found to the right of Daeseongjeon when entering.
Daeseongjeon houses memorial tablets where every year in the 2nd and 8th lunar month a ritual called Seokjeon is conducted honoring Confucius and famous Confucian scholars of Daegu. Myeongnyundang now serves as a classroom where lectures and lesson on old Chinese characters and traditional Korean etiquette is taught. On weekends and holidays traditional Korean weddings are held at garden on the complex grounds.
Daeseongjeon is designated as City of Daegu Local Cultural Material #1.
The Hyanggyo at Goheung was founded in 1441, during the reign of Joseon Dynasty King Sejong. In 1597 the school was heavily damaged during the Second Japanese Invasion.
Subsequently in 1695 it was moved to the present site and restored with the help of Confucian students from Seongdong town.
This Hyanggyo consists of two parts: the first being the lecture hall, Oesam outer gate, Myeongnyundang (lecture hall), east and west dormitories. The second part is the ritual area that includes Naesam inner gate, Daeseongjeon (Confucian shrine hall), east and west Mu.
This style of structure forms a Jeonhakhumyo, which means that lecture hall is placed in the front and the ritual hall in the rear. Jeonhakhumyo type Hyanggyos are situated on gently sloping sites to emphasize the sacredness of the Confucian shrine. Sujik house, next to the Hyanggyo houses Confucian students.
According to the current curator, the Goheung Hyanggyo was the wealthiest of the Confucian schools during the period just prior to the occupation. During the second occupation the funds of the Goheung Hyanggyo were confiscated and used to build schools in the area. The occupying Japanese government took credit for building the schools when the funds used to build the schools were actually those confiscated from the Goheung Hyanggyo.
Rituals are held regularly here every month at dawn so participants gather in the afternoons and evenings prior, staying over night in the east dormitory, preparing for the next morning's ceremony. Many additional activities occur at the Goheung Hyanggyo throughout the year as well.
The Jeonju Hyanggyo was originally established at the Gyeonggijeon Shrine site in Jeonju, sometime early in the 15th century, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Gyeonggijeon Shrine was erected in 1410 so construction of the Jeonju Hyanggyo had to follow sometime later.
At the time of the Second Japanese Invasion in 1592 the Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Jeonju Hyanggyo were completely destroyed. In 1603 the hyanggyo was moved to and rebuilt at its present Jeonju location.
Unlike the more typical hyanggyo Jeonhakhumyo style described above at the Goheung Hyanggyo, The Jeonju Hyanggyo employees the less conventional style of being placed on level ground. The memorial enshrinement area centers around the Daeseongjeon (Confucian shrine hall) in the front, while the educational area centers around the Myeongyundang (lecture hall) that is located the rear. This is an unusual configuration for a hyanggyo. In all, there are a total of 99 rooms at the Jeonju Hyanggyo.
The Jeonju Hyanggyo is designated historical treasure #379.
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
Dynasty (918-1392) and Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
(July 1392 - August 1910), but did not meet with widespread success in either dynasty. They were officially closed near the end of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1894, but many were reopened as public elementary schools in 1900.
In the Joseon Dynasty, hyanggyo were established in every bu, mok, daedohobu, dohobu, gun, and hyeon (the last corresponding roughly to the size of modern-day cities and counties). They served primarily the children of the yangban
Yangban
The yangban were part of the traditional ruling class or nobles of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The yangban were either landed or unlanded aristocracy who comprised the Korean Confucian idea of a "scholarly official." In reality, they were basically administrators and bureaucrats who...
, or ruling elite upper-class. Education was oriented toward the gwageo
Gwageo
The gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...
, or national civil service examinations. Although such education was in high demand, the hyanggyo were ultimately unable to compete with the privately run seowon
Seowon
Seowon were the most common educational institution of Korea during the mid- to late Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a preparatory school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing students for the...
and seodang
Seodang
Seodang were private village schools providing elementary education during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea.-Background:They were primarily occupied with providing initial training in the Chinese classics to boys of 7-16 years of age, but often served students into their twenties. Not...
.
Daegu Hyanggyo
35.859444°N 128.596111°WThe hyanggyo at Daegu was founded in 1398 during the reign Joseon Dynasty King Taejo
Taejo
Taejo, meaning "great ancestor," is a name often applied to the founders of Korean dynasties. The term may refer to:*Taejo of Goguryeo , born Go Gung, sixth monarch of Goguryeo*Taejo of Goryeo , born Wang Geon, founder of the Goryeo dynasty....
. During the Second Japanese Invasion in 1592 it was completely burned down. In 1599 the Daegu Hyanggyo was rebuilt near Dalseong Park but was relocated to the original 1398 site of Dalseong Park in 1605 and then back to the Gyodong area again. 1932 saw the hyanggyo again relocated to its present location in Namsandong, just south of downtown Daegu. In 1973 Hyanggyo at Daegu underwent a full restoration.
There are two main buildings in the hyanggyo, Myeongyundang, the lecture hall and Daeseongjeon, the Confucian shrine hall. The original traditional layout of a hyanggyo has the Daeseongjeon located in front of Myeongnyundang as it was when first built. Today the layout finds the Daeseongjeon centered in the north, facing the wide courtyard, with the Myeongnyundang found to the right of Daeseongjeon when entering.
Daeseongjeon houses memorial tablets where every year in the 2nd and 8th lunar month a ritual called Seokjeon is conducted honoring Confucius and famous Confucian scholars of Daegu. Myeongnyundang now serves as a classroom where lectures and lesson on old Chinese characters and traditional Korean etiquette is taught. On weekends and holidays traditional Korean weddings are held at garden on the complex grounds.
Daeseongjeon is designated as City of Daegu Local Cultural Material #1.
Goheung Hyanggyo
34.613889°N 127.280556°WThe Hyanggyo at Goheung was founded in 1441, during the reign of Joseon Dynasty King Sejong. In 1597 the school was heavily damaged during the Second Japanese Invasion.
Subsequently in 1695 it was moved to the present site and restored with the help of Confucian students from Seongdong town.
This Hyanggyo consists of two parts: the first being the lecture hall, Oesam outer gate, Myeongnyundang (lecture hall), east and west dormitories. The second part is the ritual area that includes Naesam inner gate, Daeseongjeon (Confucian shrine hall), east and west Mu.
This style of structure forms a Jeonhakhumyo, which means that lecture hall is placed in the front and the ritual hall in the rear. Jeonhakhumyo type Hyanggyos are situated on gently sloping sites to emphasize the sacredness of the Confucian shrine. Sujik house, next to the Hyanggyo houses Confucian students.
According to the current curator, the Goheung Hyanggyo was the wealthiest of the Confucian schools during the period just prior to the occupation. During the second occupation the funds of the Goheung Hyanggyo were confiscated and used to build schools in the area. The occupying Japanese government took credit for building the schools when the funds used to build the schools were actually those confiscated from the Goheung Hyanggyo.
Rituals are held regularly here every month at dawn so participants gather in the afternoons and evenings prior, staying over night in the east dormitory, preparing for the next morning's ceremony. Many additional activities occur at the Goheung Hyanggyo throughout the year as well.
Jeonju Hyanggyo
35.812725°N 127.157175°WThe Jeonju Hyanggyo was originally established at the Gyeonggijeon Shrine site in Jeonju, sometime early in the 15th century, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Gyeonggijeon Shrine was erected in 1410 so construction of the Jeonju Hyanggyo had to follow sometime later.
At the time of the Second Japanese Invasion in 1592 the Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Jeonju Hyanggyo were completely destroyed. In 1603 the hyanggyo was moved to and rebuilt at its present Jeonju location.
Unlike the more typical hyanggyo Jeonhakhumyo style described above at the Goheung Hyanggyo, The Jeonju Hyanggyo employees the less conventional style of being placed on level ground. The memorial enshrinement area centers around the Daeseongjeon (Confucian shrine hall) in the front, while the educational area centers around the Myeongyundang (lecture hall) that is located the rear. This is an unusual configuration for a hyanggyo. In all, there are a total of 99 rooms at the Jeonju Hyanggyo.
The Jeonju Hyanggyo is designated historical treasure #379.
See also
- Education in the Joseon DynastyEducation in the Joseon DynastyEducation in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea was largely aimed at preparing students for government service. The ultimate goal of most students was successful passage of the state examinations, known as gwageo....
- SeonggyungwanSeonggyungwanSungkyunkwan, also called Taehak , was the foremost education institution in Korea during the late Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties.- History :...
- SeowonSeowonSeowon were the most common educational institution of Korea during the mid- to late Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a preparatory school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing students for the...