Geunseongseowon

About this place

In 1812 (the 12th year of King Sunjo), it was founded in Hapyeong-ri, Anpyeong-myeon, Uiseong-gun, as Igokseowon, to commemorate the virtue of Kim In-chan, a meritorious founding subject of the Joseon dynasty. It was later moved to Bian-myeon in Uiseong-gun, but was demolished under Daewongun's decree abolishing the academies. Afterward, in 1926, it was re-established at its present site and its name was changed to Geunseong. The buildings within the precinct consist of the shrine, the lecture hall, the ritual-preparation hall, and the inner and outer three-gates, all surrounded by a wall. The grounds of the academy are quite steep, so there is a great difference in height between the lecture hall and the shrine. As for the layout, entering through the outer three-gate one sees at the front the lecture hall bearing the plaque 'Sungui-dang,' and climbing the steep steps behind the lecture hall one reaches the shrine area. Meanwhile, above the entrance to the right room of the lecture hall hangs a plaque reading 'Yangjik-jae.' The shrine bears a plaque reading 'Wonhun-sa,' and the ritual-preparation hall stands to the right, outside the wall of the shrine area; there are no separate east and west dormitories.