Donamseowon

About this place

Donamseowon was founded in 1606 (39th year of King Seonjo) and received a royal charter in 1676 (2nd year of King Sukjong); after the eastern and western dormitories were built in 1797 (21st year of King Jeongjo), it underwent several repairs. It was demolished in 1871 (8th year of King Gojong), but in 1992 the local Confucian community reconstructed and restored part of it, including the lecture hall, and from 2002, through a Confucian cultural tourism development project, Jeongheoru, Jangpangak, Jeonsacheong, Yeonggwimun, Gojiksa, Ilgwandang, Ipdeokmun, and others were built, giving it its present form. The name Donam originates from Cheng of the Northern Song, who, when sending off his disciple Yang Si to his hometown, said, "Our Way shall henceforth be practiced in the south"; the academy was established out of pride that the Confucian tradition of Joseon lay in the Yeongnam region. Having endured for several centuries, it enshrines nine masters, including Jeong Bong-ju, Kim Gwang-pil, Jeong Yeo-chang, Yi Eon-jeok, Yi Hwang, No Su-sin, Yu Seong-ryong, Jeong Gyeong-se, and Yi Jun, and the memorial rites are held every year in the 2nd and 8th lunar months. Except during the rites it remains closed, so one may inquire at the Gyeongcheonseom tourist information center or enter through Yeonggwimun.