Jangsan Seowon

About this place

Jangsan Seowon in Gyeongju was founded in 1780 (the 4th year of King Jeongjo) by the public agreement of local Confucian scholars at Suseong-ri, Imgo-myeon, Yeongcheon-gun, Gyeongsang Province, to commemorate the scholarship and virtuous conduct of Yi Jeon-in, and his spirit tablet was enshrined there. Yi Jeon-in was born as the son of a concubine of Yi Eon-jeok (pen name Hoejae), a Neo-Confucian scholar of the mid-Joseon period. His filial devotion was profound: when his father Yi Eon-jeok was implicated in the Jeongmi Literati Purge and exiled to Ganggye, Yi Jeon-in accompanied him and attended to him, and he devoted all his efforts to making Yi Eon-jeok's scholarship and deeds widely known to the world. While Jangsan Seowon was taking part in the veneration of past sages and in local education, it was demolished during the Daewongun's abolition of the seowon academies in 1868 (the 5th year of King Gojong). It was restored by his descendants in November 2006 at Oksan-ri, Angang-eup, Gyeongju. On 11 April 2008 a ceremony was held to commemorate the restoration and construction of Jangsan Seowon. The buildings within the grounds include Seongyemyo, Jiseupdang, and Simgojae, among others. Among the academy's relics, a collection of literary works is preserved.