Yongdam Hyanggyo

About this place

Yongdam Hyanggyo is situated on the southern slope of Yonggang Mountain. Due to the construction of Yongdam Dam, it was relocated and completed at its current site on December 25, 1998. The hyanggyo was established in the early Goryeo period and rebuilt in 1391 (the 3rd year of King Gongyang) by County Magistrate Choe Jabi. In 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo of Joseon), the Imjin War burned down much of the school, and the surviving buildings were relocated slightly to the east the following year by Park Jisul. In 1633 (the 11th year of King Injo), County Magistrate O Jeon rebuilt it on the original site. In 1664 (the 5th year of King Hyeonjong), County Magistrate Hong Seok reconstructed it. It was maintained through the Japanese colonial period, but collapsed from age in 1950, was repaired by Park Byeongsik, and in 1974 the roof tiles of the Daeseongjeon were replaced and the east and west dormitories were repaired. The Yongdam Hyanggyo Daeseongjeon is designated as a Jeollabuk-do Cultural Heritage Resource. The Daeseongjeon, where memorial rites for Confucius and other sages are held, has three bays wide and three bays deep (with the left side divided into two bays). The roof is a gabled (맞배) style. The bracket system (gongpo) is of the dapo style, with brackets between columns as well as above them.