Deongnimseowon

About this place

Deongnimseowon was founded in 1740 (16th year of King Yeongjo) by the public agreement of local Confucian scholars to commemorate the learning and virtue of O Bang-u, and enshrined his spirit tablet. O Bang-u (1313–1393) was a civil official of the late Goryeo period; he passed the ministry examination during the reign of King Chungmok of Goryeo and served as Odo Allyeomsa during the reign of King Gongmin, and was the founding settler (iphyangjo) of the Janggi branch of the Haeju O clan. While Deongnimseowon carried out its role of honoring past worthies and providing local education, it was demolished in 1868 (5th year of King Gojong) under the order abolishing seowon issued by the Heungseon Daewongun; it was later restored and remains to this day. The buildings currently within the precincts are the shrine Jeongheonmyo, the lecture hall, the eastern dormitory (Dongjae), and the western dormitory (Seojae). The spirit tablet of O Bang-u is enshrined in the shrine, and the lecture hall—consisting of a central wooden-floored hall and side rooms on both sides—is used for the academy's various events, gatherings of the Confucian community, and as a place for scholarly debate. The spirit gate (sinmun) is used as the entrance for the officiants during memorial rites.