Yeosan Hyanggyo

About this place

Yeosan Hyanggyo (recorded as Yeosinhyanggyo in the source) was founded in 1403 (the 3rd year of King Taejong). It burned down during the Imjin War under King Seonjo, but was later rebuilt by local Confucian scholars. Like other medium-ranked hyanggyo (junseolwi), the Daeseongjeon enshrines the Five Chinese Sages, ten philosophers, and six sages from China, as well as Korea's eighteen sages. At the very top of the hyanggyo is the three-bay Daeseongjeon; below it to the left is the seomu (west auxiliary shrine), and to the right is the dongmu (east auxiliary shrine), each three bays wide. Below the inner gate is a five-bay Myeongnyundang (lecture hall); to the right is the east dormitory and to the left is the west dormitory, each three bays wide. Further below are the Samajae, Yangsajae, and Jeonsa-cheong (ritual preparation hall), each three bays wide. The Yeosan Hyanggyo Daeseongjeon was designated as Jeollabuk-do Cultural Heritage Resource No. 83 on April 1, 1984. It measures three and a half bays across, with a gabled roof and wind shields (방풍판) on the sides. Inside, the memorial tablets of Confucius, his disciples, and Korean sages are enshrined.