Cheonan Hyanggyo
89 Hyanggyo 1-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do
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Cheonan Hyanggyo was first built in the 7th year of King Taejo's reign (1398) but was destroyed by fire during the Imjin War. It appears to have been rebuilt in the 39th year of King Seonjo's reign (1606). The surviving buildings include the Daeseongjeon shrine hall with its East and West Wings (Dongmu and Seomu), the Myeongnyundang lecture hall that served an educational function, the dormitories for students (Dongjae and Seojae), the Jeonsakgo storage, the Sammun gate, and the Pungwaru pavilion. The Myeongnyundang was built in the 7th year of King Hyojong (1656) and is 4 bays wide and 2 bays deep. The Daeseongjeon is 3 bays wide and 2 bays deep, with a gable roof shaped like the Chinese character for 'person' (人) when viewed from the side. Inside, spirit tablets of Confucius, his disciples, and sages from China and Korea are enshrined. Outside the walls of Cheonan Hyanggyo stands a trifoliate orange tree over 500 years old, designated as a protected tree — a venerable tree that has weathered long centuries alongside the hyanggyo.